Free agency for the Bucs and the NFL officially began on Monday, March 9 at noon ET when the open negotiating period kicked off and prospective free agents could begin to negotiate with teams. Deals with new free agents could be signed and finalized on Wednesday, March 11 at 4:00 p.m. ET.
Pewter Report will track Tampa Bay’s additions and losses to the roster in the coming weeks with the 2026 Bucs Free Agency Tracker, which will be updated with news and rumors as we come across information from our team and league sources. So bookmark this page and check back often.
Pewter Report’s Scott Reynolds previewed free agency and offered up some inside scoop on Tampa Bay’s plans in Friday’s SR’s FAB 5: 2026 Bucs Free Agency Insider.
THE LATEST RUMORS/ANALYSIS
UPDATED 3/10 – 8:15 PM ET: Maxx Crosby’s knee surgery was a meniscus repair, which will take some time to rehab. This is why the Ravens backed out of the trade. Bucs beware.
Maxx Crosby’s knee surgery was a meniscus repair, which will take some time to rehab. This is why the Ravens backed out of the trade.
— PewterReport 🏴☠️ (@PewterReport) March 11, 2026
UPDATED 3/10 – 8:11 PM ET: WHOA! This is quite a development! Are Bucs going to get another shot at Maxx Crosby? Why did the Ravens back out? Medical concerns over his knee – or are the Ravens going to target Trey Hendrickson and keep their draft picks?
WHOA! This quite a development! Are Bucs going to get another shot at Maxx Crosby?
Why did the Ravens back out? Medical concerns over his knee – or are the Ravens going to target Trey Hendrickson and keep their draft picks?
— PewterReport 🏴☠️ (@PewterReport) March 11, 2026
UPDATED 3/10 – 7:54 PM ET: Fact. We talked about Al-Quadin Muhammad and his 11 sacks last year on today’s Pewter Report Podcast.
Fact. We talked about Al-Quadin Muhammad and his 11 sacks last year on today’s Pewter Report Podcast.
— PewterReport 🏴☠️ (@PewterReport) March 10, 2026
UPDATED 3/10 – 7:50 PM ET: We’ll see if the Bucs are in play here [for Trey Hendrickson] or not – tomorrow, supposedly.
UPDATED 3/10 – 7:00 PM ET: The top backup quarterback for Baker Mayfield last season has found a new home, as veteran Teddy Bridgewater will be returning to the Lions in 2026. While Tampa Bay signed exclusive rights free agent Connor Bazelak before the start of free agency, expect them to acquire another veteran arm or draft a young signal-caller this offseason.
UPDATED 3/10 – 1:43 PM ET: The Bucs are still interested in bringing back running back Sean Tucker – even after the signing of Kenneth Gainwell to a 2-year, $14m deal. Tampa Bay opted not to tender Tucker at $3.5m as a restricted free agent, but would like him back for a lesser amount as a reserve RB & KR.
The Bucs are still interested in bringing back running back Sean Tucker – even after the signing of Kenneth Gainwell to a 2-year, $14m deal.
Tampa Bay opted not to tender Tucker $3.5m as a restricted free agent, but would like him back for a lesser amount as a reserve RB & KR. pic.twitter.com/lpxiTZAli1
— PewterReport 🏴☠️ (@PewterReport) March 10, 2026
UPDATED 3/10 – 1:39 PM ET: The Bucs are playing the waiting game with edge rusher Trey Hendrickson. There is interest, but Hendrickson’s $30m+ price tag is too high right now. The problem for Hendrickson is that most of the big $$$ was spent on Day 1 of free agency. Fewer dollars – and suitors – remain.
The Bucs are playing the waiting game with edge rusher Trey Hendrickson. There is interest, but Henrickson’s $30m+ price tag is too high right now.
The problem for Hendrickson is that most of the big $$$ was spent on Day 1 of free agency. Fewer dollars – and suitors – remain. pic.twitter.com/UMp84ngShs
— PewterReport 🏴☠️ (@PewterReport) March 10, 2026
UPDATED 3/10 – 10:23 AM ET: And THIS is why the Bucs (or any team) haven’t signed Trey Hendrickson yet. Remember last week when I told you that Hendrickson’s price tag had to come down – way down – for the Buccaneers to be interested? He turns 32 this year and is coming off a season-ending pelvic-hip injury that required surgery.
