The Tampa Bay Buccaneers aren’t appearing like a crew in transition. Recall that they’re coming off a season that noticed them emerge as one of many extra balanced groups within the NFC. Now, they’ve doubled down on conserving the core intact and constructing from inside. There’s a sure confidence—bordering on boldness—in how basic supervisor Jason Licht and head coach Todd Bowles approached the 2025 offseason. Positive, many of the NFC South shuffled the deck or rebooted their playbooks. Nevertheless, the Bucs leaned into familiarity with a calculated mixture of inner promotions and some high-upside strikes. For all of the wise strikes, although, one signing stands out—not for a way incorrect it’s, however for a way a lot it must go proper.
Acquainted Faces, Promising Picks, and Regular Fingers
The Buccaneers need to be feeling fairly good about their offseason. Their solely main teaching departure got here when offensive coordinator Liam Coen left to take the pinnacle teaching job in Jacksonville. As an alternative of constructing a splashy exterior rent, the Bucs promoted passing recreation coordinator Josh Grizzard to OC. That is an inner resolution that alerts confidence of their offensive philosophy and the steadiness round quarterback Baker Mayfield.
On the participant entrance, the headline transfer was re-signing large receiver Chris Godwin to a three-year deal. He’s 29 and coming off a dislocated ankle that ended his 2024 marketing campaign prematurely. Nonetheless, Godwin nonetheless initiatives as an important cog in what has been a top-five offense. Insurance coverage got here within the type of first-round draft decide Emeka Egbuka. He’s a clean route-runner with explosive upside who will assist hold defenses trustworthy. That is very true if Godwin wants time to ramp up.
Defensively, the Bucs leaned on the draft to reload. They took a wise gamble on cornerback Benjamin Morrison. He had first-round buzz earlier than struggling an ACL tear. Pairing him with Jacob Parrish offers Tampa Bay two high-ceiling gamers. They need to instantly contribute to a secondary that was too skinny at occasions final 12 months. All in all, it was a stable and measured offseason—till it got here to fixing the move rush.
Right here we’ll strive to take a look at the riskiest transfer that the the Tampa Bay Buccaneers executed within the 2025 NFL offseason.
Reddick or Bust?
If there’s one transfer that might boomerang on Tampa Bay, it’s signing edge rusher Haason Reddick to a one-year, $14 million deal. On paper, this fills a necessity. The Buccaneers’ edge rush was in such dire straits final 12 months. Do not forget that they even dialed up retired veteran Shaq Barrett in desperation. They wanted our bodies, velocity, and disruption off the sting. That stated, Reddick’s latest monitor file is a combined bag, and that’s placing it gently.
He was as soon as a rising star with the Eagles. Do not forget that Reddick even hit double-digit sacks and appeared like one of many league’s premier velocity rushers. Then got here the disastrous stint with the New York Jets. Whether or not it was scheme match, teaching, or locker room dynamics, Reddick appeared like a shell of his Philly self. He completed the 2024 season with simply 3.5 sacks and an alarming dip in stress charge. At age 30, his burst isn’t what it as soon as was. As well as, opposing offenses have began to scheme him out extra successfully.
So why is that this transfer dangerous? As a result of the Bucs want him to work out. They didn’t signal another notable edge rushers in free company. There’s no clear high-impact rookie ready within the wings. Calijah Kancey is a game-wrecker inside, however he wants assist off the sting. With out that, groups can slide safety and neutralize him. Reddick isn’t only a luxurious—he’s the plan. And $12 million assured isn’t “simply kick the tires” cash. It’s a dedication.
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Why the Gamble Could Pay Off
To be honest, there are causes to be cautiously optimistic. Todd Bowles is among the extra inventive defensive minds within the NFL. He has a knack for deploying hybrid front-seven gamers. If anybody can revive Reddick’s profession, it’s Bowles. Tampa’s scheme may additionally let Reddick pin his ears again and rush with out the protection tasks that bogged him down in New York.
Plus, there’s one thing to be stated in regards to the Bucs’ locker room tradition. Veteran leaders like Lavonte David and Antoine Winfield Jr set a tone of accountability and focus. Reddick nonetheless has the instruments to be an efficient situational move rusher. That is even when he is not a Professional Bowl lock.
However make no mistake: it is a boom-or-bust transfer. If Reddick underperforms or will get harm, Tampa Bay is true again the place it began. They are going to be quick on edge presence and over-reliant on the inside line.
Excessive Stakes, Average Reward
For a crew seeking to contend in a wide-open NFC, the Reddick signing is a bet wrapped in a necessity. It’s not reckless, nevertheless it’s removed from secure. Tampa Bay selected to belief the bounce-back potential of a declining edge rusher as a result of they didn’t need to overpay elsewhere or attain within the draft. It’d work. It may additionally price them dearly in shut video games the place a single sack or stress may flip the end result.
The Buccaneers’ offseason was crammed with sensible, steady choices—selling from inside, growing their younger secondary, and shoring up the offense. However the one factor they couldn’t afford to overlook on was the move rush. And so they’ve positioned that guess on Haason Reddick. If it pays off, Tampa could possibly be a top-tier protection once more. If not, it’s the sort of swing that may hold them caught in impartial.