Tom Brady is in Tampa Bay, so what’s next for Buccaneers?
While Tom Brady is a terrific start for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, there are still moves for the organization to make to truly compete for the NFC crown.
Suffice it to say, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have had a solid first week of 2020 NFL free agency. After finishing third in the NFC South in 2019, they surprised everyone by signing six-time Super Bowl champion quarterback Tom Brady, who steps away from New England for the first time in his career. The Bucs landed the biggest fish in the free agency sea.
Even at 43 years old, Brady is enough to get everyone in Tampa Bay excited about the immediate future. The team went 7-9 with wildly erratic quarterback play and now they get the ageless wonder and perhaps the greatest to ever play the position taking up the mantle.
But while adding Brady was one of the most impactful moves for any NFL team thus far, where do the Buccaneers go from here? There are still moves to be made if Tampa is going to take the NFC in 2020 — at least three to be exact.
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3. Add another running back
Ronald Jones II had a strong 2019 season overall (especially in comparison to a disappointing rookie campaign) but, if the Buccaneers go the route of a two-man backfield, their offense would be that much better.
Whether it be signing Devonta Freeman to counter the signing of Todd Gurley by the division-rival Falcons or drafting a running back, Tampa Bay would benefit from adding another man to their backfield.
2. Add defensive line depth
One thing that was noticeably different about the Bucs was their transition from a 4-3 to a 3-4 under defensive coordinator Todd Bowles. As it stands right now, Vita Vea is the only defensive tackle on the roster and Rakeem Nunez-Roches is the current starter at left end after he only played in 26 percent of defensive snaps last season.
The Buccaneers currently hold the No. 14 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft and there will be a vast selection of defensive linemen at their disposal. Javon Kinlaw of South Carolina, A.J. Epenesa of Iowa or, if the cards stack in their favor, Derrick Brown of Auburn, could all be available. Landing one of these guys up front will strengthen a weak part of their defense.
1. Add another piece in the secondary
This isn’t to say that the Buccaneers’ secondary is bad but it needs a little more of a veteran presence. The most experienced guys in their defensive backfield are safety Andrew Adams and cornerback Deiondre’ Hall, both of whom just finished their fourth season.
Carlton Davis and Sean Murphy-Bunting have shown their respective potential and will be the likely starters at cornerback in 2020. Davis will be entering his third year and Murphy-Bunting his second. This is a very young group.
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With Logan Ryan and Prince Amukamara on the market, the addition of either player — or any of the proven veterans, for that matter — would be good for a group that is full of talent but lacks experience.