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NFL Free Agency 2013: Buccaneers sign Dashon Goldson

The Buccaneers have taken one step on the road to a new secondary: they've added a quality free safety.

Scott Halleran

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have signed free safety Dashon Goldson to pair with last year's first-round pick Mark Barron. The Bucs are trying to overhaul their secondary in record time, and getting a two-time Pro Bowler will certainly help. Goldson's a solid free safety with the range and instincts to consistently play as a single-high safety, a must in the Bucs' scheme.

With Dashon Goldson in the building, the Buccaneers should be set at safety for the coming years. Goldson will play alongside last year's first-round pick Mark Barron, who will take on more of a box safety role. The Buccaneers aren't done overhauling their secondary, however, as they still have a dire need at cornerback.

This signing also has some consequences for Ronde Barber, who has yet to be re-signed by the Buccaneers. It's not clear whether Barber would want to return for a slot cornerback role, which is almost surely what he would be asked to do now that Goldson has been signed. There's no room for him at safety now, and it's not clear whether one of the most distinguished Buccaneers in recent memory will return to the team at all.

With Goldson in the fold, the Bucs can now concentrate on augmenting the rest of their secondary. Specifically, the cornerbacks. Brent Grimes, Derek Cox, Sean Smith and Darrelle Revis are some of the players the Buccaneers have been linked with.

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