Tampa Bay Buccaneers 3 best offseason additions in 2022

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 19: Russell Gage #14 of the Atlanta Falcons celebrates a twenty-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter of the game asfat Levi's Stadium on December 19, 2021 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /

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ATLANTA, GEORGIA – DECEMBER 20: Russell Gage #83 of the Atlanta Falcons flips through the air after getting tackled by Antoine Winfield Jr. , #31 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 20, 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

Tampa Bay Buccaneers top offseason pickup no. 2: WR Russell Gage (Atlanta Falcons)

With Matt Ryan pulling the trigger for more than a decade, the Atlanta Falcons surrounded the veteran quarterback with plenty of pass-catching talent. From wide receivers Julio Jones in 2011 and Calvin Ridley in 2018 to tight end Kyle Pitts a year ago.

Of course, the 14-year signal-caller was dealt to Indianapolis this year. Ironically, that team used a first-round pick on USC wideout Drake London.

Speaking of the Falcons, four-year pro Russell Gage left the team this offseason and latched on with the division-rival Buccaneers.

A sixth-round draft choice from LSU in 2018, he emerged as a reliable threat for the club over the past two years. After catching just six passes (63 yards) in 15 games during his rookie campaign, that total improved to 49 receptions for 446 yards and one score in 2019.

In 2020, Gage was targeted 109 times and hauled in 72 passes for 786 yards and four touchdowns. And in 14 outings this past season, he finished with 66 grabs for 770 yards and four more scores.

With veteran Mike Evans (the franchise’s all-time leading pass-catcher), a healthy Chris Godwin (on the mend from a torn ACL), and the emerging Gage, Tom Brady has quite a trio of targets to choose from.

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