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Cade Otton Cade Otton Held out of rookie minicamp
Wed, May 11, 2022, 3:55 PM
Otton (ankle) won't participate in on-field work at rookie minicamp, Greg Auman of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: The rookie fourth-round pick received medical clearance in April following season-ending surgery, but the Bucs will play it safe and keep him off the practice field for now. Otton currently falls somewhere behind Cameron Brate on the depth chart, with both moving down a slot if Rob Gronkowski decides to play another season. |
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Kyle Trask Kyle Trask Likely No. 3 QB to start season
Tue, May 10, 2022, 11:28 AM
Buccaneers quarterback coach Clyde Christensen said Tuesday that he doesn't expect Trask to compete with Blaine Gabbert for the No. 2 spot this season, Greg Auman of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: With the return of Tom Brady, both quarterbacks aren't expected to see the field, but it sounds like the veteran Gabbert has the primary backup spot locked down heading into training camp. There was speculation that Trask could compete with Gabbert after being selected by Tampa Bay in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft, but the second-year quarterback is apparently headed for another developmental year. |
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Tom Brady Tom Brady Restructures contract
Fri, Apr 22, 2022, 2:59 PM
The Buccaneers have restructured Brady's 2022 contract, a move that creates $9 million in salary cap space for the team, ESPN's Jenna Laine reports.
Analysis: The report notes that prior to restructuring Brady's deal, the team had just shy of $4.4 million in cap space ahead of next week's NFL draft. Now the Bucs have added resources to sign rookies, as well as potentially add more veteran free agents, with tight end Rob Gronkowski an intriguing option on that front if he decides to play in 2022. In any case, Brady -- who turns 45 in August -- remains on track to become an unrestricted free agent in 2023. |
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Blaine Gabbert Blaine Gabbert Back with Bucs
Wed, Apr 6, 2022, 4:06 PM
The Buccaneers have re-signed Gabbert.
Analysis: By bringing back Gabbert, who spent the past two seasons as Tom Brady's primary backup, the Bucs have retained all four quarterbacks they carried either on their active roster or practice squad last year. Per Greg Auman of The Athletic, it remains to be seen if Gabbert maintains his depth chart standing, however, with 2021 second-rounder Kyle Trask a candidate to push him for the team's No. 2 signal-caller role. |
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Tyler Johnson Tyler Johnson Outlook muddled by signings
Sun, Apr 3, 2022, 11:07 PM
Johnson (ribs) will have to compete with free-agent signee Russell Gage and the returning Breshad Perriman (abdomen) for snaps behind Mike Evans and Chris Godwin (knee) in 2022, Scott Smith of the team's official site reports.
Analysis: Johnson posted seven tallies of at least three receptions during the 2021 season and added another five grabs during the Buccaneers' two-game playoff run. The second-year wideout undoubtedly made strides while logging 38 more targets and 328 more snaps than in his rookie 2020 campaign, but the signing of Gage gives him some accomplished and more experienced competition. The former Falcons wideout produced a 138-1,556-8 line across the last two seasons alone, and in addition to Gage, Johnson will also have to deal with the presence of Perriman, who has experience in the offense and brings some coveted deep speed. Godwin's likely absence early in the season will give Johnson a clearer path to meaningful snaps no matter where he ends up in the pecking order, but he'll have to make a notable impact to ensure that remains the norm once his teammate is healthy. |
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Tom Brady Tom Brady Should have continuity on offense
Sat, Apr 2, 2022, 2:33 PM
Brady should remain in what is now a familiar offensive system despite the retirement of Bruce Arians, as he'll still be working under offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: The future Hall of Famer's brief retirement came to an end shortly before Arians' sudden decision to call it a coaching career himself. However, Brady certainly won't have to adapt to a new offensive system, despite the architect of the one he's thrived in the last two seasons no longer donning a headset. In Leftwich, Brady will still be working under the same coordinator that's helped the legendary signal-caller rack up 9,949 yards and 83 touchdown passes across his last 33 regular-season games. Moreover, with new head coach Todd Bowles almost certain to give Leftwich significant autonomy over the offensive side of the ball, it's highly conceivable Brady will have an even bigger voice in the overall scheme during the coming season. |
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Giovani Bernard Giovani Bernard Staying with Tampa
Fri, Apr 1, 2022, 1:17 PM
Bernard is re-signing with the Buccaneers on a one-year contract, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Analysis: The 30-year-old RB reportedly fielded offers from multiple teams before deciding to stay in Tampa Bay, where he had eight carries and 23 catches in 12 games last season. Bernard should continue to have a role on third downs, though Leonard Fournette -- also re-signed this offseason -- has proven capable of handling much of the receiving workload out of the backfield. The Bucs did lose Ronald Jones to the Chiefs in March, but he and Bernard were never competing for the same snaps anyway. |
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Cameron Brate Cameron Brate Remains top TE option for now
Wed, Mar 30, 2022, 5:14 PM
Brate slots in as the No. 1 tight end on the Buccaneers' depth chart for the time being with Rob Gronkowski still non-committal about a return and O.J. Howard having departed for the Bills in free agency.
