Matt Matera’s Bucs Battle Plan For 2025

Explaining The Bucs Battle Plans For 2025

PewterReport.com writers Scott Reynolds, Matt Matera, Josh Queipo, Bailey Adams and Adam Slivon have devised their own Bucs Plans for the 2025 offseason. These come complete with their individualized free agent signings, trades, roster moves and draft picks to hopefully help Tampa Bay earn a playoff spot for the sixth straight year.

Remember, these Bucs Battle Plans are how the PewterReport.com staff members would reshape the team this offseason – not necessarily what we think Tampa Bay will do in free agency and the draft, although there could be some overlap with certain players the team may be targeting.

Matt Matera’s Bucs Battle Plan For The 2025 Offseason

When looking at the Bucs’ best way to make a Super Bowl run, it starts with winning the NFC South again, which they’ve done the past four seasons. Tampa Bay is still the definitive leader in its division and there’s still a good gap between the others. The Saints are a mess, the Panthers are still another season away from competing, and the Bucs’ biggest threat, the Falcons, have Michael Penix Jr. starting at quarterback and that comes with some uncertainty. 

It’s not going to be a cakewalk, but anything besides another division title for the Bucs would be a surprise. That’s why Tampa Bay needs to make sure they can run with the Eagles, Lions and others for a deep playoff push. 

My plan for this is to immediately help the Bucs while also keeping an eye on the future for Tampa Bay. I admire how Jason Licht can continue to replenish this team through great draft picks and wise free agency moves. At some point, they have to make impact upgrades and I believe I do so without mortgaging the team’s future. Fixing the defense is a big priority, and that comes in by loading up that side through free agency and drafting players. The draft may have taken some liberties, but the thought behind was to make this team better.

Bucs Restructures

QB Baker Mayfield – $21,558,750 cap saved
LT Tristan Wirfs – $19,864,000 cap saved
S Antoine Winfield Jr. – $14,872,500 cap saved

Bucs Extensions

WR Mike Evans – This move comes after Evans still managed to reach the 1,000-yard receiving mark and scored 11 touchdowns despite missing 3.5 games. He showed no signs of slowing down at the age of 31, and this extension both saves some money, giving the Bucs $15 million more in cap room and secures his services for 2026, making sure that 2025 won’t be another contract year.

Bucs Cuts

S Jordan Whitehead – This move saves the Bucs $4.5 million in salary cap space with no dead money. It was already reported that Tampa Bay made this decision as well. The injury concerns surrounding Whitehead and his beck stemming from his late season car accident are the biggest issue of it all.

CB Jamel Dean – The combination of missing too many games and not taking the ball away enough eventually does Dean in. He’s a good corner, but not a playmaker. Todd Bowles wants ballhawks, but that doesn’t just apply to players they want to draft. While the Bucs do take a dead cap hit of $6.852 million, they also save $8,284,941 in cap space.

Unrestricted Free Agents Re-Signed

WR Chris Godwin – 3 years, $57 million

The Bucs and Godwin have been down this road before, and they’ll do it again. Returning from a dislocated ankle is different than Godwin’s torn ACL from several seasons ago. The understanding is that when Godwin is in form, he’s still one of the best receivers in the league. His 576 receiving yards in seven games speaks to that. Godwin is still the mainstay of this offense and I have no doubts that he’ll recover just fine. The Bucs pay him good money, but also don’t overpay for it.

ILB Lavonte David – 1 year, $5.75 million (**Battle Plan was devised before David re-signed on a one-year deal worth $10 million)

This is the last hurrah for David, who decides to keep playing understanding that the Bucs still have a chance to win another Super Bowl. David can still dial it up when he needs to. The pass coverage isn’t there as much, but he can blitz well and read a play better that most. It’ll be important to platoon David instead of overusing him.

QB Kyle Trask – 1 year, $4 million

It’s kind of crazy that after four seasons, we still don’t know what Tampa Bay has in Trask. I’d still guess that he’s a better option at backup quarterback than what other teams have. He knows the offense and has worked with many of these players that he’ll be throwing to if he comes into a situation.

