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Tampa Bay Buccaneers News

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers didn’t wait long for free agency negotiations to begin to find an answer to one of their biggest roster questions this offseason.  Well, for 2025, at least.

Per Ian Rapoport on the NFL Network, the team and free agent edge rusher Haason Reddick have reached an agreement on a one-year deal.  The contract is for $12 million guaranteed and up to $14 million.

I have to say, that’s quite the surprising move for the Bucs to make for a number of reasons.

To address the elephant in the room first, Reddick was the source of quite the amount of controversy in 2024 with the New York Jets.  He held out through training camp, preseason, and the first six games of the 2024 season seeking a new contract.  That finally ended on October 20 with a re-worked deal with the team, but Reddick’s absence was a major distraction and was a repeated talking point by national media outlets.

The move being for one year also is a bit awkward in that the Bucs need a long-term solution opposite Yaya Diaby off the edge.  It makes sense for them to take a player in this draft who could potentially fill that role with a player like James Pearce, Jr., Mykel Williams, or Jalon Walker, among others.  If they’re going to invest long-term in Reddick, it’s going to cost a ton more than if they were to invest in a draft pick, and we know Reddick isn’t leaving a dollar on the table after last year.

So now, you’ve spent a big chunk of your limited salary cap space to a player for one year who may or may not be a part of your plans beyond this year.  And if he’s not and you draft an edge early in the draft, then you’re either not giving reps to your first rounder or to the guy you just paid significant money.

It’s a weird fit, and one that I’m surprised the Bucs pulled the trigger on.  That’s not to say Reddick doesn’t have a strong upside.  He does.  From 2020 to 2023, he totaled 12.5, 11, 16, and 11 sacks, respectively, for the Cardinals and Eagles.  If he can get back to double digit sacks in Tampa after just one last year, then it could be money well spent – at least for the 2025 season.

It’s just significant risk to be taking with cap space, and one that doesn’t appear to fit the team’s future plans very well.