The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made arguably the most dramatic swing in NFL free agency history at the beginning of the current decade when they signed Tom Brady away from the Patriots after he had spent two decades and won six Super Bowls in New England. That move in March of 2020 famously paid off in the most immediate and satisfying manner possible, as Brady bejeweled a seventh finger by leading the Buccaneers to a Super Bowl championship that very season.

If that free agency swing produced a walk-off grand slam, the analogy should also include that it was somewhat of a pinch-hitting appearance for the Buccaneers. Overall, the Buccaneers have not stepped to the plate in free agency very often this decade; in fact, in the five seasons that followed the addition of Brady (and, subsequently, Rob Gronkowsk), the Buccaneers signed just one outside free agent to a multi-year deal. That was wide receiver Russell Gage, who inked a three-year pact in 2021. Safety Jordan Whitehead got a two-year deal to return to the team in 2024 but the second year was eventually voided. Sure, Baker Mayfield got a lucrative (and well-deserved) three-year contract in 2024, but that was only after he had played his first season in Tampa on a one-year contract.

This is in no way a knock of frugality on the Buccaneers' roster building. A series of song draft and an organizational draft/develop/re-sign philosophy have led the team to devoting most of its available salary cap space to retaining homegrown stars. That's the way the Buccaneers' 2026 offseason could shape up, as well, if franchise legends Mike Evans and/or Lavonte David choose to extend their careers and stay in the only NFL home they've known.

Still, that doesn't necessarily preclude us from doing a little window-shopping at this time of the year. Both Spotrac.com and Overthecap.com have Tampa Bay right in the middle of the 32 teams in terms of projected cap space this offseason, with estimates ranging from around $14.5 million to $23.8 million of available space. Obviously, every team knows how to create more space with restructures of contracts they have on the books or creative structuring of new deals, but the Buccaneers will not enter free agency with the same spending power as, say, the Tennessee Titans, who have about $100 million in available cap space. Nor are they saddled with cap debt they must erase before the new league year begins on March 11, like the Kansas City Chiefs (-$58 million in space according to Spotrac).

So let's explore this one hypothetical situation: The Buccaneers are again not big players in free agency in 2026 but they do choose to splurge on a multi-year deal with just one player from another team. That's the starting point for this week's entry in our offseason Roundtable series. Staff Writer/Reporter Brianna Dix, Buccaneers.com Contributor Gabriel Kahaian and I have been tackling one topic per week in the lead-up to the start of free agency in March, looking both at how the 2025 season unfolded and what lies ahead for the team in 2026. Here's the whole schedule of the series, with links to the ones we've already completed:

• Monday, January 12: What was your most pleasant surprise regarding the Buccaneers' 2025 season?
• Monday, January 19: Who was the Buccaneers 2025 MVP (non-quarterback division)?
• Monday, January 26: What was the Bucs’ single most exciting play of the 2025 season?
• Monday, February 2: Who is your most intriguing under-the-radar player on the 2026 roster?
• Monday, February 9: What is the most pressing roster need the Bucs' need to address in the offseason?
• Monday, February 16: If the Buccaneers were to make a big free agency splurge, who would you want?
• Monday, February 23: What position would you like to see Tampa Bay target in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft?
• Monday, March 2: Give us one specific statistical prediction for the Bucs' 2026 season?

We've already taken a look at what we see as the Bucs' biggest roster needs heading into 2026, but this time we're going to get more specific. Bri, Gabe and I don't know if the team will make any sort of splash in outside free agency – and, furthermore, none of this is meant to reflect the thoughts or strategies of General Manager Jason Licht and his crew – but if it does, which players would we like to see targeted. We're not going to get into contract specifics for any of these players or how they would fit into the Bucs' cap; we will just assume that if the team wants to sign the player they will find a way to do so.

Since we're not duplicating selections and the order we pick is therefore potentially significant, we have rotating that order from week to week. This time around, the rotation brings me back to the top, with Brianna second and Gabe third. So allow me to start the discussion.

Scott Smith: LB Nakobe Dean

In my first mock draft of 2026, which was posted last week, I gave the Buccaneers Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles at pick number 15 in the first round. The more draft content I consume through podcasts and other mock drafts, however, I'm starting to wonder if Styles will actually still be on the board when the Bucs are on the clock. Either way, it sure seems like a position the Bucs will want to address in some manner on draft weekend in April.

That said, I don't think any hopes of landing a linebacker in the draft should preclude the Buccaneers from also seeing if free agency can provide an option. I would argue (as I did in this Roundtable) that simply by the number of linebackers the Bucs currently have under contract for 2026 there is a need for multiple additions to the group. That will be particularly true of David decides to close out his marvelous career after 14 seasons.