DT Greg Gaines – 1 year, $2 million

Gaines is cheap, reliable depth. He plays the run well and showed a little more pass rush ability in 2024. He’s a solid backup to Vita Vea, as well as a good guy for the defensive line room.

OT Justin Skule – 1 year, $1.5 million

Skule proved he has a ton of value to the team as the top backup tackle after filling in for Luke Goedeke. The Bucs can win games he starts in and he’s good friends with Tristan Wirfs and the other lineman. He’s good for locker room morale and solid in his role.

CB Tavierre Thomas -1 year, $1.5 million

A savvy special teamer that blocked a kick last season. Thomas will be important for that role on the Bucs this season and can be used in several areas in the secondary if they need him to.

OG Royce Newman – 1 year, $1 million

This signing comes because Ben Bredeson isn’t re-signed, but his replacement is filled through the draft. Newman knows the offense after being here for a season and has some experience starting games.

Unrestricted Free Agents Not Re-Signed

OLB Joe Tryon Shoyinka
ILB K.J. Britt
C Robert Hainsey
OG Ben Bredeson
OLB Shaq Barrett
OLB Anthony Nelson
DL Will Gholston
DL Adam Gostsis
S Mike Edwards
RB Chase Edmonds
CB Troy Hill
S Ryan Neal
CB Bryce Hall
OL Sua Opeta
DL Eric Banks

Restricted/Exclusive Rights Free Agents Re-Signed
ILB J.J. Russell

Russell is all heart and hustle when he plays the game. That kind of effort is worth allowing him to compete for a roster spot in training camp. He has some starting experience and knows the defense more than others who are brought in.

S Kaevon Merriweather

The Bucs re-signed Merriweather on Friday morning. He’s reliable on special teams and average playing at safety when replacing others. He’s a player that you don’t mind having around.

New Unrestricted Free Agents Signed

OLB Khalil Mack – 1 year, $20 million 

Khalil Mack has done everything in his NFL career except for win a Super Bowl. Playing in his home state of Florida with a playoff contending team draws his interest to the Bucs. Mack is aging at 34, but two seasons ago, he recorded 17 sacks and has shown that no matter what team he goes to, he produces. It’s true he had just six sacks last season. What I’m looking for is somewhere in between those 17 and 6 sacks. If teams want to double team Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey, Mack will get one-on-one matchups. The one-year deal doesn’t tie the Bucs down, either. 

CB – Rasual Douglas – 2 years, $22 million 

Why would I replace an oft-injured Jamel Dean with an older player who missed a lot of time last season? Simply put, Rasul Douglas takes the ball away. Prior to last season, Douglas had five interceptions in 2023 and another four in 2022. I’m banking on that production to return with the Bucs’ defense that’ll also have a better pass rush. Douglas’ age prevents him from getting more than a two-year deal. Plus there’ll be other plans available if he can’t play for some games.

ILB Jamien Sherwood – 3 years, $32 million 

If the Bucs can land Sherwood, it might be their most underrated signing. Sherwood doesn’t have much wear and tear on him after primarily being a backup, but was able to start plenty last season. Sherwood was a tackling machine with 158 and two sacks. He used to play safety, so he can also cover. 

CB Brandin Echols -1 year, $2 million 

An inexpensive depth piece, Echols is good on special teams and has experience starting at corner in four games last season. He had two picks despite the Jets starving for interceptions like the Bucs. He has two defensive touchdowns in his career, adding to this year’s narrative of the defense making big plays.

P Riley Dixon – 1 year, 1.75 million

Dixon was sixth in the league in landing punts inside the 20 with only five touchbacks. He averaged 46.7 yards per attempt, which isn’t that high compared to the rest of the league. But as Todd Bowles said at the Combine, they just want a guy that doesn’t shank it. His control of the ball and pinning teams back is beneficial to Tampa Bay.

Matera’s 2025 Bucs Draft Picks

For transparency of this mock draft, I used the Pro Football Focus mock draft simulator and took what players were available on the board. Any trades used had to be accepted by the mock draft CPU. Check out the photo alongside this draft that shows each move.

