Is It Time To Trade Nelly?

Anthony Nelson has spent all eight of his NFL seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. However, his shrinking role raises a legitimate question about whether Tampa Bay should trade the veteran before the deadline.

ESPN’s Bill Barnwell proposed sending Nelson and a 2027 seventh-round pick to the Chicago Bears for a 2027 sixth-round selection. Nelson has played just 12 of 139 possible defensive snaps over the past two weeks. He logged four snaps against Dallas and eight against Pittsburgh, suggesting Tampa Bay has increasingly limited his opportunities.

David Walker’s Breakout Has Changed Tampa Bay’s Edge Rotation

David Walker’s emergence has helped push Nelson further down the rotation. The second-year defender leads Tampa Bay with four sacks, including two against Pittsburgh. His 82.6 PFF grade ranks seventh among 116 edge defenders, and he has generated 14 pressures on just 57 pass-rush snaps.

Todd Bowles has acknowledged that Walker’s workload continues increasing as his performance earns additional opportunities. The head coach addressed that development Monday, according to the team’s quote sheet.

“Yeah, game plan-wise, we ramp it up every week – he’s been playing that well. We give him the plays we can give him, but it’s been ramped up every week,” Bowles said Monday, per the team’s website.

Walker’s growing responsibilities make it increasingly difficult to justify keeping an experienced rotational rusher whose opportunities have dwindled. Tampa Bay also has other young defenders who need meaningful playing time to develop.

Tampa Bay Has Other Options Along the Defensive Line

First-round pick Rueben Bain has played 141 defensive snaps, including 76 as a pass rusher. He has recorded five pressures, while his 51.6 PFF grade places him near the bottom among edge defenders.

Al-Quadin Muhammad offers another option after signing a one-year contract worth up to $6 million. He joined Tampa Bay following an 11-sack season in Detroit and currently holds a 77.6 PFF grade. Nelson, meanwhile, owns a 58.0 grade and has produced three pressures on 46 pass-rush snaps. In my opinion, Muhammad shouldn’t be moved.

Nelson’s experience remains valuable, but the current rotation suggests Tampa Bay can redistribute his workload. Moving him could create additional opportunities for Walker and Bain without significantly disrupting the defense’s existing plans.

Anthony Nelson’s Contract Makes a Trade Worth Considering

Nelson is playing out the final season of a two-year, $10 million contract. His base salary is $4 million, and Barnwell estimates approximately $2.7 million remains on his deal.

The 29-year-old will become a free agent in March, giving Tampa Bay limited time to extract value from his contract. Trading him would allow the Buccaneers to acquire draft compensation rather than potentially losing him without a return.

Barnwell’s proposed deal would send Nelson and a 2027 seventh-round pick to Chicago for a sixth-round selection. That modest upgrade would not transform Tampa Bay’s draft outlook, but it would provide some compensation for a player receiving minimal defensive snaps.

The Bears Have a Reason to Pursue Nelson

Chicago’s defensive situation makes Nelson a plausible trade target. Montez Sweat is serving a two-game suspension for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing drug policy. Meanwhile, Dayo Odeyingbo landed on injured reserve October 17 with a quadriceps injury.

Barnwell also noted that Chicago has recorded a 9.8% sack rate when rushing four or fewer defenders. Adding a veteran capable of contributing to a four-man rush could help address the Bears’ depleted edge rotation.

Nelson would give Chicago an experienced option without requiring a significant draft investment. For Tampa Bay, the proposed exchange offers a reasonable opportunity to turn a declining role into future draft capital.

The Buccaneers Should Prioritize Their Young Pass Rushers

Tampa Bay’s position makes this decision worth serious consideration. At 1-5 and last in the NFC South, the Buccaneers have more pressing concerns than preserving a veteran’s place in the defensive rotation.

ESPN’s Dan Graziano has already identified Vita Vea as a potential surprise trade candidate. Nelson would represent a considerably smaller personnel decision, with less impact on the defense’s overall structure.

Nelson deserves credit for providing Tampa Bay with eight seasons of dependable service. However, past contributions should not prevent the organization from evaluating whether his remaining role justifies keeping him.

The Buccaneers also have significant issues to address along the offensive line. Although trading Nelson would not solve those problems, acquiring an additional draft pick could help their longer-term roster construction.

Trading Nelson makes sense if Tampa Bay believes Walker and Bain are ready for expanded responsibilities. His diminishing workload, expiring contract, and Chicago’s need for edge depth create a reasonable opportunity for both teams. The Buccaneers should consider the move while giving their younger pass rushers more chances to establish themselves.

The Rub

Look, I don’t necessarily want to trade away a player like Nelson. Especially for basically a late 6th-7th round pick. But, this team sits at 1-5 with a coach on the hot seat, a banged up quarterback and an offensive coordinator who seems uncoordinated.

With that said, it may be time to trim the fat, and while Nelson’s contract isn’t huge, if you’re not going to use him, move him and get something.

Like and Subscribe to Bucs Report