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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have yet to even conclude the team's memorable 2020 season, with the NFC South franchise headed to Super Bowl LV to play the Kansas City Chiefs. However, even with the Buccaneers currently staring down the barrel at the defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs, it is never too early to begin looking ahead to free agency and the start of the upcoming 2021 campaign.
With the majority of Tampa Bay's key players slated to return next season, the Buccaneers should expect to be competitive — and then some — once again. It is worth noting, though, that free agency will still create some holes that need filling for the Buccaneers. Tampa Bay will surely serve as a popular potential landing spot for those on the open market, and the franchise is set to have a good amount of cap space.
Here's a look at some early Buccaneers targets in free agency.
Matthew Judon, Pass Rusher
It is no secret that the Buccaneers have the presence of future Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady to thank for the team's run to Super Bowl LV by way of a NFC Championship. However, the Buccaneers' potent offense goes quite well with a tenacious and downright tough defense, a unit that is often overlooked but is still heavily responsible for the franchise's success this season. In order for the Buccaneers to continue righting this ship and pointing it in the proper direction, Tampa Bay must make sure to provide its offense with an equally dangerous defense.
Unfortunately for the Buccaneers, outside linebackers Lavonte David and Shaquil Barrett will both become free agents this upcoming offseason. Although the Buccaneers will surely have a shot at retaining at least one of these players, Tampa Bay may very well be forced to look to the open market to fill these potential voids. Of course, the Buccaneers will continue to employ up-and-coming pass rusher Devin White, who has emerged as a legitimate threat, but a team can never have too many players who can get to opposing quarterbacks.
If the Buccaneers are able to take a look at the cream of the crop toward the top of the market, Baltimore Ravens pass rusher Matthew Judon should be in play down in Tampa Bay. Judon would make an already talented defense that much better after finding immense success in Baltimore over the years. A well-rounded defender up front, a veteran of this caliber could quickly become the perfect player to pair with the aforementioned White.
DaQuan Jones, Defensive Tackle
The Tennessee Titans are going to have to make some seriously tough decision this offseason when it comes to free agency. Although the Titans would surely love to keep as many players as they can, it is just simply impossible for them to ultimately make that happen.
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One of those key players is veteran defensive tackle DaQuan Jones, who has been a staple of the team's defensive front for years. However, the Titans previously traded another longtime defensive tackle in Jurrell Casey to the Denver Broncos with up-and-coming defensive lineman and all-around havoc-wreaker Jeffery Simmons coming into his own over the last two seasons. With Simmons once again in line to take the next step, perhaps Jones is one of the players the Titans let walk.
In that case, the Buccaneers should be all over signing a player like Jones. He has the ability to step right in and hit the ground running for the surging NFC South franchise. Leading to the team's possible interest in a signing of this nature, current Buccaneers defensive tackles Steve McLendon, Ndamukong Suh and Rakeem Nunez-Roches are all pending free agents. Tampa Bay does have another interior defensive lineman in Vita Vea back from injury just at the right time, but with the way teams rotate defenders up front, having additional depth is absolutely paramount.
Chris Godwin, Wide Receiver
Even with the likes of Corey Davis, A.J. Green, T.Y. Hilton, Allen Robinson, Marvin Jones Jr. and others slated to become free agents this offseason, the Buccaneers should still to one motto and one motto only when it comes to the wide receiver position: if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
An argument can be made that current Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin would still be the best of the bunch if inserted into the aforementioned group of pass catchers, but more importantly, Tampa Bay knows exactly what it's getting with the veteran wideout.
Not only that, but Godwin has looked more and more comfortable in Tampa Bay over the years as the perfect complement to fellow Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans. With Tom Brady set to return to Tampa Bay for another go-round, cohesion will be key for this team as it looks to return to the Super Bowl next year as well.
This is not a franchise that has the ability to rebuild or take its time; the window to win is now. Obviously abiding by such a rule this season, retaining Godwin would only further such a notion next year. It is also hard to imagine that Godwin would be opposed to sticking around in Tampa Bay for at least another season, if not longer.
