Five Buccaneers Players Named in ESPN's Top 50 Free Agents
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have their work cut out for them building their roster for next season with 18 unrestricted free agents this offseason. Some have higher priorities than others and with just over $37 million in cap space, some tough decisions will need to be made. There will be players on the current roster who may no longer be with the team as well. But as for the unrestricted free agents, the Bucs will likely try to bring the high-priority players back into the fold.
Speaking of those high-priority free agents, ESPN.com came out with their Top 50 free agents rankings and five Buccaneers made the list. Safety Antoine Winfield Jr. landed in the top 10 coming in at the tenth spot. Wide receiver Mike Evans and quarterback Baker Mayfield rounded out the top 15 landing at twelfth and thirteenth respectively. The Bucs' pair of linebackers rounded out the bottom of the list with Devin White ranking 44th and Lavonte David coming in at 48.
Here is what ESPN had to say about the Bucs' impending free agents.
10. Antoine Winfield Jr.
Winfield is an impact defender with the multidimensional traits to match in coverage, create pressure and show range to the ball. Entering his peak years, he already has 15 sacks, 11 forced fumbles and 7 interceptions over his career.
12. Mike Evans
Evans has the frame to isolate as the boundary X receiver, creating matchup potential outside the numbers. The vertical ability is still there -- Evans' 11 catches on passes thrown 20 or more yards downfield tied for 10th this season -- and he has the route traits to uncover. With 1,255 receiving yards (ninth) and 13 touchdowns (tied for first) this season, Evans should be viewed as a priority target in free agency.
13. Baker Mayfield
Mayfield topped the 4,000-yard mark and threw 28 touchdown passes this season, leading the Buccaneers to a playoff win. He's at his best when throwing in rhythm from the pocket, and he uses his quick release and arm talent to decisively target multiple levels of the field. A good fit for an offense with a lot of play-action and schemed verticals, Mayfield moves up our free agent board given his production over the second half of the season, including two 300-yard playoff games.
44. Devin White
White has great second-level range and is a productive blitzer who can get home to the quarterback. He has 23 career sacks since going No. 5 overall back in 2019. White has the ceiling of an impact linebacker against today's NFL passing games, but his 2023 production and tape wasn't as impressive as previous seasons. After three straight seasons with 120-plus tackles, he managed 83.
48. Lavonte David
David has had more than 100 tackles in six of past seven seasons, and he has 33.5 career sacks. Sure, his age will factor into his free agent grade, but David is still a reliable and instinctive linebacker who can key and diagnose plays quickly. His 17 tackles for loss in 2023 tied for seventh.
White has likely played his last down for the Buccaneers but the Bucs should make a strong effort to retain the other four players mentioned on the list. It remains to be known if David will strap them up for another year but he is very unlikely to play elsewhere to finish out his career.
Winfield Jr. will either come to an agreement with the team on a long-term deal or will have the franchise tag placed on him. there is uncertainty with Mayfield now that Canales has left for the Panthers' head coaching job and that stability he thought he had as offensive coordinator will once be again interrupted. Yet, the organizational stability is still in tact and he loves the city and his teammates so there is a strong chance he is back as well.
The big one is Mike Evans and his will to finish his career as a Tampa Bay Buccaneer. Evans will be learning a new offense either way so there's a possibility he will decide to finish his career elsewhere, especially if he and the team a far apart in numbers. Houston could make a run at him and I expect the Panthers to also inquire about his services. Though I think it is still likely Evans will return, these are some of the challenges the Bucs will face this offseason.
You can follow JC Allen on Twitter @JCAllenNFL.
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