Buccaneers Set to Reunite with Former Starter?

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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ secondary was expected to be a powerhouse in the 2024 season, but injuries hindered their performance, ultimately ranking them 29th in passing defense. They allowed an average of 243.9 yards per game through the air.

Fortunately, the Buccaneers are poised to retain most of their key players from 2024, setting the stage for a resurgent pass defense in 2025 – provided their starters can maintain good health.

The secondary is led by stalwarts Antoine Winfield Jr. and Zyon McCollum, with rookie Tykee Smith exceeding expectations despite facing challenges. According to PFF, Smith’s impressive performance ranked among the best debut seasons for a player at his position.

“General manager Jason Licht’s 2024 draft class already has a proven star in Bucky Irving, and Smith is another candidate to flourish. In his first NFL regular season, Smith collected an 88.1 PFF run-defense grade, the seventh-best mark among cornerbacks with 100 or more run-defense snaps. His 21 stops tied for the 13th most among rookies.”

A pivotal offseason decision for Jason Licht and the Buccaneers’ front office will be determining the future of cornerback Jamel Dean, who has yet to justify the 4-year, $52 million contract extension he signed, falling short of expectations.

Injuries have consistently hindered Jamel Dean’s tenure with the Buccaneers, making him a prime candidate to be released as a salary cap casualty this offseason.

Jamel Dean’s availability has been a significant concern over the past two seasons, with nine missed games and notable absences in crucial postseason contests. Reliability is a key tenet of Todd Bowles’ defensive philosophy, and Dean has fallen short in that regard.

Whether the Buccaneers retain Dean or part ways with him, bolstering cornerback depth is likely to be a top priority this offseason.

According to TWSN, the Buccaneers are expected to reunite with a familiar face, Carlton Davis, who delivered a strong performance as a starting cornerback for the Detroit Lions last season. Davis, who was traded to the Lions by the Bucs just last year, is predicted to sign with Tampa Bay.

“After having a solid season with the Lions, Davis is once again a free agent and why not have a reunion in Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers had a good season but ultimately fell short against the Commanders in the Wild Card. Davis would have a smooth transition back to Tampa as he knows the defensive scheme like muscle memory as Todd Bowles is still around as the head coach so there could be mutual interest in a return for Carlton Davis.

Although his season did come short after injuring his jaw in week 15 he had a good year having a 73.4 coverage grade on PFF and a 84.4 grade in throws in less than 3 yards. Carlton would add veteran leadership and be one of the defensive captains and with the Buccaneers having just over 20 million in cap space this reunion could work financially.”

The BR Rub

The Buccaneers definitely need help at the cornerback position. With the previously mentioned Dean struggling to stay healthy, AND a draft class that doesn’t have many “plug-N-play” corners available, something has to be done. So yes, bringing back Davis makes sense for the short-term, but this team needs youth at the position as well.

Information and quotes in this article came from The Sporting News.

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