Bucs Urged To Go After Super Bowl-Winning Star

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Adam Schultz | Last updated Mar 2, 2025 10:34 AM ET

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers enter the offseason knowing where the weaknesses are on their roster, and for most, getting Baker Mayfield more weapons is at the top of the to-do list.

But defensively, a pass rusher is also high on the list.

Several defenders have been mocked to the Buccaneers by multiple media outlets, but what if Tampa Bay looks to plug that position in free agency?

ESPN's Aaron Schatz has named Philadelphia Eagles stud pass rusher Josh Sweat as the perfect fit for the Buccaneers.

"Although the Buccaneers were a surprising 11th in pass rush win rate (41.7%) this past season, they're probably losing several edge rushers to free agency, including Anthony Nelson and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka," Schatz writes. "Enter Sweat, fresh off an impressive Super Bowl LIX performance. He had six tackles, three quarterback hits and 2.5 sacks. Sweat also had eight sacks during the regular season and 33 pressures. He will be 28 next season, so he's right in the prime of his career."

The Buccaneers were seventh in the league for sacks in 2024 (46), but they need more help for Calijah Kancey (7.5 sacks), Vita Vea (7.0), Logan Hall (5.5), and Yaya Diaby (4.5).

For Sweat, he is coming off a superb season, totaling 8.0 sacks, nine tackles for loss and 15 quarterback hits and one could argue that he was the best player in the Super Bowl as he registered 2.5 sacks.

Per Spotrac.com, Sweat's market value is set at $18.8 million and a contract value of three years and $56 million.

Could the Buccaneers do that? It would require some salary cap massaging, but getting Sweat would be a big boost to the defense.

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

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