Bucs $14 Million Signing Named 'Best Value' Free Agent Move

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Adam Schultz | Last updated Apr 7, 2025 8:02 AM ET

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' offseason has been largely dominated by the Chris Godwin saga and how close the team came to losing its Pro Bowler.

But Godwin put pen to paper on a three-year deal to ease the fears of Buccaneers fans. However, there was another deal that might be just as important or even more important for Tampa Bay.

The free agent signing of Haason Reddick on a one-year, $14 million deal.

With the Bucs in desperate need of pass-rushing help, they got perhaps one of the best in football. He might have seen his aura dim slightly after his poor season with the New York Jets, which was due to a contract standoff after he was traded, but now he's got a point to prove.

So the Buccaneers get a potential star for only $14 million, and one who has an axe to grind to prove to the rest of the NFL that he is still "that" guy.

Due to that, Sports Illustrated's Gilberto Manzano has named Reddick's Buccaneers deal as one of the best value signings of the offseason.

"Reddick partly struggled in his lone season with the Jets because he missed all of training camp and didn’t make his season debut until Week 8 because of the contract disagreement," Manzano writes. "Another reason to like this deal: Reddick is now working with coach Todd Bowles, a defensive guru who knows how to manufacture pressure against quarterbacks."

Due to his 2024 season, it can be easy to forget that prior to that, Reddick posted four straight seasons of 11+ sacks and was a two-time Pro Bowler (2022, 2023), and was seen as one of the best in football at his position. Now, he comes to the Buccaneers on a cheap deal.

A prove-it type of contract, Tampa Bay will be hoping it gets the best version of Reddick as he looks to secure a long-term contract from a team next offseason.

It is a win-win for the Buccaneers. They get some much-needed pass rush help, plus, they get a star in at cost to help push Todd Bowles' defense to new heights.

The offense with Baker Mayfield is set, and with Reddick now a part of a stout defensive line, the defense might just be ready to rock in 2025, too.

If Reddick is half the player he was prior to last season, then the Buccaneers' deal for him will no doubt be the best value contract signed this offseason.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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