Writing The Ship: Buccaneers Mock Offseason

We are coming up to the heart of the offseason. We have seen the NFL combine come and go and now we are approaching free agency. Buckle up because the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are about to be active.

We know that defense will be a high priority this season, but the team will have needs on both sides of the ball. General manager Jason Licht is going to have to thread the needle to supplement an already very good offense with a defense that needs an overhaul. 

How will he do that? Your guess is as good as mine. But since this is my article, here’s how I would do it if I was Licht. This is my Buccaneers Mock Offseason.

Re-Signings

• Sean Tucker at 1 x $3 million
• Mike Evans at 1 x $20 million
• Ko Kieft at 3 x $6 million

Signing Tucker and Kieft felt like a no brainer to me at the price I expect them to sign for. Tucker could be a legitimate part of the Buccaneers rushing attack in 2026 and has special teams value. The same could be said for Kieft, who brings value to the running game as a blocker and has been a core special teams piece over the last few years.

The Mike Evans situation is admittedly a difficult one to navigate. I believe the Bucs will make one big signing this offseason and with so much talent already in the wide receiver room it would be logical to invest that money elsewhere. However, Evans’ value as an outside receiver (which the Bucs otherwise don’t have on the roster) plus what he means to this franchise led me to bring him back for one more ride in 2026. 

Free Agents

• Leo Chenal at 2 x $9 million
• Tim Settle at 2 x $7 million
• Rasul Douglas at 1 x $5 million
• Elijah Wilkinson at 2 x $4 million
• Sam Howell at 2 x $3 million

We know that Jason Licht likes to shop in the bargain bin. And while this might frustrate some fans, the reality is that general managers need to do this to find affordable starters. Not every starter is going to be a star; some just need to fit the role the team needs from them.

That is very much the approach I took with this free agency. Chenal is a plus athlete who brings size to the middle of the Bucs defense. He’s played on Super Bowl winners and his experience will be valuable to a unit that needs leadership. 

Settle is very much the same mold of free agent. He can step in to replace Logan Hall as a starter on the defensive line, but he doesn’t prevent the Bucs from drafting a defensive lineman if the right player falls to them. Ideally Settle is depth, but he can defend the run if asked to start.

Douglas is the same prototype. With two second year players expecting to compete for a starting job, it would be good to have veteran depth who is capable of starting if needed to. This is a safety net signing in case Benjamin Morrison or Zyon McCollum aren’t prepared to be the full time starter.

With Wilkinson, it is a critical depth signing that the Buccaneers desperately needed last year. He can play both tackle and guard, so that versatility is that much more valuable for a depth player. Add to that his familiarity with new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson and I really like this fit.

Finally, the Bucs are in the market for a backup quarterback. Howell has started 18 career games and will only be 26 this season. He has the tools and experience to be an ideal backup to Baker Mayfield. 

Mock Draft

15 – Cashius Howell, Edge, Texas A&M

The Buccaneers are in need of pass rush and that’s what Howell specializes in. His quickness, power and skill make him an ideal fit for this Todd Bowles defense.

46 – Jacob Rodriguez, Linebacker, Texas Tech

Even if the Bucs do bring in a veteran linebacker, they will need a young starter to play next to him. Rodriguez has proven to be extremely instinctual and productive and is fresh off an incredible combine workout. 

77 – Domonique Orange, Defensive Tackle, Iowa State

When your nickname is “Big Citrus” then you have to play in Florida. Todd Bowles said that he wants to get bigger and this 6 ‘4 and 325 lb nose tackles would certainly help with that as Vita Vea enters his final year under contract.

116 –  Logan Jones, Center, Iowa

The depth of the Buccaneers offensive line was exposed last year. And while they bring in a free agent in this scenario, it’s still best to add to that and potentially develop a future starter in a scrappy and powerful Jones.

153 – Oscar Delp, Tight End, Georgia

I didn’t have the Bucs address tight end in free agency, so it is a big draft need. Delp wasn’t productive as a pass catcher in college and couldn’t work out at the combine due to an injury, but he’s a good blocker and has the athletic tools that lead me to believe that he will be a better NFL player than he was a college player.

194 – Hezekiah Masses, Cornerback, California

You can never have enough corner depth. And with the Bucs still trying to figure out how their cornerback room will shake out, it’s best to bring in a talented defensive back who had five interceptions last season.

230 – Jalen Huskey, Free Safety, Maryland

The Bucs met with Huskey at the combine. He is a former corner converted to free safety and he does a great job playing center fielder as shown by his 11 interceptions over the last three years.

UDFA – Kaelon Black, Running Back, Indiana

Black isn’t the biggest running back in the world at 5 ‘10 and 210 lbs, but he’s plenty physical. His well rounded battering ram style makes him a very nice compliment to what the Bucs have in Bucky Irving.