Buccaneer Fans Been Unimpressed With 2019 Free Agency? Look Again.

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So when the NFL turned it’s free agency firehose on full blast this week, Buccaneer fans felt a little envy as it seemed superstars were trading teams like it was a drunken fantasy football league.

Although the moves the Buccaneers and GM Jason Licht have made didn’t set off too many alarms over at the NFL network, there were some good moves that addressed some serious needs. It also added what will turn out to be some important pieces for Bruce Arians, Todd Bowles and the rest of the new staff.

Deone Bucannon

Bucannon was first team all PAC 12 and first team All American out of Washington State. He was considered one of the top safeties in the 2014 NFL draft and was selected in the first round (#27) by the Arizona Cardinals.  After an injury to linebacker Sean Witherspoon, Bucannon was moved to middle linebacker where he used his speed and tenacity to lead the team in tackles through their first six games.  After sitting out 2017 after ankle surgery, this safety/linebacker hybrid would seem to be the perfect fit for a changing defensive scheme under DC Todd Bowles.

Shaquil Barrett

Linebacker Shaquil Barrett was one of the Broncos leading pass rushers over the last four years recording 14 sacks. That’s despite playing behind All-Pro Von Miller and first round picks Shane Ray (2015) and Bradley Chubb (2018).

Look for the former Colorado State University standout and previous Mountain West Player of the Year to bring much needed depth to a linebacking corps that is in transition and will be learning an entirely new system this offseason.

Breshard Perriman

This University of Central Florida standout did not have an impressive scouting combine back in 2015 due to hamstring issues but ran two(2) sub 4.3 40’s at UCF’s pro day which impressed the Baltimore Ravens enough that they would select him in the first round of the draft.

Finding himself on the Browns roster had GM Ken Dorsey and new HC, and former Arians protege Freddie Kitchens licking thier chops at the thought of using Perriman in Kitchens high flying scheme. The trade that brought Odell Beckham Jr. to the Browns made Perriman expendable.

Now the Buccaneers will use his blazing speed to open up opportunities downfield for Jameis Winston and HC Bruce Arians assault through the air offense.

Even though the Buccaneers have seemed thrifty through free agency in 2019, Tampa Bay should be no less excited about what some of the new talent in the building will be bringing to the party this year. Sometimes a splash doesn’t have to be a cannon ball to make waves that will impress.

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