Bucs Gameday

Kansas City Chiefs sign standout defender away from Buccaneers

The Buccaneers are not retaining a productive member of their secondary.

Collin Haalboom

Kansas City Chiefs sign standout defender away from Buccaneers
Kansas City Chiefs sign standout defender away from Buccaneers /
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A valued member of the Buccaneers' impressive 2019 draft class, Mike Edwards proved to be starting caliber safety during his time in Tampa.

Edwards was the fourth Buccaneer selected in 2019, following the likes of Devin White, Sean Murphy-Bunting, and Jamel Dean. 

READ MORE: Baker Mayfield tabbed as Tom Brady's Successor in Tampa

Unlike Jamel Dean though, Edwards was not prioritized by the Bucs in free agency, and has since agreed to terms with the Kansas City Chiefs on a 1-year deal worth up to $5 million.

Although he didn't actually get the opportunity to start until this past season — the final year of his rookie contract — the former Kentucky Wildcat demonstrated a knack for making splash plays whenever he was on the field. 

Despite serving as part of a rotation in Tampa, as opposed to being a full-time starter, Edwards generated seven interceptions over the past three seasons. Additionally, he's a solid tackler with a good amount of postseason experience, and he'll provide some valuable depth to the Chiefs' secondary. 

Based on his performance over the course of his career in Tampa, I'm sure the Bucs would have liked to bring Edwards back. There's no doubt he took advantage of the opportunity he was given. But the reality of the Buccaneers' financial situation is well known — they're operating under a major cap crunch this offseason.

Having already locked up the talented tandem of Carlton Davis and Jamel Dean on the outside, with fellow safety, Antoine Winfield Jr. due for a new contract in 2024, the Buccaneers need to be frugal with their spending. 

At least for now.

With the salary cap expected to rise yet again next season, the team should be well-positioned to retain Winfield's services at that time. 

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Collin Haalboom
COLLIN HAALBOOM

Prior to joining BucsGameday and Sports Illustrated, Collin's written content was provided through Bucs Banter, and NFL Draft Lounge. He is also the creator and host of the Bucs Banter Podcast. He is a graduate of the Communication Studies program at McMaster University, where he was also a varsity basketball player, and later an advanced scout. He lives with his wife and two children in Hamilton, ON. You can follow Collin on YouTube and Twitter.