BSPN: Best NFL Move Was Bucs Signing Haason Reddick
March 18th, 2025
Bucs GM Jason Licht.
It had gotten to the point Joe had to keep empty beer bottles away from his leather couch.
The way the Bucs couldn’t get after a quarterback with an edge rusher made Joe want to grab anything within arm’s reach and rifle it at the TV. Good thing Joe can hide his remote during a Bucs game.
It had reached a point where if Joe was a Glazer, he’d wing a chair from the owner’s suite onto the field, Bobby Knight-style. The lack of an edge rush was appalling and Joe really believed it was an albatross the team couldn’t overcome last season.
Joe is still giddy and on Cloud 9 about the Bucs signing edge rusher Haason Reddick. In a lot of ways, Joe believes this is some cruel dream and won’t believe Reddick was signed until Joe actually witnesses Reddick throw Derek Carr to the turf of Lincoln’s Tomb in New Orleans.
In fact, over at BSPN, Jeremy Fowler believes the Bucs signing Reddick was the best move any team made in free agency.
Jeremy Fowler, national NFL reporter: The Bucs signing defensive end Haason Reddick. Tampa Bay got out of its draft-and-develop comfort zone and invested $14 million in a one-year deal with Reddick, who had four consecutive double-digit-sack seasons before last year’s holdout sabotaged his 2024 campaign with the Jets. With a full offseason, he should get back on track. And the Bucs know they are at their best with an elite pass rush, as they proved during their 2020 Super Bowl run.
Look, Joe had pointed out in many, many ways how an edge rush is so vital. There’s a reason why former NFL suits in the Pro Football Hall of Fame consistently have said a defensive end/edge rusher is the most important position on defense. Gil Brandt, the architect of the Cowboys, often said only a quarterback is more important than a defensive end.
Also, Joe has pointed out too many times to count the Bucs in their franchise history only three times have had a feared pass rush (Lee Roy Selmon, Simeon Rice and Jason Pierre-Paul/Shaq Barrett). The worst those teams did was make an NFC title game (and held the Rams without a touchdown).
That, boys and girls, is not a coincidence, that the most success the Bucs have had in their history was also the only times the team scared quarterbacks with an edge rush.
Yeah, Joe still maintains the Bucs were an established edge rusher away from making a run at a Super Bowl. We’ll soon find out if Reddick has any more gas left in the tank.
March 18th, 2025 at 4:06 am
I’m not so sure what I make of Reddick just yet. To m I see shades of Leveon Bell or Deshawn Watson.
March 18th, 2025 at 5:09 am
Let’s pump the brakes on Reddick and see what happens.
Two years ago Reddick was coming off a double digit sack season for the Eagles.
He was making 15 million and wanted a raise. The Eagles don’t give raises to their edge rushers who are nearing 30, so they traded him to the Jets.
Thinking the Jets would give him the money he wanted, Reddick was shocked when the Jets refused.
So Reddick held out, eventually signing a deal that cost him around 5 million in lost pay. Playing in 10 games for the Jets, he was able to get only one sack.
Fast forward to now: The Bucs signed Reddick for a million less than his last year with the Eagles. On paper it looks good IF he can return to the form of his Eagles days when they thought him too old to keep.
In 2024 there were 23 players with double digit sacks. Five were 30 or older. One was over 31.
Teams rarely let good players walk, especially edge rushers.
So please, let’s pump the brakes on Reddick until we see what we have come September.
March 18th, 2025 at 5:22 am
If this were a multi-year deal, I would hate it. The pass rusher market is set up great for getting these guys on one year prove it deals and getting motivated production out of them.
March 18th, 2025 at 5:25 am
I’m not sure touting an endorsement from ESPN carries much weight they are wrong more than the local weather man.
March 18th, 2025 at 5:39 am
One thing you can bet on for Bucs fans is finding some Debby downers in the comment section
March 18th, 2025 at 5:55 am
I am curious as to what GMC thinks on this matter. J/K Joe 🙂
March 18th, 2025 at 5:58 am
One question in regards to Haason Reddick: ‘Are the Bucs better off today than they were before they signed him?’
