NFL Free Agency 2018: One move each team should make

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Sign CB E.J. Gaines

The Tampa Buccaneers defense was downright awful last season, allowing a league-worst 378.1 total yards per game. Their rush defense left plenty to be desired but their pass defense was particularly terrible, allowing an NFL-high 260.6 yards per game through the air.

The Bucs lacked any sort of pass rush last season, but their secondary deserves a ton of blame as well. Tampa Bay simply must add talent to their defense in the upcoming NFL free agency period with cornerback E.J. Gaines looking like a prime target for the team.

Gaines was traded to the Buffalo Bills by the Los Angeles Rams prior to the 2017 NFL season. He became an immediate starter for the Bills and played at an extremely high level early in the season. Gaines showed legitimate lock down corner ability for the Bills, flashing an impressive skill set both on the outside and in the slot. Unfortunately, Gaines struggled with a hamstring injury that held him out of five games for the Bills last season. But when he was on the field, Gaines constantly made an impact. He is a true playmaker at the cornerback position.

At only 26 years old, Gaines hits the open market as an extremely attractive target for many teams. He will undoubtedly get many large, long-term contract offers this offseason. But as long as his price doesn’t get out of hand, the Bucs should be in the race for Gaines. They have plenty of cap space to work with this offseason and Gaines would drastically improve their awful pass defense overnight.