On February 12, the day after the Chiefs concluded the 2023 season with a Super Bowl LVIII win over the 49ers, the NFL’s 2024 offseason effectively kicked off. That was 30 days before the official start of the new league year – and with it the opening of the free agent market – and the Buccaneers had some work to get done before that deadline.
At the time, the Bucs faced a list of 18 players from their 2023 roster who were set to become unrestricted free agents on March 13. That number grew to 19 when the team declined to pick up an option year on the contract for wide receiver Russell Gage, and essentially to 21 when neither cornerback Dee Delaney or guard Nick Leverett were tendered qualifying offers to make them restricted free agents. The Bucs also had two players, wide receiver Deven Thompkins and tackle Brandon Walton, who would become exclusive rights free agents if they received qualifying offers.
That’s a total of 23 players for whom the Buccaneers had to choose either action or inaction, and if it was the former had to find a way to get a new contract in place under the constraints of a tight salary cap. As of the start of the third week of free agency, the Bucs (and a few other teams) had already pared that list down to seven.
Eight of those 23 players had new deals done – either signed or agreed to terms – before or on the first day of free agency. That list included Thompkins, Walton, wide receiver Mike Evans, quarterback Baker Mayfield, linebacker Lavonte David, kicker Chase McLaughlin, running back Chase Edmonds and defensive lineman Greg Gaines. A ninth, All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield Jr., received the non-exclusive franchise tag, allowing the Bucs more time to get a long-term deal done and all but ensuring that Winfield would at least remain in the roster in 2024.
Three more re-signed after they officially hit the free agent market: quarterback John Wolford, tackle Justin Skule and long-snapper Zach Triner.
Four have signed with other teams: Leverett (Patriots), wide receiver David Moore (Panthers), guard Aaron Stinnie (Giants) and linebacker Devin White.
As noted, that leaves just seven players remaining from that list of 23 who have yet to either return to the Buccaneers or find a new NFL home. That list is comprised of guard Gage, Delaney, Matt Feiler, defensive linemen Will Gholston and Pat O’Connor, outside linebacker Cam Gill and safety Ryan Neal.
