Are the Bucs playing it smart or missing out on players?

We’ve seen names come off the boards already. During the legal tampering period, players that the Buccaneers have been reportedly tied to have agreed to sign with other teams once the free agency signing period begins later Wednesday afternoon.

Does this mean that the Bucs are really sticking to their “status quo” or is it that their are being overly cautious?

Let’s take a look at just some of the “big name” signings from the past few years.

2014

OT Anthony Collins
DE Michael Johnson
QB Josh McCown
DT Clinton McDonald
WR Louis Murphy
OL Evan Smith
CB Alterraun Verner

2015

S Chris Conte
DT Henry Melton
CB Sterling Moore
LB Bruce Carter

2016

OL J.R. Sweezy
DE Robert Ayers
CB Brent Grimes
LB Daryl Smith
CB Josh Robinson
P Bryan Anger

2017

WR DeSean Jackson
S JJ Wilcox
DT Chris Baker

Respectively, several of these names were considered splash signings at the time. But as you can see there are lots of names no longer donning the pewter and red.

Kudos to the front office if they are playing free agency safe. Previous signings could have led the team to analyze or over analyze each potential target and are perhaps being patient this time around. And with jobs on the line, who can blame.

As of now, only names are being tied to the Bucs and not actual signings. There are still plenty of players available (or that have not been rumored to be linked to a team) like Buffalo’s E.J. Gaines, Miami’s Ndamukong Suh, Atlanta’s Dontari Poe, and New Orleans’ Alex Okafor.

Folks have loved the splash signings before and later criticized the team for making those signings after they underperformed. It’s time to just let things play out and see if the staff gets things right — through the offseason and on the field.