The Lost Buccaneers
June 22nd, 2023
Former Bucs defensive lineman Will Gholston.
Bucs fans are well versed in the Tom Brady-era players that found new homes, such as Scotty Miller battling for the Falcons’ No. 3 receiver gig and Donovan Smith all set to block the blind side of Patrick Mahomes.
Sean Murphy-Bunting quickly has become a favorite in Tennessee. Keanu Neal got a two-year deal in Pittsburgh and appears to be their starting strong safety.
The list goes on.
But Joe’s eyes today land on what Joe will call The Lost Buccaneers: eight players that were — or were expected to be — significant contributors last season in Tampa.
All are NFL homeless and have yet to hint publicly at retirement.
Logan Ryan
William Gholston
Akiem Hicks
Leonard Fournette
Cameron Brate
Kyle Rudolph
Julio Jones
Ryan Succop
Joe knows Fournette wants and expects to play this season and is training regularly. He caught 73 balls last season and had excellent yards-after-catch numbers. Fournette won’t have trouble finding a job but likely is waiting for the right spot and pay day.
Todd Bowles had a twinkle in his eye about Hicks returning to the Bucs this season. Joe was sitting right next to Bowles 12 weeks ago at the NFL Owners Meetings in Phoenix when Bowles said he was hopeful of a potential second season for Hicks in Tampa. (Poor Bowles. He had a lot of face-to-face time with Joe back then. The guy probably hasn’t recoved.)
Gholston was open about wanting to continue his career, but there have been no rumors. Same for Ryan.
Ko Kieft shared on a Minnesota-based podcast this year that Rudolph told him he wants to keep playing.
It’s been all quiet on the Brate and Jones front, per Joe’s research. And it seems the weak-legged old kicker market won’t pick up for Succop until guys start missing field goals in training camp.
The aforementioned players represent a load of 2022 playing time and production. Just the defensive players alone (Hicks, Ryan and Gholston) accounted for 1,300-plus snaps.
Joe will continue monitoring these ex-Bucs, and several could find a last-minute training camp home. Their options and production this season collectively could say a lot about the 2022 roster.
June 22nd, 2023 at 1:04 pm
One could almost, maybe, kinda sorta feel sorry for Patrick Mahommie….. Nah!
He’ll learn!
June 22nd, 2023 at 1:11 pm
Cameron had a damn good run, especially for being undrafted!
He has pocketed some nice coin, and with his intelligence and Harvard education, he should be able to live a long, healthy, and comfortable life(outside of the NFL).
June 22nd, 2023 at 1:38 pm
I could see Gholston back on a vet minimum deal if there are injuries or the backups aren’t cutting it.
June 22nd, 2023 at 1:49 pm
90% of those guys are past their prime, no big loss
June 22nd, 2023 at 1:51 pm
Out with the old….
June 22nd, 2023 at 2:05 pm
Gholston should retire a Buccaneer. The guy has been a very solid for this team for the past decade.
June 22nd, 2023 at 2:19 pm
Agreed, would like to see Gholston retire as a Buc.
June 22nd, 2023 at 2:22 pm
could say a lot about the 2022 roster? My friend it says old and slow
June 22nd, 2023 at 2:22 pm
William Gholston.
2 more years.
Don’t make the same mistake as last year. Suh and JPP were missed.
We need Gholston’s toughness and push our young guys.
Gholston showed up against the Cowboys. And every game last season.
I want Gholston for at least 1 more year.
I want an 8-10 men defensive line/OLB group.
June 22nd, 2023 at 2:23 pm
Gholston could still help the Bucs D, still got a little gas in the tank! Slash play here a, a slash play there thats all he needs to do
June 22nd, 2023 at 2:25 pm
Rudolph, Brate and Jones are all done and it was pretty obvious last year. Jones made a few plays to be fair but he can’t stay healthy so unless he’s willing to sign for about $2M – no team will likely sign Julio unless and until they get into the season and get desperate because of injuries.
