3 Free Agents Buccaneers Need to Sign to Make a Super Bowl Run Next Year

After finishing the 2021 NFL season with a 13-4, Tampa Bay Buccaneers had high postseason expectations for their team. Unfortunately, those dreams came to a halt when the Buccaneers were eliminated by the Los Angeles Rams in the Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs.

Tampa Bay's window for another Super Bowl is closing, especially with the uncertainty regarding Tom Brady's future. Assuming that the legendary gunslinger has at least one season left in him, the Buccaneers must use free agency to do what they can to field a contender come September.

Here's a look at three free agents that the Buccaneers need to sign to make a Super Bowl run next year.

Buccaneers Free Agent Targets

1. Chris Godwin, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Chris Godwin has spent his entire five-year NFL career with the Buccaneers, but he's set to become a free agent this offseason. There are few adequate replacement options for the 25-year-old if he leaves, which is why it's crucial for Tampa Bay to bring him back. He had his second 1,000-yard season in three years and forms one of the top wideout duos in the league along with Mike Evans. With Antonio Brown already gone, it's hard to imagine the Buccaneers passing game staying as elite a threat if they were to lose Godwin as well. That's why bringing him back should be their No. 1 priority.

2. Cordarrelle Patterson, RB/WR, Atlanta Falcons

Leonard Fournette, Ronald Jones and Giovani Bernard are all stated to hit free agency, leaving Ke'Shawn Vaughn as Tampa Bay's only option in the backfield. It isn't a guarantee that any of the above will return and that's why it'd be wise for the Buccaneers to target Cordarrelle Patterson in free agency. The veteran proved that he could do it all this season, finishing with 618 rushing yards, 548 receiving yards and 11 total touchdowns. He has experience playing with Brady in New England during the 2018 campaign and we all know how much No. 12 values chemistry. At 30 years old, Patterson should consider taking a discount to try and help the Buccaneers win a Super Bowl next year.

3. DaQuan Jones, DT, Carolina Panthers

Veteran defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh is also hitting free agency. Losing him would be a huge blow for the Buccaneers, leaving someone like DaQuan Jones as an affordable replacement option. The 30-year-old spent the 2021 campaign with the rival Carolina Panthers, finishing with 38 total tackles, six quarterback hits and a sack. He had a 66.4 overall grade on ProFootballFocus, meaning there are certainly worse options out there. Getting Jones at a bargain deal will leave Tampa Bay with cap space that they can spend elsewhere to strengthen the roster rather than locking Suh down to another expensive deal.

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Devon Platana is not a FanDuel employee. The views expressed in his articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.