Sua Opeta “Still Rehabbing”
April 27th, 2025
Guards Sua Opeta (left) and Ben Bredeson.
Sua Opeta is still on the Bucs comeback trail.
Who?
Opeta was signed a year ago in free agency (Eagles) to compete for a starting left guard job and blew out his knee (ACL) in late July. Thankfully, the Bucs also had signed free agent guard Ben Bredeson (Giants), who turned out to be a heck of a player.
Bredeson got a new Bucs contract, but so did Opeta without playing a snap.
The move sort of surprised Joe, but the Bucs did the same thing with Aaaron Stinnie after the 2022 season following him blowing. out his knee in a worthless preseason game. Stinnie came back to Tampa in 2023 to start 11 games before bolting to the Giants in free agency (He’s still with New York).
Yesterday, assistant Bucs GM Rob McCartney said Opeta “is still rehabbing a little bit but I think he’s going to be in a good spot, too.”
Joe knows there’s a sect of fans that think Opeta is a special player. Joe’s not sure why, but Joe sure hopes they’re right.
April 27th, 2025 at 9:18 am
It’s because Opeta was beating out Bredeson in camp before the injury according to reports.
April 27th, 2025 at 9:18 am
Depth. Seems like that was our goal this entire off-season through the draft. I love it!
April 27th, 2025 at 9:33 am
I was really surprised we didn’t take O line but then again the small school guy got taken by the Titans I believe
April 27th, 2025 at 10:15 am
I guess the Bucs saw enough of Opeta in camp and at the Eagles. He’s regarded as a better run blocker than Breds while Breds is better in pass pro. Watch for Luke Haggard to make a step up this season and get on the game day roster.
April 27th, 2025 at 10:16 am
I like how Jason Licht puts his assistants in the spotlight like he did with Spytek. Really good management move.
April 27th, 2025 at 10:24 am
I’m still concerned about the backup OTs.
April 27th, 2025 at 10:32 am
Hope he makes it back.
Did he sustain that injury against Logan Hall?
April 27th, 2025 at 11:01 am
I’m fine with us resigning Sua.
We need the depth on our O-line, and he was apparently beating out Ben during training camp.
I have no problem with Ben; he was a part of our O-line jelling the way it did last year, and he’s back which only bodes well for our O-line continuing to get better.
Plus, we have Luke and Charlie. It all adds up to us not having to address the O-line with our limited draft picks this year.
I just wish we could have kept Justin Skule. Tristan gave him high praise in a recent interview. That’s some serious props.
April 27th, 2025 at 11:19 am
So Opeta may or may not have been beating out Bredesen.
That’s like the whole narrative that Trask was beating out Baker.
Regular season production is all that really matters.
April 27th, 2025 at 11:51 am
Bucs knew they weren’t going O line this draft. For that reason alone it made sense to bring him back. If some of these UDFA pan out, he’ll probably get cut.
April 27th, 2025 at 12:24 pm
If Opeta looks like he apparently did in camp last year it would ease any depth conccerns. Klien progressing would be icing on the cake. Heck concerns me more than Opeta. Still a bit of concerrn about who is gonna back up Barton though with Hainsey gone.
Go Bucs!
April 27th, 2025 at 12:41 pm
So, is our 2nd string center Bredeson? That is scary
April 27th, 2025 at 1:07 pm
maybe we need some undrafteds and get them coached up up and evaluated.
April 27th, 2025 at 1:16 pm
Joe , I’m not one of those fans but I do think Elijah Klein is . Especially in the run game. Sooner or later he’s gonna get his chance and I believe he will impress once he gets some snaps under his belt. I watched in in training camp and he was pancaking everybody not named Vea. BUCS got 3 starters in this draft so they did fine.
As always Go Bucs
April 27th, 2025 at 2:50 pm
I was hoping JL saw value in the LG of Division III Notth Central. Looks like he’s staying in school til next year’s draft. He’s a beast, I tell you!!
April 27th, 2025 at 3:57 pm
Beeej, the Bucs drafted the center from Texas, no?
April 27th, 2025 at 5:11 pm
Texas center is UDFA.