The rest are all decent to good players with varying “risk” attached (mostly due to age/mileage/injury risk) and all will likely play somewhere in 2023 if thats what those players want to do and the compensation is deemed worthwhile. No one on that list will be signed for more than about $3M-4M though….
Gholston probably has the best chance from that list of being re-signed with the Bucs prior to the season starting – if he’s willing to play another season for close to vet minimum that is. Logan Ryan is also a decent possibility….
Chances of the Bucs spending $4-5M+ on Hicks (which is his likely asking price) probably went out the window when they drafted Kancey in the 1st rd.
Bucs very much needed to get younger and faster so I had no qualms whatsoever with any player on that list not being re-signed.
June 22nd, 2023 at 2:28 pm
I’d like to see Gholston back for another year.
June 22nd, 2023 at 2:31 pm
Yea, I’m surprised Gholston wasn’t resigned to a one year deal. At this point, he can’t be too expensive. His Buc experience could be invaluable with some of these younger players.
June 22nd, 2023 at 2:34 pm
Good Show Joe…good info.
June 22nd, 2023 at 2:39 pm
Was glad to see Rudolph and Brate go. But Gholston might have another year left in him, if we can get him cheap enough.
Hicks is too old and way too slow, IMHO
June 22nd, 2023 at 4:26 pm
The only 2 from that list that really surprise me are Gholston and Fournette. But I agree that Fournette will sign somewhere at some point.
June 22nd, 2023 at 4:31 pm
Appreciate this article Joe; good show. Of those 8, I agree that Rudolph, Julio & Brate are done. Succop might have another year or 2 in him. I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see Gholston & Ryan back with the Bucs this year (we’re quite inexperienced in both position groups). Hicks is a possibility IF Vea or Gaines get hurt for an extended period of time, providing he’d sign for the vet minimum. I still haven’t ruled out Fournette making it back as a Buc (our RB group still doesn’t impress me).
June 22nd, 2023 at 4:39 pm
$$$ THE WEEKS AHEAD $$$
The Bucs had to rework rookie deals in order to sign all their draft picks.
(BTW, I’ve never heard of restructuring a rookie contract.)
It will be interesting to see what Evans’ new contract does for cap space.
June 22nd, 2023 at 6:47 pm
Brats,Rudolph,and jones should read the writing on the wall it’s over fellas thxs cam
June 22nd, 2023 at 8:14 pm
I, too, would like to see Fournette and Gholston back but money still needs to come from somewhere. Especially since Brady did us no favors with his $35M cap hit. He seemed to just want to forget about us. I will always be grateful for the SB he helped us win but I say NO to the ROH.
June 22nd, 2023 at 8:23 pm
Gholston is the only one I’d like back.
June 22nd, 2023 at 9:02 pm
We all want golston back. Bring hicks back as veteran leadership and depth. He doesn’t need to start but when he was AVAILABLE to play with vea we had a good record but he would need to be real cheap. A lot cheaper than last year.
June 22nd, 2023 at 9:30 pm
I know we love Gholston, but…
He played 43% of the defensive snaps and recorded a whopping 49 COMBINED tackles with ZERO sacks!
Please tell me how this “production” is irreplaceable.
Expect more Bucs fans.
June 22nd, 2023 at 10:48 pm
For what it’s worth Gholston still posts Bucs content. I wouldn’t be surprised if Brate retires but is probably looking for the right opportunity. Lenny wants money and the Saquon situation is messing up the whole market. Julio was pretty much toast when we signed him (search the archives, I was right on this).
I’m one of those guys that wets himself over comp picks so I can’t wait to see what Licht gets out of that
June 22nd, 2023 at 11:44 pm
I would rather have Whitehead and Neal as our starting safeties than whatever combo we have this year. We let the 2 best get away for peanuts
June 23rd, 2023 at 12:42 am
Logan Ryan
William Gholston
Akiem Hicks
We would be wise to being these three back…If at all possible.
Thanks Joe and please do keep us posted on our lost Bucs.
Go Bucs!
June 23rd, 2023 at 12:48 am
Give Gholston and Hicks incentive contracts and lets go! Ryan would be harder to sign I think.
Go Bucs!