Draft Trades

Before making the Bucs first-round pick at 19, I made a couple of trades to move back in the first round to acquire more draft picks and eventually used them to get another player who would help the team.

First, I traded back from the 19 spot with the Vikings, giving them the 19th pick for Minnesota’s 24th overall pick, a third rounder (97th overall) and a third rounder in next year’s draft. On the clock at 24, I moved back even further to 28, trading with the Lions, giving them the 24th pick in exchange for pick 28, a third (101), fourth (133) and sixth round pick (196).

Round 1 (28) – Texas A&M EDGE Nic Scourton

At age 20, there’s plenty of time to develop Scourton while also learning from a veteran like Mack. He already has more pass rushing moves than Yaya Diaby, including a spin move that he likes to use, which gives the Bucs a different kind of pass rusher.

*After making that first-round pick, I then quickly put together another trade to get back into the first round. I traded away the Bucs’ second round pick (51), the Lions fourth round pick (133) and a third round pick in next year’s draft to the Bills for the 30th overall pick. Giving up future third rounder was no harm due to it coming from the Vikings’ trade, keeping the picks for next season together.

Round 1 (30) – North Dakota State OL Grey Zabel

This is right in the wheelhouse of what Jason Licht likes to do. He gets to build through the trenches with a smaller school player, although this one has a lot of hype around him. When asked at the Combine what position he’s going to play, he said “offensive line.” Zabel has excellent technique, the right size and is as violent and physical of a football player as they come. He reunites with his former teammate Cody Mauch in Tampa.

Round 3 –  Oregon ILB Jeffrey Bassa

The Bucs address inside linebacker with Bassa, who excels in coverage and can also rush the passer. Bassa had an impressive Senior Bowl performance and has good leadership qualities and a high football I.Q. He’ll compete with SirVocea Dennis for the right to start as a rookie.

Round 3 – Oregon WR Tez Johnson

Johnson was arguably the best wide receiver at the Senior Bowl. He has an incredible ability to get wide open and use his speed to create space from defenders. That’s exactly what Tampa Bay wants.

Round 3 – Kansas CB Cobee Bryant

Bryant has great zone instincts and ballhawking ability. He is a tough and willing tackler, and has 13 interceptions in four years at KU, including a pair of pick-sixes, along with 22 pass breakups, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries, including one for a touchdown. He also loves to trash talk, which this defense might need.

Round 4 – Kansas CB Mello Dotson

Many have discussed Bryant and Dotson together, so why not put them on the same team if it’s possible? Dotson is another ballhawking type of player that does well in zone. With the amount that Todd Bowles blitzes, they need a player like that. His athleticism will be a big asset for the Bucs.

Round 5 – Penn State ILB Kobe King

King has a good trait that many players don’t have anymore in the NFL. He actually wraps up when he tackles. He is a physical linebacker that is great at making open field tackles. King is a tackling machine.

Round 6 – Syracuse S Alijah Clark

Clark knows how to break on routes well and cover ground with his speed. Getting off of blockers is a bit of an issue, but he also played his whole career on special teams, so he can play in that role at the NFL level.

Round 7 – Alabama S Malachi Moore

Understanding how to track the football when in coverage is a trait that Moore does well. He has a high football IQ and good footwork as well at the position. Moore also has experience playing special teams. He had a ton of injuries that lowered his draft value and isn’t the biggest safety either. Playing at Alabama though, there’s a reason why others are interested in his abilities.

Matera’s “Way Too Early” Bucs 53-Man Roster Projection

QUARTERBACKS – 3

Baker Mayfield
Kyle Trask
Michael Pratt

Analysis: Mayfield is coming off of the best year of his career and comes back to essentially the same exact cast with some even better additions. Josh Grizzard as OC won’t detract him from being a top 10 quarterback again. Trask is a solid backup with some mystery still behind him. Pratt can keep developing.

RUNNING BACKS – 3

Bucky Irving
Rachaad White
Sean Tucker

Analysis: If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Irving was a sensational running back for the Bucs last year, going over 1,000 yards and this time gets a full year starting from day one. White has a lot to prove in a contract year and is still the best pass blocking and receiving back. Maybe Tucker gets more reps to keep Irving fresh, but he has to show he can handle the passing game responsibilities, too.

