Bucs Free Agency: Potential EDGE Options In 2024

With the NFL offseason soon approaching, the Bucs will be looking to improve their roster. Edge rusher has been an area of the roster that has produced lackluster results for two years running. The team could try to address the position in the draft, but this year’s free agent class is stacking up to have some impressive talents who may be able to help the Bucs get more juice from their pass rush.

Bucs assistant GM Mike Greenberg

Now, while Tampa Bay has a considerable amount of available salary cap space with room to add more, much of that looks to be dedicated to bringing back major internal pieces like quarterback Baker Mayfield, wide receiver Mike Evans and safety Antoine Winfield Jr.

Here, I wanted to present a case for two free agent edge rushers who could potentially help the team. One would be a bit of a larger investment, while the second would be more of a value proposition. The plan is to present these dual cases for several positions over a series of articles over the coming weeks.

But if you came to see the pitch for, say, Josh Allen, you are not in luck. Again, the Bucs are unlikely to swim at the deepest end of the pool with external free agents. But there is still room for a second- or third-tier player, and I will pick one from each of those tiers and make a case for each player. For the valuations on each player, I will be using work that myself and Kyle DeDiminicantanio have done for A to Z Sports projecting contracts for upcoming free agents.

Bucs Target One: Bryce Huff

Jets EDGE Bryce Huff Photo by: USA Today

Huff is a former undrafted free agent who has made a name for himself in a very talented New York Jets pass rush. Last year, he recorded 29 tackles, 10 sacks, 21 quarterback hits and 67 pressures. Here is what we had to say for AtoZ:

“A former undrafted free agent, Huff has developed into one of the most efficient pass rushers in the NFL. A part time player in a loaded Jets edge room, Huff logged eight sacks in his platform year. Huff’s 113 pressures and 13.5 sacks over the past three seasons compare favorably to Trey Hendrickson’s last three years in New Orleans before signing a sizable deal in Cincinnati.

“Huff will get a chance to become a full-time player with a deal that eclipses $50 million due to his 16.39% pressure rate in addition to his overall contributions to one of the best defenses in the NFL.”

We project Huff to sign a four-year, $58 million contract. This would be a substantial investment from Tampa Bay, but would put him just inside the top-20 of edge rushers based on average per year. With the way the Bucs’ current outside linebacker room is currently constructed, Huff would slot in nicely as the best pure pass rusher, but not necessarily a guy who has to be on the field for 800 or more snaps per season.

Huff’s been an extremely efficient pass rusher in limited snaps and while he may lose some of that efficiency by way of more volume, he should still be an effective value if the Bucs choose to go that route.

Bucs Target Two: Josh Uche

Patriots EDGE Josh Uche Photo by: USA Today

If the Bucs choose not to go the route of an eight-figure APY at outside linebacker, they could choose to find another efficient, part-time player at a lower price tag. Enter Patriots outside linebacker Josh Uche. Here is what we said about him in our write up for AtoZ, along with his projected contract:

“Uche was never able to become a full-time player in Bill Belicheck’s multiple defense. 2022 was his high-water mark with 373 snaps. But when given the chance to pin his ears back and get after the passer, he is an extremely valuable and efficient rusher. He has 93 pressures on 512 pass rush snaps in the past two years which is good for an 18.2% pressure rate.

“Uche is undersized but extremely athletic, so there is a world where he can be a three-down player for a team willing to use him in versatile ways. He has the potential to be a quality second piece to an established No. 1 edge rusher.”

An athletic edge rusher who can be used in a versatile scheme? That has Todd Bowles and the Bucs written all over it. The best part for Tampa Bay is the price tag associated with Uche. We have him projected for a one-year, $8.5 million contract. It’s not quite the bargain the Bucs got when they originally signed Shaq Barrett in 2019, but it still provides an excellent opportunity for Tampa Bay to potentially buy low on a player who has shown extraordinary bend and ability to get to the passer.

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