2013 NFL Free Agency: Will Buccaneers cut Eric Wright?

For the second straight year, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are looking to move on from their top cornerback. That, at least, is what recent reports appear to say. Both Pewter Report and the Tampa Bay Times have noted that Eric Wright has likely played his last game for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This seems entirely logical: Wright was decent but not spectacular last season, the fact that he suffered multiple nagging injuries won't help and his four-game suspension is yet another reason to move on from the cornerback.

Still, he is their best cornerback. Even with Eric Wright sticking around, the Bucs have a massive hole at their position. In fact, that hole is so big that many people thought last season that the Bucs would select cornerback Morris Claiborne with their first-round pick -- and that was with both Aqib Talib and Eric Wright on the roster. If Wright leaves, the Bucs will be stuck with Leonard Johnson and Anthony Gaitor as starters: an undrafted free agent in his second year, and a seventh-round pick in his third year. The Bucs are likely to bring back E.J. Biggers, but he isn't good enough to be a consistent starter either.

Releasing Wright would make the team worse. Much, much worse. Wright isn't a world-beater, but he is a versatile and competent cornerback -- and that's a lot more than can be said for the cornerbacks the Bucs currently have on the roster. Yes, his salary is too high, but it is possible to keep him and renegotiate his contract. Moreover, if they do release Wright they will have issues finding a replacement. The free agent class isn't particularly strong, with Brent Grimes, Cary Williams and Sean Smith representing the best options. The draft does have plenty of cornerbacks, but starting rookies at the cornerback position never really ends well.

So what do you think? Should the Bucs hang on to Eric Wright?