The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are going to be a team that will be highly active in the offseason, especially as they try to beef up the pass rush. With a lot of questions surrounding the potential retirement of Lavonte David, they could use some fresh juice along the edge. However, while may say Maxx Crsoby could be an intriguing solution, a former first round draft pick in the NFC East could be a much cheaper option.
According to Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine, the Bucs could be tempted to make a trade for Giants edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux. He only has them giving up their third round pick this year to do it.
Bleacher Report #Buccaneers Mock Trade:
Bucs receive: EDGE Kayvon Thibodeaux
Giants receive: 2026 3rd Round Pick (No. 77)
Would you do this? 🧐 #WeAreTheKrewe
A Fresh Start Could Unlock Thibodeaux’s Potential
Thibodeaux would be an interesting choice for the Bucs as he has slid down the depth chart over the past couple of years for the boys in blue. After the Giants acquired Brian Burns a couple of offseasons ago and drafted Abdul Carter last year, Thibodeaux’s production drastically declined, only posting 2.5 sacks last season. He was also affected by a shoulder injury that limited him to just 10 games.
Still, he may be worth the risk for the Bucs due to his upside. After all, he is still a top 5 selection from the draft and most importantly, can boast a double digit sack season as recently as three years ago. The Bucs in that span have not had a double digit sack season at all.
For all the Bucs’ early decade success, their drafting decisions over the past few years have left much to be desired at the edge rusher position. Joe Tryon-Shoyinka has not produced much since being drafted 5 years ago. Chris Braswell only has 2.5 sacks in almost as many seasons. And even signing Haason Reddick to a short deal didn’t help.
Financial Flexibility Makes This a Logical Gamble
While Thibodeaux is not a sure thing, he can still come alive in a scheme that works for him. “It would be fun to see the former Oregon star in a blitz-heavy system that’s going to let him do what he does best. The Giants could be willing to take a third-rounder to get out of the club-option year on his contract, set to cost them $14.8 million”, Ballentine wrote of Thibodeaux’s potential.
For the Bucs, they could at the very least see what Thibodeaux is capable of on a cost-effective deal. Max Corosby is going to be a hot commodity in the open market as several teams can make appealing offers for him. The Bucs on the other hand, may want to focus on other areas as well before looking to bolster the pass rush.
As a result, Thibodeaux could be someone they don’t have to break the bank over. They also won’t have to be tied down to him long term if he does not end up working out for them.
Overall, while Bucs fans must be tired of the lack of production from their pass rush, Thibodeaux could potentially become someone they can rely upon in the short term.
Christopher Sheppard Christopher Sheppard is a passionate and knowledgeable sports journalist based in Englewood, NJ pursuing a role in the sports media industry. He covers the NFL for Heavy Sports, focusing on the Dolphins, Chargers, and Buccanneers. More about Christopher Sheppard
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