NFL Rumors: Buccaneers look to cut Julio Jones and other veterans in offseason cleanup
The offseason has already begun for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after they fell to the Dallas Cowboys in the Wild Card round of the playoffs.
They'll have many tough decisions to make, such as figuring out how to go about re-signing quarterback Tom Brady, or letting him sign elsewhere (presuming he doesn't retire). The Bucs also find themselves in a very difficult position, as they currently have a cap space of around -$55 million.
So some veterans are going to have to go. Per Rick Stroud and Dov Kleiman, they aren't expected to re-sign pending free agent wide receivers Julio Jones, Scotty Miller, and Breshad Perriman. Other veterans such as safeties Keanu Neal and Logan Ryan, running back Giovani Bernard and tight end Kyle Rudolph are not expected to re-sign with the team.
The #Bucs aren't expected to re-sign pending free-agent WRs Julio Jones, Scotty Miller and Breshad Perriman.
Veterans such as Safeties Logan Ryan and Keanu Neal, RB Giovani Bernard and TE Kyle Rudolph are also not expected to be re-signed per @NFLSTROUD https://t.co/8dkDaVXYK5
The aging veterans will test the market and are expected to sign elsewhere in free agency. Some may even consider retirement.
The Bucs also have decisions to make about others, including Lavonte David, Akiem Hicks, William Gholston, Sean Bunting, Jamel Dean and Carl Nassib. It is unclear right now who their priorities will be regarding re-signing, but one can guess they'll try to retain David and Hicks.
All in all, it looks to be a markedly different outfit that will kick off the 2023 season, which may include a fresh face under center.
Will Tom Brady be back with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2023?
Tom Brady, at age 46, is a free agent once again and is free to sign with any team. He spent the last three seasons with the Buccaneers after spending two decades with the New England Patriots and could join a third team this offseason.
According to reports, Brady is not expected to be back with the Buccaneers next season. At 45 years old, the legendary QB doesn't have the time for a rebuild and if he is to play on, will be looking to challenge for a Super Bowl immediately.
Rumors: Free Agent QB Tom Brady isn’t expected to re-sign with the #Buccaneers, per @RapSheet
There is no real reason to think Brady will retire just yet and many expect him to be back next season. Despite his age, Brady is still playing at the top of his game and has many teams interested in him. With Tom Brady looking to compete, his list of potential destinations seems smaller.
Among those teams are the Las Vegas Raiders, Tennessee Titans, Miami Dolphins, and the San Francisco 49ers.
There are pros and cons and a lot to be said about how he would fit into each of these systems. The truth is that it is just too early to say with any certainty what will happen. Tom Brady has been full of surprises in recent years and no one can say for sure what he will do. Only time will tell.