If “Motivated,” Bucs Could Sign Trey Hendrickson
March 6th, 2026
It can be done.
Man, as lousy as the Bucs are at an edge rush, Joe cannot fathom how a team wouldn’t be “motivated” to sign a star edge rusher with 74.5 sacks this decade alone.
If a team isn’t “motivated” to improve a woeful edge rush like that, then one could easily question if the same team is serious about winning.
Unfair? Perhaps. But it’s also unfair to subject fans to pay to watch what the Bucs trotted onto the field for an edge rush last season.
Last week, NFL insider Adam Schefter, appearing on the “Pardon My Take” podcast with Big Cat and PFT Commenter, said star edge rusher Trey Hendrickson “would love to be in Tampa” to play for the Bucs.
Logan Ulrich of NFL Trade Rumors believes if the Bucs are “motivated,” they can sign Hendrickson with a little capologist magic.
Still, motivated teams can find a way to make it work on the cap most of the time. Restructuring guaranteed salaries for LT Tristan Wirfs and WR Chris Godwin adds $34 million in cap space and tapping into the deals of S Antoine Winfield and DT Vita Vea could add another $20 million. The Bucs have a trump card they can play, too — no income tax in the state of Florida. That could give them a hometown edge in negotiations.
The following is all Joe will type about this issue:
If a guy who grew up in Apopka and went to Warren Sapp High School, a guy who reportedly wants to play for the Bucs, a team desperate for an edge rusher — if the Bucs don’t seriously discuss with that guy what he needs to sign, then “Shame on you, Bucs. Shame. On. You!”
March 6th, 2026 at 9:04 am
malpractice.
March 6th, 2026 at 9:13 am
Absolutely ridiculous. This team better wake up. Hey Jason mark my words you’ll be sitting with your buddy in the unemployment line if you sit on your thumbs in the bargain basement again. Edmunds hendrickson anzalone you got exactly what we need here. Sogn and bring in messidor Rodriguez this team needs angry hungry violent players. Watch the freaking tape. We are soft
March 6th, 2026 at 9:15 am
Are Licht and the Glazers all in for this year? Joe has said the Glazers are willing to spend to win, but the players have to beg for dumbbells and see cheap behavior from the Glazers. You can bet ME13 is watching to see if the Glazers are all in, or else ME13 leaves to a winning organization.
March 6th, 2026 at 9:18 am
I hope the Glazers force Jason to sign Hendrickson and/or Crosby. The draft is not going to solve the edge rusher problems. Licht has proven this for a decade.
March 6th, 2026 at 9:23 am
My oh My would this HELP our Putrid Pass Defense. There is no excuses other than fear of injury not to sign this guy. Do it NOW and it puts back in play for a SB run next year with ME coming back. GO BUCS!!
March 6th, 2026 at 9:26 am
The Bucs would have to sign 5 more guys of this caliber for the defense to get better. Its going to take more than one great player to overcome this defensive scheme. If the Bucs add Trey, what makes you think he’ll be used correctly? How will 10 extra sacks stop this team from going on another losing streak?
Hutchinson had how many sacks against the Bucs, 5, and they still lost. The pass rush is a problem, but not the biggest problem. The scheme is terrible and until that changes, the Bucs will continue to lose.
March 6th, 2026 at 9:36 am
Hope they sign Hendrickson. If nothing else, he will prove there is a lot more wrong with Bucs defense than a pass rush. Biggest problem starts with the DC and talent. If Licht is doing what he should be doing, 2026 should have 7 new defensive starters and a new DC.
March 6th, 2026 at 9:56 am
Tampa trey FIRE THE CANNONS
March 6th, 2026 at 10:06 am
I believe will not do sign this guy. Too expensive for what they want to spend.
March 6th, 2026 at 10:25 am
I believe we are all frustrated at the Bucs failure to sign an Edge Rusher. As I mentioned earlier if they don’t change from last year’s philosophy and years prior and do the same old thing the team is doomed. ME moves on and the secondary without Dean continues with the 3 and 28 scnerio over and over. Please Licht add a proven player at the Edge, draft 3 MLB and , please sign a corner who can play along side Parrish.
March 6th, 2026 at 10:30 am
No. 32 years old, surgically reconstructed and VERY expensive. What else do you need to know?
March 6th, 2026 at 10:40 am
Spot on Gipper.
JL still spouting company line about Bowles being the best man for the job. You won’t get your wish there. 3 year extension for both those underachievers.
March 6th, 2026 at 10:48 am
Keep wishing with mister Todd mirage bowles who is on record saying he just doesn’t think pass rush off the edge is very important who apparently was running the offense after the bye and it looked horrendous yup can’t wait.
March 6th, 2026 at 10:59 am
what if:
little miss muffett just sat on her tuffet
March 6th, 2026 at 11:03 am
Licht could of went after Parsons last year, 26 years of age. I am sick of this double speak, he is too old or he is too expensive. This is the NFL, Licht is playing to lose and so is Bowles. Other teams seem to make it happen.
March 6th, 2026 at 11:09 am
The danger of signing someone too ridiculously expensive is that we end up not fixing all the starting holes nor adding adequate depth to be true contenders.
Bucs have to add 2 starting ILBs (with 1 more backup ILB), 1 starting Edge, 1 starting DT (with 2 more DT to rotate in), 2 backup CBs & 2 backup Safeties to our defense. Then on offense 1 starting TE (with 1 more backup TE), 1 RB (plus 1 more backup RB), 1 backup QB, at least 2 backup OLinemen. And oh ya, a new Punter & Long Snapper.