Analysis: That said, the veteran's standing at the top of the heap isn't likely to last even as far as training camp. As Zac Blobner of 95.3 WDAE St. Petersburg notes, Gronkowski alluded to there being a "very good chance" of his return to the Buccaneers in 2022, a possibility that likely increased in the wake of Tom Brady's recent decision to come out of a brief retirement for at least one more season. Additionally, the team is likely to focus on the tight end position with at least one of its draft picks this April, and there are at least a couple of free-agent options still on the market that could presumably slot in ahead of Brate were they to be signed. |
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Leonard Fournette Leonard Fournette No more major obstacles to touches
Tue, Mar 29, 2022, 7:35 PM
Fournette no longer has to share the Buccaneers' backfield with Ronald Jones, who recently departed to the Chiefs in free agency, Greg Auman of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Although Fournette generally drew the headlines when it came to the Buccaneers' backfield last season, the split in workload between him and Jones wasn't as drastic as might be assumed. Fournette did log 79 more regular-season carries than Jones in two fewer games in 2021, but the former only logged at least 20 rushes in a game twice all season and postseason. Third-year back Ke'Shawn Vaughn currently slots in as Fournette's primary backup for the 2022 season, and although the Vanderbilt product has shown flashes over his first two campaigns, he only has 62 career carries. That lack of experience gives him considerably less pedigree than Jones, who'd amassed 364 carries and 59 receptions during the 2019 and 2020 seasons alone before morphing into a clear complementary back back over the course of 2021. |
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Ke'Shawn Vaughn Ke'Shawn Vaughn Uptick in opportunity
Tue, Mar 29, 2022, 7:06 PM
Vaughn currently slots in as the Buccaneers' No. 2 running back with the recent departure of Ronald Jones in free agency, Greg Auman of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Vaughn saw a slight uptick in involvement over that of his rookie 2020 campaign last season, rushing for 180 yards and two touchdowns on 36 carries and adding four receptions for 26 yards. The Vanderbilt product then played a sizable role in the wild-card win over the Eagles, carrying 17 times for 53 yards and a touchdown while also recording a pair of receptions. Looking ahead to 2022, it appears we're on the verge of finding out if Vaughn's two-season, low-volume apprenticeship has laid the proper groundwork for what should be a clear-cut No. 2 role behind Leonard Fournette, barring an unforeseen draft pick or free-agent signing disrupting that plan. |
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Leonard Fournette Leonard Fournette Gets three-year deal from Tampa
Tue, Mar 22, 2022, 8:12 AM
Fournette is signing a three-year, $21 million contract with Tampa Bay, including $9 million guaranteed, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: It sounds similar to James Conner's new contract with the Cardinals, though Fournette won't get as much guaranteed money. The 2017 first-round pick turned 27 in January, a few days before the Bucs were eliminated from the playoffs. Fournette had 107 total yards and two TDs in the loss to Los Angeles, returning to the lineup after missing four games with a hamstring injury. He otherwise enjoyed a healthy season, with a 180-812-8 rushing line and 69-454-2 receiving line in 14 games. Fournette was a fantasy RB1 for much of the year, averaging 68.6 rushing yards, 34.4 receiving yards and a touchdown per week in a 10-game stretch Weeks 4-14 before injuring his hamstring. Similar production in 2022 is certainly conceivable with QB Tom Brady back for another year, though it'll partially depend on Tampa's other moves this offseason. Ronald Jones and Giovani Bernard remained free agents at the time of Fournette's signing, while Ke'Shawn Vaughn and Kenjon Barner have spots on the Bucs' offseason roster. |
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Chris Godwin Chris Godwin Reaches $60 million deal with Bucs
Wed, Mar 16, 2022, 8:48 PM
Godwin agreed to a three-year, $60 million contract extension with the Buccaneers on Wednesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Analysis: Tampa Bay applied the franchise tag on Godwin last week for the second consecutive year, and the two sides were quickly able to come to a new agreement. The 2017 third-round pick will receive $40 million guaranteed and is set to return to the open market in 2025 when still only 29 years old. Godwin is recovering from the torn ACL and sprained MCL he sustained during Week 15, so it remains to be seen if he'll be ready to catch passes from Tom Brady for the start of the 2022 campaign. |
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Cameron Brate Cameron Brate Agrees to restructure contract
Wed, Mar 16, 2022, 2:35 PM
The Buccaneers and Brate agreed to restructure his contract to a two-year, $8 million deal Wednesday, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: The six-year contract that Brate signed in 2018 locked him in with Tampa Bay through the 2023 season, but this restructure lowers the cap hits in both of the next two years. It remains to be seen if Rob Gronkowski and/or O.J. Howard stick with Bucs or move on in free agency, but at the very least the returning Tom Brady has Brate at his disposal at tight end in 2022. |
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Breshad Perriman Breshad Perriman Back with Bucs
Wed, Mar 16, 2022, 10:32 AM
