4 free agents the Buccaneers missed out on thanks to Tom Brady’s retirement
Tom Brady, Tampa Bay Buccaneers. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)
Due to Tom Brady’s retirement, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been very quiet in free agency.
After a spectacular 23-year career, Tom Brady officially announced his retirement from the NFL. Over that span, he established himself as the true GOAT of the NFL, as he was a seven-time Super Bowl champion, five-time Super Bowl MVP, three-time NFL MVP, and 15-time Pro Bowler. Those are only just a few of the many accolades that Brady secured during his career, and that naturally made just about every NFL player want him as their QB.
Now that Brady is retired, the Buccaneers have been forced to enter a major retooling period. They signed former first-overall pick Baker Mayfield as Brady’s replacement, and although he has shown some promise at times, there is no question that he is a downgrade from the legend.
The Buccaneers have become less of an appealing landing spot without Brady on their roster, so they, understandably, have missed out on some notable free agents this offseason. Let’s discuss a few of them now.
Buccaneers: 4 free agents Tampa Bay missed out on thanks to Tom Brady’s retirement
4. Mike Gesicki
The Buccaneers could have used a player like Mike Gesicki added to their offense. Although the 6-foot-6 tight end had a bit of a quiet year with the Miami Dolphins in 2022, a major reason behind it was Miami simply not throwing him the ball as often. That is likely to change with his new team, the New England Patriots, as he is now viewed as one of their top offensive weapons heading toward this season.
When looking at the Buccaneers’ roster, it is fair to argue that they could have used a high-impact tight end like Gesicki. This is especially true when noting that Tampa Bay’s offense has been negatively impacted by Brady’s retirement. This is all why the New Jersey native likely opted to sign with New England rather than a team on the decline like the Buccaneers. It is a shame, as Gesicki could have been a valuable addition to their group.
In 17 games this past season with Miami, Gesicki had five touchdowns, 32 receptions, and 362 receiving yards.