Yes. How much of an impact he’ll have though will be dependent on the quality of his surrounding cast, just like it was with Shaq in 2019.
We’re not finished with this defense by any stretch of the imagination.
o Need 1 more DT/NT beast to rotate in with Vea.
o Need 1 more quality Edge to complete the stable & set us up for the future.
o Need at least 1 preferably 2 starter-quality ILBs.
o Need at least 1 preferably 2 starter-quality outside CBs.
Bucs almost-surely won’t get all that in the draft, but we can hopefully fill 3-4 of those slots with a good draft. We still need to be sniffing the UFAs looking for hidden quality at reasonable prices.
March 18th, 2025 at 6:00 am
JA … Quality analysis. Nailed it.
March 18th, 2025 at 6:27 am
Fit, fit, fit, it’s all about fit; and Reddick fits like a glove. Bowles has been singing in the shower since he signed.
March 18th, 2025 at 6:36 am
Thanks D.R.
As an historian by nature and sometimes occupation, seems all I do is research, but never here, the home of Opinion Central.
So I decided to follow your lead for once and allow data to form an opinion.
Sports stats historiography should be the most unbiased maker of judgement … if you allow it to enter into your thinking. In this contemporary world where lies often become “truths,” football stats remain unblemished. They are unassailable truths, plain and simple.
Thanks for the lead and impetus to get me off my a— and do a little work.
March 18th, 2025 at 8:12 am
Eagles picked up Azeez Ojulari in a one year deal for $4Mill. Would have liked him also. Great speed off the edge. Bucs have many expendable defenders so there was clearly room for Ojulari.
March 18th, 2025 at 8:38 am
JA … ‘the home of Opinion Central’.
Very appropriate.
March 18th, 2025 at 8:44 am
JA Says:
“the home of Opinion Central”
LOL – so true….
March 18th, 2025 at 8:51 am
It’s all opinions, even stats without context can be biased, being a fan is all opinionated we are fanatics the point is to have fun with it so have fun.
March 18th, 2025 at 9:03 am
Sure…Reddick…more importantly, was the duck thing a marketing ploy? You can’t hold wild ducks. I want ANSWERS! Are pet ducks flying around Tampa willy nilly? Where’s that duck’s mother?
Also, I hope Reddick does fantastic with Vea and Cancy drawing attention in the middle. Either Reddick or Diaby need to blow up. I hope this isn’t a drop off year for Vea. If Vea and Cancy are crushing the middle and Reddicks a 7.9 out of 10 and Diaby continues to improve…maybe a 7.6 out of 10…it’ll be fun to watch. If we can’t get edge pressure with these dudes healthy and a strong push in the middle….we got issues. It’s gotta be an improvement.
March 18th, 2025 at 9:30 am
tucker Says:
March 18th, 2025 at 8:51 am
It’s all opinions, even stats without context can be biased, being a fan is all opinionated we are fanatics the point is to have fun with it so have fun.
************
I have to agree but some here take it way to far if your opinion is at odds with the crowd. Mob mentality kicks in. Its go along with the mainstream opinion or get out.
I enjoy coming here for the most part and some actually post content that I find to be quiet educational (defense rules and others) that can offer a different opinion without reverting to denigrating ones character
March 18th, 2025 at 9:35 am
If you’re giving receivers 12 yard cushions, an edge rusher is rendered moot because the QB gets rid of the ball in a second (unless you’re dropping your pass rushers into zone coverage, LOL).
March 18th, 2025 at 9:40 am
We need to draft the kid from bc for edge or trade for trey hendrickson. We cannot continue to be weak off the edge. We need long term. Guys.
Draft a corner round 2, or sign Asante Samuel
Rd 3 linebacker
Rd 4 receiver
I’ve also thought about what if we took ashton jeanty at 19 and paired him with bucky. If he’s available how do you not take him? If you think this guy is saquon or even Jamir gibbs…..can you imagine our offense?
March 18th, 2025 at 10:37 am
Good idea!
Glad someone has finally picked up on the core focus of JoeBucsFan.com after 17 years! 🙂
March 18th, 2025 at 10:39 am
That is an underrated signing. Howie Roseman knows what he’s doing.