Perriman (abdomen) has agreed to a one-year deal to remain with the Buccaneers, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: By the time the Bucs return to the field the wideout should be recovered from the abdomen issue that kept him out of the team's playoff finale. This past season, Perriman recorded 11 catches on 18 targets for 167 yards and a TD and looking ahead, the 2015 first-rounder will look to reestablish his role in a Tampa Bay wide receiving corps headed by Mike Evans, Russell Gage and Chris Godwin, who the team placed the franchise tag on and is recovering from a torn ACL. |
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Russell Gage Russell Gage Moving south to Tampa
Tue, Mar 15, 2022, 1:13 PM
The Buccaneers and Gage agreed to terms of a contract Tuesday on a three-year, $30 million contract, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Analysis: Gage is coming off back-to-back productive seasons in Atlanta in which he totaled at least 66 catches and 770 yards and exactly four touchdowns per year. He'll kick off the upcoming campaign as the No. 2 wide receiver in Tampa Bay behind Mike Evans due to Chris Godwin's ongoing recovery from a Week 15 ACL tear. Considering Godwin may not be healthy for a good portion of the season, Gage should be on the receiving end of numerous passes per game from Tom Brady. |
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Kyle Trask Kyle Trask '22 role now in flux
Mon, Mar 14, 2022, 10:06 PM
Trask, who was expected to compete for the starting quarterback job in 2022 before Tom Brady's decision to unretire, still could have a chance at the No. 2 role in the coming season, Greg Auman of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: The soon-to-be second-year pro was, by all accounts, going to get a legitimate shot at competing for the starting job in training camp, likely against trusted veteran Blaine Gabbert. Naturally, Brady's return completely nixes those plans, but it could still benefit Trask. Not only will the Florida product avoid potentially being thrust into the top job before he's ready, but Brady's presence for perhaps only one more season could create a sense of urgency to ensure Trask gets to work directly behind the future Hall of Famer, as opposed to utilizing that spot on the currently unsigned Gabbert for the third consecutive campaign. |
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Tom Brady Tom Brady Announces return to NFL
Sun, Mar 13, 2022, 6:20 PM
Brady announced via his personal Twitter account Sunday that he'll return to the Buccaneers in 2022.
Analysis: Brady announced his retirement from football in early February, but he announced Sunday that he's "realized [his] place is still on the field and not in the stands." The 44-year-old turned in one of the best years of his career in 2021, as he completed 485 of 719 passes for 5,316 yards, 43 touchdowns and 12 interceptions while rushing 28 times for 81 yards and two touchdowns. Brady's announcement that he'll return for a 23rd season in the NFL will raise the fantasy stock of Tampa Bay's pass catchers now that he's going to be under center once again. |
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Chris Godwin Chris Godwin Second consecutive franchise tag
Tue, Mar 8, 2022, 2:30 PM
The Buccaneers placed the franchise tag on Godwin on Tuesday, Greg Auman of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: For the second year in a row, Tampa Bay has done as much with Godwin, meaning he'll be due $19.2 million in 2022 if the two sides are unable to come to terms on a long-term deal. Currently, he's in recovery mode from the torn ACL and sprained MCL that he sustained in his right knee back in Week 15. Due to the timing of the injury, Godwin's availability for Week 1 of next season is in question, as is who will be under center for the Bucs once he gets healthy following the retirement of Tom Brady this offseason. |
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Chris Godwin Chris Godwin Franchise tag anticipated
Mon, Mar 7, 2022, 10:33 AM
The Buccaneers are expected to use their franchise tag on Godwin (knee) prior to Tuesday's 4:00 p.m. ET deadline, Tyler Dragon of USA Today reports.
Analysis: Godwin, who is recovering from ACL and MCL tears in his right knee, looks like he will stick with Tampa Bay for the 2022 campaign under the team's franchise tag. That would mark the second consecutive year that Godwin has received the tag, so his salary would count $19.2 million against the cap. Through 14 appearances in the 2021 season, Godwin compiled career-high marks with 98 catches on 127 targets, which he translated into 1,103 yards and five touchdowns. While it's unclear whether Godwin will be at full strength to kick off the upcoming campaign, his ability to move the chains would doubtless prove a notable boon for whoever lines up under center for the Bucs in Week 1, with Tom Brady having retired. |
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Rob Gronkowski Rob Gronkowski Could be on Bills' radar
Wed, Mar 2, 2022, 3:14 PM
The Bills are reportedly open to the possibility of signing Gronkowski this offseason, Tim Graham of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: The report notes that Gronkowski and the Bills spoke last spring, but the tight end ultimately stayed with Tampa Bay on a one-year deal to continue playing with QB Tom Brady. Now that Brady has retired, Graham suggests that the Amherst, N.Y., native may be willing to finish his career in Western New York. If such a scenario interests Gronkowski, who turns 33 in May, he'd be a candidate to bolster a Buffalo tight end corps that already includes the ascending Dawson Knox, who logged a 49/587/9 stat line in 15 games last season. |
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