NFL free agency is always a crazy time of year, regardless of who hits the market. The transactions seem endless for the first few days and everything can become a blur if you're not keeping up.
There have been many moves made across the league over the last couple of days and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been busy, themselves. Except, they've been handling business a bit differently than most of their counterparts.
The Bucs had a slew of top-of-the-line, in-house free agents to re-sign (or extend) heading into free agency and they've been able to retain every single one, so far: quarterback Baker Mayfield, wide receiver Mike Evans, safety Antoine Winfield Jr., linebacker Lavonte David, and kicker Chase McLaughlin.
Hell, the Bucs have even retained defensive lineman, Greg Gaines, and running back, Chase Edmonds, before the official start of the 2024 league year.
It's a major credit to general manager Jason Licht (his front office, too) and the moves he's made, both in free agency and the draft. All of these guys -except David- are Licht decisions that have worked out either well or incredibly well. And even with David, Licht has been able to keep in Tampa when he's had other suitors, which is a big deal.
"It's a definite advantage," Licht told reporters when asked if it's an advantage of having all of these in-house free agents. "I was trying to explain this to my own family the other day. We were a different team and in this free agency, signed Mike Evans, Baker, Antoine, and it goes on and on and on. That's why I came up with the boat parade - that we would be having a parade over this. This is one of the greatest free agency hauls, ever, but it's our own guys. We've got some Hall of Famers in here [including] Lavonte [David] - how did I forget Lavonte? It's been incredible.
"I think it's time that the national media realizes that we have some great players. They already know, but now they really know. It's a great time for us."
Licht's not done, either
"I think if you go back to my quote, we need to get Antoine secured long-term and do a deal with Tristan [Wirfs]. So after that, we'll have the boat parade," Licht seriously joked with reporters. "I'll be on a boat on Friday, though."
Extending both players would be huge for the Bucs and it would lock up two more of the best players to ever don pewter and red for the long-term. And, sure enough, both players (along with Evans) are Licht draft picks.
A first-year cap hit for Winfield would likely come in at $9 million and would free up around $8 million in cap room since the 2024 tender for safeties is $17.123 million.
And simply put, the Bucs could create as much as $17 million in cap space by extending Wirfs, although the number likely wouldn't be that much due to whatever prorated bonus he receives. A more accurate amount is around $10-$12 million, but it still shows how beneficial an extension would be. Not to mention locking up the best offensive lineman in the game.
If Winfield Jr. and Wirfs get locked up, this is Licht's best free agency class, ever
Remember when the Bucs were supposed to be in rebuilding mode, even this year? Nope. Instead, they're reloading for another playoff and run and their fourth-straight division title. Let's be real: As a Bucs fan, did you ever think you'd be reading that last sentence?
With a long-term Winfield Jr. and Wirfs, the Bucs would have a competitive core for the foreseeable future. That should extend what has been the most prolific time span in franchise history and it all started with adding Tom Brady, a Licht move, back in 2020.
Adding the GOAT to your team seems like a shoe-in to anchor the best free agency class of all-time, but let's be real: Brady didn't have hardly any suitors that year. Everyone thought he was done. Therefore, the Bucs still had to pitch him, but nowhere near as hard as they would've had to bid for Evans, Mayfield, Winfield, David, and even McLaughlin. The same even goes for Leonard Fournette, who was cut by the Jacksonville Jaguars before the 2020 season started. Antonio Brown was coming off suspension when he was signed mid-season, also.
Licht figured out a way to keep all these guys -and high-caliber players, at that- while not having a bottomless pocket to do so. The strategy and dedication to this offseason has been remarkable and there will be immediate dividends in the future.
And one of those dividends will be Licht's due respect.
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