Fortunately, while this may not be the most exciting class of potential free agents there are a number of intriguing linebackers who could hit the market from the Devins Bush and Lloyd to Philly's Nakobe Dean, the Chiefs' Leo Chanel and the Falcons' Kaden Ellis. Of that group, the one I personally find most interesting is Dean, who the Eagles drafted out of their defensive farm system, the University of Georgia in the third round in 2022.

Dean admittedly had some unfortunately injury luck during the run of his initial NFL contract. He missed 12 games in 2023 with foot injuries and then sustained a patellar tendon injury in the 2024 playoffs that caused him to miss about half of last season. But he was a full-time starter in 2024 and got some Comeback Player of the Year votes after tallying 128 tackles, 3.0 sacks and one interception on one of the best defenses in the NFL.

Coming out of Georgia in 2022, Dean was considered a speedy and well-rounded linebacker prospect who tackled well, was a very strong blitzer and had good man coverage skills. He lasted until the third round almost certainly because, at 5-11 and 229 pounds, he was considered somewhat "unsized." I don't think that would be a concern for the Buccaneers, who got decades of Hall of Fame-caliber linebacker play from supposedly undersized prospects Derrick Brooks and David.

I think the Buccaneers could really use the infusion of speed that Dean would bring to the middle of their defense, and I'm certain Todd Bowles would take advantage of his elite-level blitzing skills. Pair him with another linebacker from the draft with strong coverage skills and you could go a long way towards correcting the issues the Bucs' defense had covering the middle of the field in 2025. Of course, like almost all the free agents we see on top-50 lists in February, he could re-sign with his current team before ever hitting the market. If he does make it to free agency, though, I'm hopeful that the volume of 'backers available to teams could make it easier to strike a deal that is palatable to both the player and the team.

Brianna Dix: RB Kenneth Walker III

I thought about Devin Lloyd, who was a playmaker on the Jaguars' defense including a pick-six of Patrick Mahomes, but since Scott chose a linebacker, I opted for another position group considering how deep the 2026 draft class is at off-ball linebacker. If money was no option, in terms of value, I would take Seahawks' running back Kenneth Walker III. He rushed for 1,027 yards during the regular season in 2025 and was named the Super Bowl MVP.

In March, Rachaad White is an unrestricted free agent and Sean Tucker is a restricted free agent. The Bucs need to bolster the room and find the missing link to a one-two punch with Bucky Irving. Walker has the build to handle a full workload and runs with impressive body control. He finishes runs with power and possesses elite one-cut talent and understands how to adjust the tempo of his runs. With short-area quickness and burst through the hole, he would elevate the Bucs' running back room.

Irving is elusive and can make defenders miss with rare lateral cuts and panoramic vision of the angles linebackers will take. Having a larger back in the room like Walker would help create additional opportunities for Irving to exploit as Walker pounds between the tackles. Walker could take on the goal-line and short-yardage situations and would add another element to the Bucs' ground game. Sure, defense is an overarching need for Tampa Bay – notably at inside linebacker and edge – but the club needs an ignitor at running back to help Irving spark the running game in 2026. Walker has more straight-line speed than expected for his size and has the burst to beat defenders to the edge. He is a physical back that gives his all on the field. Having another weapon for defenses to have to account for would bode well for the offense and his incorporation would help open up play-action.

Gabriel Kahaian: LB Devin Lloyd

I'm taking a similar approach to Scott by targeting another member of the 2022 draft class to add depth in the linebacker room. Like Bri mentioned before, I have my sights set on Devin Lloyd.

Lloyd blossomed into the Pro-Bowl linebacker the Jacksonville Jaguars envisioned when they selected him in the first round four years earlier. He has always been an excellent run defender, but Jacksonville elected to decline his fifth-year option heading into last season. Lloyd put it all together in a breakout 2025 season, earning his first Pro Bowl selection and second-team All-Pro honors. He took major strides in his pass coverage abilities, securing five interceptions and defending seven passes, along with a 99-yard pick-six. His 81.1 coverage grade ranked third out of all eligible linebackers on PFF in 2025. Additionally, Lloyd is effective as a pass rusher with both his speed and athleticism, providing an air of unease before every snap. Even if Lavonte David decides to return for another season or the Bucs target a rookie in April, the addition of Lloyd would inject a jolt of energy into the front seven that could pay dividends for years to follow.

Skeptics may note that Lloyd's production came in a contract year, raising concerns about committing around $18 million per year based on a single dominant campaign. If you take a look at his trajectory, Lloyd has steadily improved every year he has been a pro. I see no reason why he could not replicate last season's success in Todd Bowles' system and provide a long-term answer at the MIKE position. If I'm spending big on one player, Lloyd is my guy.