Which Buccaneers Free Agents are Likely to Return for 2024 Season?

Who are the Buccaneers' upcoming free agents in 2024 and what is the likelihood they will bring them back?

As we move into the offseason the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a long list of free agents and some tough decisions they must make. They have just over $36 million in cap space but some high-profile free agents to re-sign that are going to command large deals. Baker Mayfield, Mike Evans, and Antoine Winfield Jr. are at the top of that list but they will still need to round out their roster. 

The team can open up some cap space by extending left tackle Tristan Wirfs and restructuring the contracts of Vita Vea, Chris Godwin, and Jamel Dean, among others. They will also open up cap space by releasing wide receiver Russell Gage, potentially moving on from Carlton Davis and other moves.

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Shaq Barret has likely played his last down for the Bucs and Ryan Jensen has announced his retirement but the Bucs won't see cap savings from those moves until after June 1st.

Unrestricted free agency kicks off March 11th with the negotiation period, and then officially March 13th. The Bucs have 22 free agents on the roster, 18 of them are unrestricted. 

Unrestricted Free Agents (18)

QB Baker Mayfield

Mayfield had a career resurgence with the Bucs and posted one of the best seasons of his career. He should be one of the team's top priorities in free agency. 

WR Mike Evans 

Another year another 1,000+ receiving yard season. Evans showed no signs of slowing down in 2023. He should be a Buccaneer for life and it's more likely than not that the team gets a deal done. Whether that is prior to free agency where they can save some dead cap money from hitting the book or during free agency is something to monitor. 

S Antoine Winfield Jr. 

Winfield Jr. isn't going anywhere. There's optimism they can come together on a long-term deal but if they can't he will receive the franchise tag.

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LB Lavonte David

The ball is in David's court on this one. The Bucs would love to have him back for the 2024 season. Though if he decides to hang them up a spot in the Bucs' Ring of Honor surely awaits. 

K Chase McLaughlin

McLaughlin was as reliable as they came in 2023 with his only missed field goal attempts in the regular season coming off two blocked kicks. The Bucs will need to pay more for his services than they did last year but locking him up should be a no-brainer.

RB Chase Edmonds

Edmonds wants to be here and isn't going to be an expensive option. re-signing him to a one-year deal, while adding to the backfield is likely. 

OG Aaron Stinnie

Stinnie isn't the long-term answer at guard but he can be a reliable backup that you can trust to start games. That can be hard to find in the NFL and I wouldn't be surprised to see the Bucs upgrade at the position but sign him for depth purposes if the contract is cheap enough. 

LB Devin White

White has likely played his last down for the Bucs. He will head out into free agency and likely have to settle for a one-year prove-it deal after a less-than-desirable contract year. 

DL William Gholston

The Bucs have virtually zero proven depth behind their starters coming back so I wouldn't be surprised to see the team toy at the idea of bringing Gholston back if they can't find and upgrade along the defensive line. 

DL Greg Gaines

Gaines could also be a candidate to return to the Bucs next season albeit at a lower contract rate. He's a serviceable backup and is well-liked on the team. 

DL Pat O'Connor

Special teams ace and rotational lineman, O'Connor loves Tampa and I would be surprised if he didn't return even if it's as a practice squad player. 

S Ryan Neal

Neal never found his footing with the Bucs. Coming off a season as one of the better safeties in the league, Neal struggled in coverage all season and will likely find a new home in free agency, 

QB John Wolford

With the hiring of Liam Coen, it makes it even more likely Wolford will be back for the Bucs in 2024. Wolford had a chance to leave the team during the season but has stated he wants to be in Tampa. 

WR David Moore

Moore came on late after injuries hit the wide receiver room. The veteran brought surprise playmaking to the room but the Bucs will likely look to upgrade the roster and Moore seems destined for Carolina. 

OG Matt Feiler

Feiler lost his starting spot due to injury but struggled beforehand anyway. He is unlikely to return.

OLB Cam Gill

Gill made the roster out of training camp but played sparingly during the regular season. he was however a core special teamer and the Bucs could bring him back to battle it out in training camp against some younger competition. 

OL Justin Skule

Skule was the Bucs' backup swing tackle last year. He also functioned as the team's jumbo tight end. He could be back on a cheap veterans minimum deal. 

LS Zach Triner

Triner will almost certainly be back as the team's long snapper. 

Restricted Free Agents

OL Nick Leverett

It will be interesting to see what the team does with Leverett. The lowest tender they can put on him is a one-year $2.8 million right of first refusal. I'm not sure the team will value the versatile lineman enough to bring him back at that price after not playing a snap in 2023.

DB Dee Delaney

The situation with Delaney is similar to Leverett's, the question is how much they value Delaney's versatility. It would be the same amount to bring him back and I wonder if they can reach a deal with him for less money than the tender. 

Exclusive Rights Free Agents

WR Devon Thompkins

Thompkins will be back with the team. As an exclusive rights-free agent, Thompkins has no choice in the matter as it's playing for the Bucs or no one else. 

OL Brandon Walton

Walton falls under the same category as Thompkins. The versatile lineman will be on the Bucs roster heading into the 2024 season. 

You can follow JC Allen on Twitter @JCAllenNFL.

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