According to Gary Davenport, an analyst from Bleacher Report, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers must find a way to keep middle linebacker Kwon Alexander in Tampa.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are feeling the numbers crunch in 2019. As the Bruce Arians era begins in Tampa, the Buccaneers have 24 pending restricted and unrestricted free agents and only about $8.5 million in cap space.
It’s a list that contains some big names, too. Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick and cornerback Brent Grimes are likely goners. Ditto for left tackle Donovan Smith, who could be set for a monster payday on the open market. Slot receiver Adam Humphries could also be in store for a huge raise after a career year.
However, it’s middle linebacker Kwon Alexander who should be the team’s first order of business in free agency.
Alexander’s last two seasons have been cut short by injuries, including an ACL tear six games into the 2018 season. But the 24-year-old’s rehab is reportedly progressing well, and in his last full season with the team in 2016, Alexander ranked fourth in the NFL in total tackles with 145 and led the league with 108 solo stops.
When healthy, Alexander’s one of the better young inside linebackers in the game.
– via Gary Davenport, Bleacherreport.com
Alexander will become a free agent if Licht and the Bucs do not decide to sign him to a new deal by the beginning of the 2019 season early in March.
When healthy, the talented 24-year-old was a major part of Tampa’s defense. However, Alexander has already missed quite a few games in his short career due to injuries. The last time the former LSU Tiger played a full season for the Bucs was the 2016 season.
Davenport does have a point. Alexander is definitely one of the better young inside linebackers in the NFL. However, whether the Bucs can keep his services in 2019 will depend on the kind of contract he will demand and on which other players the Bucs decide to keep (McCoy, Smith, Jackson, Humphries, Fitzpatrick, Grimes).
The coming weeks will become interesting and telling for Bucs fans.
