The Tampa Bay Buccaneers could find themselves in the market for a Super Bowl-winning linebacker this offseason.
Todd Bowles’ defense was not the strongest of units last season and finished 18th in the league allowing 341.8 yards per game last season.
Tampa Bay’s defense also allowed 22.6 points per game last season, good enough for No. 16 in the league. Bowles and general manager Jason Licht should be looking to shore up the defense that registered 46 sacks last season (sixth in the NFL).
And it just so happens that one of the best pass rushers in the league could be available.
On Sunday, Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Josh Sweat tallied 2.5 sacks in the 40-22 win over the Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX, in the final game of his reworked one-year deal.
During the regular season, Sweat registered eight sacks, and his ferocity would be welcomed on a Tampa Bay defense that needs to show a little more of that.
Do the Bucs have a shot at Sweat? Can they lure him away from Philly?
After the game, Sweat told the Philadelphia Inquirer it’s not just “about the money.”
“Money’s important, sure, but I want to be in the right situation,” Sweat said. “I don’t know what it looks like for me now, but I’m happy.”
As is the case with any Super Bowl-winning team, free agents could get plundered quickly. So the Bucs should move fast as soon as the clock strikes 12 a.m. on March 10.
What would the money look like? Spotrac.com reveals Sweat’s possible value at three years and $56.5 million or almost $19 million per season. The site also shows the Bucs to have just $5.6 million available cap space for next season before any moves.
Licht has other concerns too, like what to do, if anything, with Chris Godwin, who is a free agent.
We’ll see in exactly one month.