Final week I outlined the Bucs’ cap state of affairs for 2025. With a gifted roster with a few particular holes it is smart that the workforce may be available in the market for some exterior assist subsequent 12 months. And whereas Tampa Bay isn’t out of the playoff race this 12 months, removed from it the truth is, I believed popping out of the bye week it will be a enjoyable train to have a look at some potential free agent targets the workforce may pursue at edge rusher subsequent 12 months.
The fee projections on potential contracts are derived from present projections that myself and Kyle DeDiminicantanio have for these gamers by Week 10 of this season.
Bucs’ Outdoors Linebacker Choices In 2025
Bucs OLB Yaya Diaby and Ravens QB Lamar Jackson – Picture by: USA Immediately
In contrast to inside linebacker, the Bucs do have some expertise to work from at edge rusher. Outdoors linebacker Yaya Diaby has made a powerful 12 months two leap and presently ranks twenty eighth in quarterback pressures per Subsequent Gen Stats. Rookie Chris Braswell has had some flashes to start out his profession and the workforce is hoping he can have a second-half ascension much like Diaby final 12 months.
However the workforce can be set to lose two of it’s prime 4 edge rushers subsequent 12 months as each Joe Tryon-Shoyinka and Anthony Nelson are pending free brokers. The probability that both participant is again in 2025 is lower than 50%.
One of many evident weaknesses of the Bucs protection this 12 months, and up to date years general, has been the dearth of a real one-vs.-one winner at go rusher. Defensive sort out/finish Calijah Kancey has proven that he could also be that man on the within, however none of the present outdoors linebackers have stepped as much as be a real, win outdoors or inside participant on the sting.
If the Bucs select to pursue free agent choices to enhance their means to get strain by way of a 4 down and go method listed here are some attainable choices they may look to.
Prime Of The Market
Chargers OLB Khalil Mack – Picture by: USA Immediately
Kyle DeDiminicantanio and I presently have three edge rushers projected to prime $15 million per 12 months on a free agent deal subsequent 12 months. They’re Khalil Mack, Haason Reddick and Josh Sweat.
Mack leads the way in which, and on the age of 33 he nonetheless reveals virtually no indicators of slowing down. He restructured his contract this 12 months to stick with the Chargers at a lowered money movement of simply $19,000,000. His manufacturing on the sector has far out-produced that charge.
With 29 pressures on 226 go rush alternatives per Professional Soccer Focus, Mack has a strain charge of 12.8%. His go rush win charge, additionally as measured by PFF, is 14.2% and ranked twenty first amongst certified edge rushers. He’s additionally a confirmed finisher persistently changing 15% or extra of his pressures into sacks since 2019. If not for his age, Mack would doubtlessly be in search of a deal close to $30 million per 12 months in 2025.
As is, contemplating he can be 34 subsequent 12 months his price ticket and size of deal can be significantly extra reasonably priced for potential suitors. Nonetheless he’ll probably be the priciest free agent edge rusher.
His deal ought to comp off of Danielle Hunter’s contract with the Texans final 12 months. Hunter obtained $49 million over two years with virtually your complete quantity assured. I see Mack with a barely decrease APY of $22.5 million per 12 months with round $25-30 million assured. That might place his 2025 cap hit someplace round $12.5 million for a workforce not attempting to backload your complete deal.
The enigmatic Reddick has a 15% strain charge since ending his maintain out and returning to the Jets in Week 8. His hopes of getting a brand new deal earlier than he turned 30 after Philadelphia traded him by no means transpired and he’ll now cope with not solely age, however the holdout itself affecting his worth on his subsequent deal. However he can nonetheless get to the quarterback which suggests there can be a marketplace for him.
Admittedly, the maintain out could have an effect on his worth greater than we are able to actually quantify however we venture him for a three-year, $60 million deal subsequent 12 months with about $35 million assured. A hypothetical deal like this could price the Bucs round $9 million in 2025 wage cap.
Saints DE Chase Younger and Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes – Picture by: USA Immediately
Chase Younger is a constant go rush winner with a barely deflated conversion charge. He gave Tristan Wirfs some bother earlier this 12 months along with his inside stab transfer and is a fairly efficient go rusher general. Now 1.5 years faraway from harm issues and has draft pedigree which ought to issue into his subsequent deal.
His robust 2024 marketing campaign ought to web him a elevate on his $13 million wage this 12 months. A 3-year, $52.5 million contract would include a $11 million cap hit in 2025.
Josh Sweat has been a constant, however not dominant, go rusher over the previous a number of years. He can be simply 28 subsequent 12 months and is nicely on his solution to his fourth consecutive season of 45 pressures or extra and is presently getting strain on 13.8% of his go rush makes an attempt.
In contrast to Mack and Reddick, due to his extra workman-like profile he’ll probably price the Bucs lower than $20 million per 12 months. We now have him projected for $17 million per 12 months over 4 years with $37.5 million assured. This could are available in round a $9 million wage cap hit in 2025.
Center Of The Market
Patriots EDGE Josh Uche – Picture by: USA Immediately
Two edge rushers stick out because the second-tier choices if the Bucs need extra of a worth possibility. And one in every of them has me excited. They’re Azeez Ojulari, Chase Younger, Malcolm Koonce and Josh Uche.
Ojulari is within the midst of a breakout season that ought to inflate his market to round $13-15 million per 12 months. Sensible groups will look previous his sack whole to see that he’s changing a comparatively modest variety of pressures into sacks at an unsustainably excessive charge.
As it’s, I see a three-year deal price $45 million and $30 million assured as a extra probably state of affairs at this juncture. The construction of a deal like this could most likely create a $10 million wage cap hit in 2025.
The second possibility is essentially the most intriguing in my view. Josh Uche was simply traded from New England to Kansas Metropolis after taking a under market one 12 months take care of the Patriots this 12 months. Simply two years faraway from a ten+ sack season, Uche nonetheless reveals so much on tape regardless of getting used sparingly over his profession.
If the Bucs needed a real worth possibility to simply give them a legit go rush specialist weapon, Uche affords one of the best bang for the buck in my view. A two-year, $15 million contract with minimal ensures might present an enormous return on funding for a participant with a profession strain charge of 15.5%.
