This offseason, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers announced that they agreed to a two-year, $50 million with Tom Brady. In 20 seasons with the New England Patriots, Brady went to nine Super Bowls and won a record six Lombardi Trophies. Now, he faces a new challenge with the Buccaneers, a team that didn't make the playoffs in the 2010s.
Tampa Bay is hardly a hotspot for free agents. In the team's history, very few notable players decided on the Buccaneers as their team of choice. Brady's decision might change the narrative for Tampa Bay in the coming seasons.
Brady will not appear on this list. While he hasn't played a game in a Buccaneers jersey, Brady is already the most exciting free agent signing in team history. However, placing Brady in the top five seems somewhat absurd since he hasn't taken a snap with the team yet.
That said, if we know anything about Brady, he'll jump into the top three after the 2020 season. The G.O.A.T. has not missed the playoffs since the 2008 season, when he suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 1.
Before counting down the top five free agent signings in Buccaneers' history, some honorable mentions deserve recognition. Defensive end Greg Spires signed with Tampa Bay in 2002. In six seasons with the franchise, Spires appeared in 89 games, recording 26 sacks and 265 tackles.
Two other quarterbacks, Jeff Garcia and Brad Johnson, also deserve honorable mentions. Garcia signed with Tampa Bay in 2007. He made the Pro Bowl and led the team to its most recent playoff berth. Garcia also served as Tampa's starter in 2008.
After joining the Buccaneers in 2001, Johnson started 49 games over four seasons. He made the Pro Bowl in 2002, the same year the team won its first and only Super Bowl.
With the honorable mentions covered, it's finally time to crack the top five free agent signings in Buccaneers' history.
5. Donald Penn, LT
Penn entered the NFL in 2006 as an undrafted free agent out of Utah State. However, he did not see action in 2006 and joined Tampa Bay the following year. Once signing with the Buccaneers, Penn's NFL career quickly took off.
In his first year with Tampa Bay, Penn appeared in all 16 games and started 12. He supplanted the team's previous starting left tackle, Anthony Davis, and Penn held the role for seven seasons.
While Tampa Bay cut Penn following the 2013 season, he remains a fan favorite. The 315-pound offensive lineman caught two touchdowns during his time with the Buccaneers and made the Pro Bowl in 2010.
4. Michael Pittman, RB
After four seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, Pittman joined Tampa Bay in 2002. That year, he led the team in rushing yards and Tampa Bay captured its only Lombardi Trophy.
During his six seasons with the franchise, Pittman never made the Pro Bowl or rushed for over 1,000 yards. However, he did lead the team in rushing yards three times and teamed up with players like Mike Alstott and Cadillac Williams.
In franchise history, Pittman ranks ninth in carries (798) and sixth in rushing yards (3,362).
3. Vincent Jackson, WR
When the Buccaneers signed Jackson in 2012, he'd already made two Pro Bowls with the San Diego Chargers. Jackson immediately elevated Tampa Bay's offense, alongside rookie running back Doug Martin and quarterback Josh Freeman. In 2012, Jackson set a single-season career-high with 1,384 receiving yards and led the NFL with 19.2 yards per reception.
While Martin and Freeman faced steep declines following the 2012 season, Jackson produced two more 1,000-yard seasons. Age and injuries did eventually lead to Jackson's decline, as he only played in 15 games during his final two seasons with Tampa Bay.
Overall, Jackson recorded 268 receptions, 4,326 yards, and 20 touchdowns in five seasons with the Buccaneers. He also played a role in helping to develop the team's next Pro Bowl receiver, Mike Evans.
2. Hardy Nickerson, LB
The fifth-round pick spent six seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers before signing with the Buccaneers in 1993. Nickerson spent the next seven years of his 16-year career in Tampa Bay.
During that time, he made five Pro Bowls, and the Associated Press (AP) selected him as a First-Team All-Pro in 1993 and 1997. The AP also named him as a Second Team All-Pro in 1996 and 1999.
While tackle data before 2001 is not considered official, unofficial numbers claim Nickerson recorded over 900 tackles while with Tampa Bay. He also tallied seven interceptions, 13 forced fumbles, nine fumble recoveries, and nine sacks.
1. Simeon Rice, DE
Rice spent the first five seasons of his career with the Cardinals before joining Tampa Bay in 2001. The former Defensive Rookie of the Year went on a rampage during his first five seasons as a Buccaneer. During those prime years, he amassed 67.5 sacks, four interceptions, and 15 forced fumbles.
Injuries limited Rice to eight unimpressive games in 2006, and he parted ways with Tampa Bay after the season.
Rice made the Pro Bowl in 2002 and 2003. He earned First-Team All-Pro honors in 2002 and Second-Team All-Pro honors in 2003. However, his crowning achievement, which also elevates him above Nickerson on this list, was winning Super Bowl XXXVII.
Officially, Rice ranks second in franchise history with 69.5 sacks, only trailing Hall of Fame defensive tackle Warren Sapp.