And THIS is why the Bucs (or any team) haven’t signed Trey Hendrickson yet. Remember last week when I told you that Hendrickson’s price tag had to come down – way down – for the Buccaneers to be interested?
He turns 32 this year and is coming off a season-ending pelvic-hip…
— PewterReport 🏴☠️ (@PewterReport) March 10, 2026
UPDATED 3/9 – 8:35 PM ET: Lots of edge rushers signed today. Trey Hendrickson still available, but $$$ must come down (a lot) for the Bucs to be interested. Keep an eye on K’Lavon Chaisson, 26, if the price is right. Coming off career year w/7.5 sacks, 2 FFs in NE. 54 pressures + 18 more in postseason.
Lots of edge rushers signed today. Trey Hendrickson still available, but $$$ must come down (a lot) for the Bucs to be interested.
Keep an eye on K’Lavon Chaisson, 26, if the price is right. Coming off career year w/7.5 sacks, 2 FFs in NE. 54 pressures + 18 more in postseason. pic.twitter.com/ECEchAc3dy
— PewterReport 🏴☠️ (@PewterReport) March 10, 2026
UPDATED 3/9 – 2:32 PM ET: Bucs legend Mike Evans is now a 49er. Ugh.
UPDATED: 3/9 – 1:20 PM ET: Another REALLY GOOD move for the Bucs at inside linebacker. Alex Anzalone returns to Florida to play for the Buccaneers.
Another REALLY GOOD move for the Bucs at inside linebacker. Alex Anzalone returns to Florida to play for the Buccaneers.
— PewterReport 🏴☠️ (@PewterReport) March 9, 2026
UPDATED: 3/9 – 1:15 PM ET: FANTASTIC pick-up by the Bucs as a replacement for Rachaad White. Great receiver out of the backfield for Tampa Bay.
FANTASTIC pick-up by the Bucs as a replacement for Rachaad White. Great receiver out of the backfield for Tampa Bay.
— PewterReport 🏴☠️ (@PewterReport) March 9, 2026
UPDATED 3/9 – 12:10 PM ET: Knowing this [about Lavonte David] Bucs would be wise to wait and see what they can get in free agency at linebacker first (a younger, faster ILB) before circling back around to Lavonte David.
Knowing this, Bucs would be wise to wait and see what they can get in free agency at linebacker first (a younger, faster ILB) before circling back around to Lavonte David.
— PewterReport 🏴☠️ (@PewterReport) March 9, 2026
BUCS RE-SIGNINGS
QB Connor Bazelak – 1 year, $1.005 million
LS Evan Deckers – 1 year, terms undisclosed
TE Cade Otton – 3 years, $30 million – $20 million guaranteed
Bucs TE Cade Otton – photo by: USA Today
BUCS NEW ADDITIONS IN FREE AGENCY
RB Kenneth Gainwell – from the Steelers for 2 years, $14 million
ILB Alex Anzalone – from the Lions for 2 years, $17 million
BUCS DEPARTURES IN FREE AGENCY
WR Mike Evans – to the 49ers for 3 years, $60.4 million
CB Jamel Dean – to the Steelers for 3 years, $36.75 million
TAMPA BAY’S SALARY CAP ROOM
UPDATED 3/9 9:00 am ET: According to OverTheCap.com, the Buccaneers have $19,962,510 in cap space. That number is different per Spotrac, which has Tampa Bay with $11,305,885 in cap space.
CONTRACT RESTRUCTURES
None yet by Tampa Bay assistant G.M. Mike Greenberg. The likely candidates to have their contracts restructured this year are left tackle Tristan Wirfs ($36,328,582 cap value), right tackle Luke Goedeke ($22,681,200) and safety Antoine Winfield Jr. ($27,466,000 cap value).
Bucs LT Tristan Wirfs and GM Jason Licht – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
REMAINING BUCCANEERS IN FREE AGENCY
Here is a list of the remaining Buccaneers in free agency.
ILB Lavonte David
OLB Haason Reddick
DT Logan Hall
RB Rachaad White
WR Sterling Shepard
DT Greg Gaines
OT Charlie Heck
CB Kindle Vildor
TE Ko Kieft
OL Mike Jordan
OL Dan Feeney
ILB Deion Jones
ILB Anthony Walker Jr.
QB Teddy Bridgewater
S Christian Izien
S J.T. Gray
OLB Markees Watts (ERFA)
OT Tyler McLellan (ERFA)