Bucs’ 2025 Free Agent Options: Outside Linebackers

Last week I outlined the Bucs’ cap situation for 2025. With a talented roster with a couple of specific holes it makes sense that the team might be in the market for some external help next year. And while Tampa Bay is not out of the playoff race this year, far from it in fact, I thought coming out of the bye week it would be a fun exercise to look at some potential free agent targets the team might pursue at edge rusher next year.

The cost projections on potential contracts are derived from current projections that myself and Kyle DeDiminicantanio have for these players through Week 10 of this season.

Bucs’ Outside Linebacker Options In 2025

Bucs OLB Yaya Diaby and Ravens QB Lamar Jackson – Photo by: USA Today

Unlike inside linebacker, the Bucs do have some talent to work from at edge rusher. Outside linebacker Yaya Diaby has made an impressive year two jump and currently ranks 28th in quarterback pressures per Next Gen Stats. Rookie Chris Braswell has had some flashes to start his career and the team is hoping he can have a second-half ascension similar to Diaby last year.

But the team is also set to lose two of it’s top four edge rushers next year as both Joe Tryon-Shoyinka and Anthony Nelson are pending free agents. The likelihood that either player is back in 2025 is less than 50%.

One of the glaring weaknesses of the Bucs defense this year, and recent years overall, has been the lack of a true one-vs.-one winner at pass rusher. Defensive tackle/end Calijah Kancey has shown that he may be that guy on the inside, but none of the current outside linebackers have stepped up to be a true, win outside or inside player on the edge.

If the Bucs choose to pursue free agent options to improve their ability to get pressure via a four down and go approach here are some possible options they could look to.

Top Of The Market

Chargers OLB Khalil Mack – Photo by: USA Today

Kyle DeDiminicantanio and I currently have three edge rushers projected to top $15 million per year on a free agent deal next year. They are Khalil Mack, Haason Reddick and Josh Sweat.

Mack leads the way, and at the age of 33 he still shows almost no signs of slowing down. He restructured his contract this year to stay with the Chargers at a reduced cash flow of just $19,000,000. His production on the field has far out-produced that rate.

With 29 pressures on 226 pass rush opportunities per Pro Football Focus, Mack has a pressure rate of 12.8%. His pass rush win rate, also as measured by PFF, is 14.2% and ranked 21st among qualified edge rushers. He is also a proven finisher consistently converting 15% or more of his pressures into sacks since 2019. If not for his age, Mack would potentially be seeking a deal near $30 million per year in 2025.

As is, considering he will be 34 next year his price tag and length of deal will be considerably more affordable for potential suitors. Still he will likely be the priciest free agent edge rusher.

His deal should comp off of Danielle Hunter’s contract with the Texans last year. Hunter got $49 million over two years with almost the entire amount guaranteed. I see Mack with a slightly lower APY of $22.5 million per year with around $25-30 million guaranteed. That would place his 2025 cap hit somewhere around $12.5 million for a team not trying to backload the entire deal.

The enigmatic Reddick has a 15% pressure rate since ending his hold out and returning to the Jets in Week 8. His hopes of getting a new deal before he turned 30 after Philadelphia traded him never transpired and he will now contend with not only age, but the holdout itself affecting his value on his next deal. But he can still get to the quarterback which means there will be a market for him.

Admittedly, the hold out may affect his value more than we can truly quantify but we project him for a three-year, $60 million deal next year with about $35 million guaranteed. A hypothetical deal like this would cost the Bucs around $9 million in 2025 salary cap.

Saints DE Chase Young and Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes – Photo by: USA Today

Chase Young is a consistent pass rush winner with a slightly deflated conversion rate. He gave Tristan Wirfs some trouble earlier this year with his inside stab move and is a quite effective pass rusher overall. Now 1.5 years removed from injury concerns and has a good draft pedigree which should factor into his next deal.

His strong 2024 campaign should net him a raise on his $13 million salary this year. A three-year, $52.5 million contract would come with a $11 million cap hit in 2025.

Josh Sweat has been a consistent, but not dominant, pass rusher over the past several years. He will be just 28 next year and is well on his way to his fourth consecutive season of 45 pressures or more and is currently getting pressure on 13.8% of his pass rush attempts.

Unlike Mack and Reddick, because of his more workman-like profile he will likely cost the Bucs less than $20 million per year. We have him projected for $17 million per year over four years with $37.5 million guaranteed. This should come in around a $9 million salary cap hit in 2025.

Middle Of The Market

Patriots EDGE Josh Uche – Photo by: USA Today

Two edge rushers stick out as the second-tier options if the Bucs want more of a value option. And one of them has me excited. They are Azeez Ojulari, Chase Young, Malcolm Koonce and Josh Uche.

Ojulari is in the midst of a breakout season that should inflate his market to around $13-15 million per year. Smart teams will look past his sack total to see that he is converting a relatively modest number of pressures into sacks at an unsustainably high rate.

As it is, I see a three-year deal worth $45 million and $30 million guaranteed as a more likely scenario at this juncture. The structure of a deal like this would probably create a $10 million salary cap hit in 2025.

The second option is the most intriguing in my opinion. Josh Uche was just traded from New England to Kansas City after taking a below market one year deal with the Patriots this year. Just two years removed from a 10+ sack season, Uche still shows a lot on tape despite being used sparingly over his career.

If the Bucs wanted a true value option to just give them a legit pass rush specialist weapon, Uche offers the best bang for the buck in my opinion. A two-year, $15 million contract with minimal guarantees could provide a huge return on investment for a player with a career pressure rate of 15.5%.