Buccaneers Free Agency: 4 Players to Watch On NFL Championship Weekend
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are finally coming out of the salary cap fog left from pursuing not just one, but two championships.
While the Buccaneers fell short of that goal, the one Super Bowl win is evidence that the process was worth the interest paid in more recent years.
With an estimated $48 million in cap space for 2024 there are some key players for Tampa Bay to re-sign, but there should still be some money left over for a new addition or two.
Here are four playing in this weekend's AFC and NFC Championship Games the Bucs may target.
WR MECOLE HARDMAN, KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
Hardman spent four years with the Chiefs before signing with the New York Jets last offseason on a one-year deal worth $3.5 million before incentives.
After five games, three targets, and one catch for six yards he was traded back to Kansas City where he's since caught 14 balls for 118 yards.
Hardman's talent has flashed over the years but he's struggled to build consistency with the Chiefs and could be on the lookout for another change of scenery this offseason.
With the Buccaneers in need of more speed on their offense, the two could find each other as solid partners.
RB GUS EDWARDS, BALTIMORE RAVENS
Tampa Bay missed something many teams have come to learn is a very valuable asset in today's NFL. A second running back to lean on.
While Rachaad White showed his value as a second-year back for the Bucs it's not reasonable to ask one guy to do it all, all the time, and Chase Edmonds only showed moments of being an effective second option.
Edwards is nearing 29 years old and after five years in the league, he's proven himself to be a solid rushing option with four years producing over 700 yards rushing despite starting just 26 games in that stretch.
Pairing White with Edwards would provide quarterback Baker Mayfield a solid backfield to lean on and leave draft capital for the further development of an offensive line that performed better than originally expected.
Baltimore Ravens running back Gus Edwards (35) celebrates a touchdown with Baltimore Ravens offensive tackle Morgan Moses (78) in the first quarter of a Week 2 NFL football game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Cincinnati Bengals Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023, at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati.
© Albert Cesare/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK
DE ROMEO OKWARA, DETROIT LIONS
Okwara is an underrated part of the Lions' defense and has been with the team since 2018 after spending two years with the New York Giants before that.
He started 14 games in 2018 and racked up 7.5 sacks. In 2020 he started nine more and hit double-digit sacks for the first time in his career.
Since then Okwara has been relegated to a rotational role and has had to battle back from an Achilles injury that required two surgeries to fix.
Not every signing is going to be an immediate starter, but taking a chance on someone who has shown drive and ability is exactly what the Buccaneers did with outside linebacker Shaquil Barrett a few years ago with much success.
DE CHASE YOUNG, SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
Young was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft heading to the Washington Commanders, and was later traded this season to the San Francisco 49ers.
He had five sacks in seven games with the Commanders before being traded and had 2.5 in nine regular season contests with the 49ers afterward.
Young also went from playing 73 percent of defensive snaps with Washington to 58 with San Francisco.
His stock has fallen significantly since being drafted, but the talent is still there waiting for the right situation and coaching staff to tap into it.
Could it be coach Todd Bowles and his crew? Maybe.
Stick with BucsGameday and the Locked On Bucs podcast for more coverage of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers throughout the offseason.