March 18th, 2025 at 11:24 am
For me, I would never have a guy like Ojulari be one of my main guys.
I think he is one of the worst outside linebackers in the NFL on missed tackles. (20 percent last year).
That is a stat that has meat to it. Lets see if he miraculously clears that up.
Back in 2021 — “Although Ojulari has elite pass rushing potential, his run defense raises questions.”
Looks like he did not fix that in 4 years in the NFL Maybe Philly can absorb that pretty well — as you said Rosen is uniquely smart about his pickups.
March 18th, 2025 at 11:34 am
Unfortunately I can’t get as excited as Joe is about this signing.
It was a need filled and that is always a good thing.
But I’d be careful acting like we’re now Superbowl bound.
There are options to be had in the draft still at DE in round 2 through 4 and possibly 5.
At this point I would either go for Campbell if he’s there or Barron.
CB and LB have to be the priority. DE and S are the second tier.
Remember Hendricks was drafted at 103 of the third round. Hidden talent is out there to be had.
Definitely think drafting a DE is important to have depth and potential future starter.
March 18th, 2025 at 12:41 pm
Meh
Not excited, Reddick after 1 sack, yes, ONE SACK in 10 games, doesn’t excite me as a fan.
Licht showed in Free Agency he has not learned from his mistakes. He builds a roster scared, he’s more interested in rewarding his draft picks with overpaid contracts (Carlton Davis, Jamel Dean and Winfield) and bringing back players than infusing the roster with talent and fresh blood.
Licht had a chance to add edge talent and chose the least productive of the available options because, the guy was friends with the position coach. I hope I am wrong about the signing but don’t ask me to be excited about a player who got 1 sack in 10 games
March 18th, 2025 at 1:43 pm
On the Reddick contract: It says it’s for one year. But here’s where Jason’s reputation comes into play. He has stuck with veteran players who contributed to the team — just look back at how he handled the last two years of Vincent Jackson, or even Sweezy. Word is bond, so Licht may have an unspoken option for future years if Reddick performs.
On the draft: Free agency foretells the picks. The Bucs NEED mlb and cb. The best VALUE is in dline and edge. Expect the first round to be value and the next two or three to be need.
March 18th, 2025 at 2:00 pm
Warren Sapp???!
March 18th, 2025 at 2:52 pm
Classic Licht. Ideal timing on FA Edge with player timeline, circumstance, value, upside, quality, most likely result. Majority of intangibles in Bucs favor with Reddick. 12-14 Sacks from him on deck.
We just need our Ronde now. Top CB away
March 18th, 2025 at 3:07 pm
Love this signing.
Reddick as our Rice/JPP
Winfield our Lynch
Lavonte our Brooks
Vea our Sapp.
Kancey > McFarland
Dennis like Quarles
McCollom and Tykee and Diaby etc
Upgrade with a Ronde early in Draft and back to Championship level defense. Come out with Campbell as well and it’s over for the whole rest of league
Meanwhile Eagles depleting
March 18th, 2025 at 3:09 pm
Winfield, Diaby, Dennis, Kancey, McCollum, Reddick should all have Monster years. Imagine this Defense with a play making Corner
March 18th, 2025 at 8:18 pm
CUrse of death!
From a couple years ago…
“While there were a number of significant free-agent signings — left tackle Terron Armstead to the Miami Dolphins, pass-rusher Von Miller to the Buffalo Bills, wide receiver Allen Robinson II to the Los Angeles Rams and pass-rusher Randy Gregory to the Denver Broncos among them — it was a trade-driven quarterback carousel that dominated the news cycle. Deshaun Watson went to Cleveland, Russell Wilson to Denver, Matt Ryan to Indianapolis and Carson Wentz to Washington, among others. A pair of high-profile wideouts in Davante Adams and Tyreek Hill also found new teams via trade.”
\
Yeah…do 2023 and 2024
March 19th, 2025 at 5:46 am
So much excitement. Very happy on the Reddick move. Cannot compare to the Jets. Their entire organization was a bust. Heck, they got rid of Saleh. Big error in judgement. Hope we draft Jihaad Campbell at number 19!