3 free agents the Buccaneers need to avoid like the plague include five-time Pro Bowler and two-time Super Bowl champ
The Bucs have to pass on these names.
Free agency is a very exciting time, but every single year holds eventual failures and disappointments that can seriously affect a franchise’s trajectory (see: Russell Wilson).
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are entering a crucial season, therefore, Jason Licht and Co. need to do all they can to avoid said failures. Some are unavoidable due to injury and that’s understandable, but the Bucs need to make sure every box is checked when it comes to their upcoming moves.
There are three players, in particular, to avoid entirely. It’s time to serve them up on a platter and hope the Buccaneers feel the same way.
Which free agents should the Buccaneers avoid?
1. Buffalo Bills EDGE Joey Bosa
Bosa’s the first name that immediately comes to mind when it comes to expensive pass rushers with a murky future.
For starters, Bosa is unlikely to play a full season due to injury. He hasn’t played an entire slate of games since 2019 and has missed 25 games over the last four years. Granted, 20 of those 25 games occurred during the 2022-2023 seasons, but at the same time, his sack production has dipped dramatically with just 10 QB takedowns over the last two years.
He’ll turn 31 before the season starts and clearly isn’t the same player he used to be. There’s an obvious link between him and new defensive line coach Marcus West, which is scary due to how much coaches love players they’re familiar with (which is logical but is used as a crutch far too often).
Bosa’s also likely to command a salary of $10 million-plus. He’s Haason Reddick 2.0 and we saw how that turned out.
More EDGE options to avoid: Indianapolis Colts EDGE Kwity Paye, New Orleans Saints EDGE Cameron Jordan
2. Cleveland Browns TE David Njoku
The Buccaneers want to add explosiveness to the tight end position and that’s been Njoku’s game, but most of that has come and gone at this point in his career thanks to injuries over the last couple of years.
He recorded what should be considered a career-low 1.03 yards per route run in 2025 due to the fact his on-record career-low of 0.79 in 2019 was when he only played four games because of a wrist injury, but he was also a healthy scratch on some occasions. Regardless, his YPRR has dropped precipitously since he amassed a career-best 1.75 in 2023, as it dropped to 1.33 in 2024 before the aforementioned mark of 1.06 last year.
He also has questionable hands, evidenced by his 65.3% career catch rate. That’s a below-average mark for tight ends and a major red flag, especially when considering the Buccaneers want a reliable pass catcher on top of the playmaking ability.
Another TE option to avoid: Philadelphia Eagles TE Dallas Goedert
3. Kansas City Chiefs LB Leo Chenal
The analysis with avoiding Chenal is simple: He’s not a fit for Todd Bowles’ defense.
The Buccaneers need linebackers who can run and cover and that’s simply not a strong trait of Chenal’s. He’s far better suited as a strong-side linebacker in an even-front defense, which is obviously not what Bowles deploys on defense.
If the Bucs sign Chenal, it’s either an egregious misstep that doesn’t make sense or it signals a significant shift in Bowles’ defense. I’d bet my non-existent mortgage on the former, which would throw up a major red flag.
Other LB options to avoid: Washington Commanders LB Bobby Wagner, Dallas Cowboys LB Kenneth Murray
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