So on defense we’re talking adding 11 players, adding 7 players on offense, plus 2 players on S/Ts … for a total of 20 adds. Up to 7 of those players can come via the draft. JL & TB have a LOT of work to do during this free agency period.
And oh ya, restructuring contracts for players who are getting older & nearly the end of their ‘shelf life’ is a prescription for looking like the New Orleans Saints (average at best starters, meh depth, and no money to fix either). Bucs sacrificed a LOT these past 3 years to dig out from a hole like that; now’s not the time to blow on on a couple of high-cost contracts that likely woudn’t pay dividends over a protracted period.
March 6th, 2026 at 11:10 am
Hope we get him. Go Bucs!
March 6th, 2026 at 11:15 am
Licht and Bowles jobs are on the line. Swing big or pack your bags. The only thing you have to lose is your jobs.
Be aggressive or get the f out of here.
March 6th, 2026 at 11:19 am
Nice knowing u Todd amd Jason. Yall too stupid to even realize your about to get canned. Rams Philly always trade for top tier. We get dumpster diving Jason. Great defense lol. Mr im not too complex bowles. Cant see them both canned fast enough
March 6th, 2026 at 11:26 am
We have a plan?
March 6th, 2026 at 12:06 pm
Yes he’s old. And yes, his sacks per game dropped by half last year.
But if he can tackle the quarterback even 8 or 9 times in a year, that’s a huge boost from where we are. Especially since it would likely loosen things up for Kancy and Diaby.
Get him, Jason!
March 6th, 2026 at 12:14 pm
bee says is spot on. the hc/dc sucks. his hand picked staff sucks. his scheme sucks. his coaching and development sucks. with that being said, the team can overcome the hc/dc problem. offer trey 3 yrs/ 45 mill fully guar. plus incentives and bonuses that would cap at 25 mill/yr. the cap goes up each year which would cover his contract. let evans,david,reddick,dean walk. use that money, along with the draft to add young, healthy, and productive players.
March 6th, 2026 at 12:24 pm
Thought Joe would have learned from the Reddick experience last year. 🙄
March 6th, 2026 at 12:35 pm
Shame on the Bucs for not spending stupid money on a past prime pass rusher again? Shame on the Bucs if they fall into this trap again.
Joe has amnesia. How many years in a row should we try this? JPP, Shaq, Shaq again, Reddick, JPP again. When pass rushers fall off a cliff, they dont recover and come back strong.
The awful problem is we can’t draft them and build them either apparently because of the common denominator.
Damned if we do and damned if we dont.
Can the Bucs just find a 7v7 league to play in?
March 6th, 2026 at 12:38 pm
If they have a chance and don’t pull the trigger I won’t be renewing my 2027 season tickets
March 6th, 2026 at 12:46 pm
Maybe Hendrickson could thrive in spite of coaching and scheme.
March 6th, 2026 at 12:47 pm
It’s not an unfair assessment to ask if the Bucs don’t care. Specifically Licht about one of the most important passions on the team and the glazers about anything other than the playoff revenue they generate from a home playoff game from winning the short bus division every year.
Both parties have indicated thru recent actions that they are nonchalant about it at best.
However – I’d rather have Edmunds than breaking the bank for Hendrickson. Don’t blow up your cap for a guy that will be washed in a few years if not this year. He will hit a wall.
March 6th, 2026 at 1:23 pm
Todd Bowles wants to know if this guy can cover WR’s 30 yards downfield.
If not, his scheme is too complicated for a proven pass rusher.
Everyone knows that pressures are more important than sacks.
March 6th, 2026 at 1:46 pm
Need him.
Despite his age, he’s the best option. Him and Diaby would give us our best duo since prime Shaq and JPP.
March 6th, 2026 at 2:40 pm
“”The Bucs would have to sign 5 more guys of this caliber for the defense to get better. Its going to take more than one great player to overcome this defensive scheme.””
Boy ain’t THAT the truth!
March 6th, 2026 at 3:21 pm
Hey the Bucs were motivated to sign All Pro, All Joe QB Teddy Bridgewater, weren’t they and then kept him warming the bench so he’s outstanding legacy would remain intact.
I hear former Buccaneer draft pick Joe Trythunkthunkthunk is available at the right price. That’s more within Bud Licht’s budget.
March 6th, 2026 at 4:14 pm
This guy has 5.5 sacks written all over him! Not sure why, just a gut feeling and I want the Bucs to be aggressive believe me
March 6th, 2026 at 5:27 pm
Defense Rules likes a beast named McDonald at Nose/Defensive Tackle. I want Rodriguez at inside linebacker. McDonald has a reputation of being a great run stopper and good leader, and JRod is a freak stopping the run and in coverage. Hope we get help on the edge, but a couple rookies like those two are needed right away. I guarantee Stefanski and those dirty Falcons are gonna be hammering the middle of this defense real soon and it’d be nice to be able to hammer back. In fact, we’re gonna have to. Let’s help Lavonte and Vea. And like we’ve been doing since I’ve been a fan we can hope we’ll get an edge rush. David Walker has a heck of an opportunity here. I hope, I hope, I hope.
March 6th, 2026 at 6:48 pm
I think Bowels and Licht re dreaming of a two sone with Arians and Leftwich on the golf course.bThey are already acting like they retired yesterday.
Can’t you at least try to go out with a bang and do the best for this franchise