The Tampa Bay Buccaneers began their 2026 free agency with a bittersweet first day on Monday. Well, more bitter than sweet, to be sure. Much more bitter, with Mike Evans opting to leave for the San Francisco 49ers on a deal that the Bucs could have easily surpassed and then some.

The day did have its good moments, with LB Alex Anzalone and RB Kenneth Gainwell agreeing to deals with the team and TE Cade Otton reaching an agreement to return to the Bucs.

Regarding Anzalone, the move was a solid one, and one that I called for previously as a reasonable option for the Bucs to make among their free agent options.

However, one that I miscalculated was Jacksonville LB Devin Lloyd. I figured a couple of things. One, that the Bucs would find a way to spend and keep Mike Evans in Tampa. As it turned out, money wasn’t the problem there. I also figured that Lloyd would have been outpriced by the market for him and was someone that was likely out of the Bucs’ range, particularly including a deal with Evans in the fold.

But the Carolina Panthers proved me wrong there, too, reaching a deal with Lloyd at 3 years, $45 million. That’s more affordable than I had figured.

And perhaps a number the Bucs should have tried to surpass given the money they saved from not keeping Evans in Tampa, even with Anzalone on board. Now, the Bucs will have to face one of the best linebackers in the NFL two times a year.

Bucs linebacker room could have used Devin Lloyd, but now they’ll have to deal with him twice a year

It remains to be seen if Lavonte David returns for season number fifteen this year, as he hasn’t announced his retirement nor reached a deal with the Bucs for one more year.

But with Anzalone surely manning one starting linebacker spot, there’s still a big question mark associated with the other one. SirVocea Dennis played last year more like a backup than a capable NFL starter after a promising start to his 2024 season. And even if David returns, he’s not at the same level that a player like Lloyd is at this point in time.

Now, Carolina’s defense just got substantially better, and not just inside, but outside as well, with free agent edge rusher Jaelan Phillips signing a four-year, $120 million deal with Carolina. The Bucs also need pass rushing help, but I don’t condone putting that kind of money on a player with the length injury history that he’s dealt with over the last three years (season ending Achilles and ACL injuries in 2023 and 2024, respectively).

But Lloyd, who last season was fourth among all linebackers and second among all those with at least 750 snaps with a Pro Football Focus defensive grade of 88.4 (with a 78.9 coverage mark), is very likely worth the money that he got, and it was a figure that leaves you wondering “what if”?

He also had a connection in Tampa with his former defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell, who he played for in 2022-23 in Jacksonville and currently coaches inside linebackers for the Buccaneers.

There’s nothing wrong with taking two linebackers in one free agency period. Former Buccaneer executive and current Raiders GM John Spytek did just that on Monday, reaching $35+ million deals with both Quay Walker and Nakobe Dean. Granted the Raiders had a lot more cap space than Tampa Bay, but there was a clear problem in the middle of the Raiders’ defense (among other places), and Spytek addressed it head on with two potential impact players.

We’ll see what the Bucs do at the other inside linebacker spot. There’s still the NFL Draft ahead, and perhaps a second day pick on a player like Texas’ Anthony Hill, Jr., Texas Tech’s Jacob Rodriguez, or even Pitt’s Kyle Louis would be logical there. But Todd Bowles’ defense is highly complex and asks a lot of every player, so getting the playbook and positional responsibilities down quickly isn’t something that’ll be easy for a rookie linebacker.

What’s clear is that one of the league’s best is now going to be lining up and trying to stop Tampa Bay this fall. And the task of unseating the Panthers’ new grip on the NFC South will be tougher.