Since the start of NFL free agency, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have remained one of the busiest teams this offseason. With around $45 million at the start of free agency, the Buccaneers have signed 15 total players to new contracts, and have improved their roster by considerable margins.
Most notably, Tampa Bay was able to come to terms with quarterback Baker Mayfield, wide receiver Mike Evans, middle linebacker Lavonte David, free safety Antoine Winfield Jr., and kicker Chase McLaughlin within the first days of free agency.
In addition, the Buccaneers made several key signings to fill holes in their roster. Those moves included bringing back Jordan Whitehead on a two-year, $9 million contract, trading cornerback Carlton Davis III to Detroit for a third-round pick in this year’s draft, and adding Jets’ cornerback Bryce Hall, Giants’ offensive guard Ben Bredeson, and Eagles’ offensive guard Sua Opeta on one-year deals.
With that said, the Buccaneers have been quiet as of late, holding off on signing any other notable names with their remaining $8.8 million in salary cap space, per OverTheCap. As a result, Tampa Bay is simply financially unable to be in the running to land one more blockbuster signing.
On Friday, one potential game-changing offseason target for the Buccaneers emerged in trade rumors. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the expectation around the NFL is Reddick will eventually be traded, with the Arizona Cardinals and Atlanta Falcons cited as potential landing spots.
“The expectation leaguewide is that he is moved at some point. The Eagles went and spent on Bryce Huff, they re-signed Josh Sweat, so they have their two pass rushers. Reddick appears to be the odd man out. He does want a new deal, but this is a premier guy that should have value,” Fowler said on SportsCenter.
While the Bucs need some pass rush help, Fowler didn’t mention Tampa Bay as a top suitor.
It seems like the Bucs are out of the running for a Haason Reddick trade
Part of that might be Reddick wanting a new contract and the Eagles’ asking price in a deal. The Bucs would need to give up some draft picks, and it’s been increasingly clear that Jason Licht plans to use them to build in places where free agency grew too expensive.
It’s also worth noting that the Eagles delayed the due date for Reddick’s $1 million roster bonus from March 15th to April 1st. This effectively gives Philadelphia more legroom to navigate a trade. Reddick is currently asking for about $25 million annually, another holdup for Philly trying to trade the 30-year-old.
Reddick, the No. 13 pick in the 2017 NFL draft, was decent but failed to live up to expectations in his first five seasons in the league. Starting in 47 of 80 games played with Arizona and Carolina, Reddick recorded 323 tackles, 45 tackles for loss, 31 sacks, 15 passes defended and 11 forced fumbles.
Entering the 2021 offseason as a free agent, Reddick signed a three-year, $45 million contract with Philadelphia in hopes of proving himself. In the past two seasons, it’s safe to say Reddick did just that.
In the season following his signing with Philly, Reddick notched 49 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, a career-high 16 sacks, three pass breakups, and five forced fumbles, earning All-Pro Second Team and Pro Bowl honors, while finishing fourth in the AP Defensive Player of the Year race.
This season, Reddick was just as dominant of a force on the Eagles’ defensive, compiling 38 tackles, 23 quarterback hits, 13 tackles for loss, and 11 sacks in 17 starts, earning his second straight Pro Bowl selection.
While Tampa Bay is firmly out of the running for Reddick, the Cardinals, Falcons, and Lions are all projected potential suitors for the star pass rusher, per CBS Sports. For Atlanta, Reddick would pair with defensive tackle Grady Jarrett to form one of the conference’s top pass rushing duos.
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