WIDE RECEIVERS – 5

Mike Evans
Chris Godwin
Jalen McMillan
Tez Johnson
Kameron Johnson

Analysis: Will the offense run through Evans or Godwin? That’s a luxury that the Bucs once again have. While Evans got the headlines, Godwin was the main producer up until his injury. We’ll see if McMillan can build on his touchdown streak to end the season. Tez Johnson provides Tampa Bay with better depth, a future shot at starting and a great ability to get open. Johnson takes over punt return duties with Palmer on the practice squad.

TIGHT ENDS – 3

Cade Otton
Payne Durham
Devin Culp

Analysis: We saw glimpses of how good this group could be down the stretch. Otton fits in anywhere on the offense. He can be the main target or fill in the gaps when necessary. Durham is carving out a red zone presence and shows physicality. Culp has the best speed of the group.

OFFENSIVE LINE – 10

LT Tristan Wirfs
LG Grey Zabel
C Graham Barton
RG Cody Mauch
RT Luke Goedeke
OT Justin Skule
OL Elijah Klein
OL Royce Newman
OL Luke Haggard
OT Raiqwon O’Neal

Analysis: A top five unit in the league from last year solidifies itself for years to come with Zabel coming in at starting left guard. He’ll technically be the weak link starting out, but that’s only because everyone else is so good at what they do. Every starter is under contract for at least two more years, which is incredible They get good depth with Klein and Skule.

DEFENSIVE LINE – 5

Vita Vea
Calijah Kancey
Logan Hall
Greg Gaines
Mike Greene

Analysis: If Kancey can begin the season playing and Vea continues to play at his high level, this group will do a lot of damage. My question is about what Hall brings in a contract season. Was last year an anomaly or has he truly found his form? Gaines is a reliable backup who can play more time if necessary. Todd Bowles loves Mike Greene, so he gets a chance.

EDGE RUSHERS – 5

Khalil Mack
Yaya Diaby
Nic Scourton
Chris Braswell
Markees Watts

Analysis: Upgrades come all around at this position. Mack is as threatening as they come in the league. Diaby has a chance to bounce back with less attention on him, plus he turned it up at the end of the season. Scourton brings an arsenal of pass rushing moves and should get some third down opportunities. Braswell’s progress will be examined closely while Watts has one more chance to prove why he should be on the active roster.

INSIDE LINEBACKERS – 5

Lavonte David
Jamien Sherwood
SirVocea Dennis
Jeffrey Bassa
Kobe King

Analysis: The Bucs have a very young group surrounding David. Sherwood will play the whole time while Dennis and Bassa sub in with David and handle most pass coverage situation. King starts out on special teams but has a spot down the road as a potential starter.

CORNERBACKS – 6

Zyon McCollum
Rasul Douglas
Cobee Bryant
Brandin Echols
Mello Dotson
Tavierre Thomas

Analysis: The name of the game is taking the ball away. McCollum needs to prove he can do it consistently. Douglas has done that throughout all of his career. Echols and Thomas will be big for special teams with Echols also proving he can be invovled at corner. The young pups in Bryant and Dotson are a double whammy of developing as players while Bryant sees some playing time in different packages.

SAFETIES – 5

Antoine Winfield Jr.
Tykee Smith
Christian Izien
Kaevon Merriweather
Alijah Clark

Analysis: A healthy Winfield teams up with Tykee Smith to make an exciting safety duo while Izien goes back to his old role in the slot for the season. Merriweather is there to back up in any spot. Tampa Bay finds out what Clark can do while Moore is on the practice squad.

SPECIALISTS – 3

K Chase McLaughlin
P Riley Dixon
LS Evan Deckers

Analysis: Tampa Bay has one of the best kickers in the league with Chase McLaughlin. They just need to figure out the punting situation. 

What Did You Think?

  Did you like my Bucs Battle Plan for the 2025 offseason? Does it adequately address Tampa Bay’s needs? Which additions did you like best? Let me know what you think in the article comments section below.

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