Bucs Most Impactful Free Agent Signing So Far

A new Pewter Report Roundtable debuts every Tuesday on PewterReport.com. Each week, the Pewter Reporters tackle another tough Bucs question. This week’s prompt: Who is the Bucs’ most impactful free agent signing so far this offseason?

Scott Reynolds: Kenneth Gainwell Is An Upgrade At RB2 For The Bucs

We’ve known since the end of the 2025 season that backup running back Rachaad White was on his way out of town. White didn’t want to play second fiddle to starter Bucky Irving anymore and signed a one-year deal with Washington for $2 million that can max out at $4 million if he reaches certain incentives. I actually think his replacement, former Eagles and Steelers running back Kenneth Gainwell, is an upgrade over White and brings more explosive playmaking ability to the Buccaneers.

Tampa Bay felt that way too, signing Gainwell to a two-year contract worth $14 million – averaging $7 million per season. Some felt the Bucs overpaid for the former Memphis star, but Gainwell is coming off a season in which he totaled over 1,000 yards (537 rushing, 486 receiving) and eight combined touchdowns (five rushing, three receiving). And while White is known for being one of the best pass protection backs in the league, Gainwell actually had a better pass protection grade per Pro Football Focus – 69.3 to 58.2 – last year.

He can also return kicks too, as he averaged 25.3 yards per return in Philly in 2024 and 24.3 yards per return last year in Pittsburgh. Gainwell was voted as the Steelers MVP last year by his peers, which is really saying something considering that Pittsburgh had some legends, including defensive tackle Cam Heyward, outside linebacker T.J. Watt and quarterback Aaron Rodgers – not to mention a 1,000-yard back in Jaylen Warren.

Is Gainwell, who just turned 27, going to make the biggest impact in Tampa Bay, as this week’s PR Roundtable prompt asks? Probably not unless Irving is injured and Gainwell has to step in and start. But he’s a legit weapon in the ground game and as a receiver coming out of the backfield and adds more speed and acceleration than White brought to the table. Gainwell was one of my biggest draft crushes in 2021 and I’m thrilled to see him sign with the Bucs.

Matt Matera: A’Shawn Robinson Brings The Fight That The Bucs Need

Newly signed defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson will benefit the Bucs the most with his passion more than his skillset.Tampa Bay’s defense got pushed around last season. That shouldn’t happen anymore this year if Robinson’s tough mindset can spread throughout the huddle. Robinson is known as a fire-starter – a guy that doesn’t take flack from anyone and will give it back twice as hard. With a team that has several “lead by example” guys, Robinson is a player that will speak up, demand toughness and hold players accountable.

Robinson is also a player that will throw down. He’s been known to get in a fracas or two in practices and sometimes in games. Maybe that’s what Tampa Bay needs to light a fire on this team, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Robinson talked a lot about fighting opponents in his introductory press conference. It’s that mentality that the rest of the team should take hold of. He’ll fight, but he will have his teammates back, too.

Robinson also brings important versatility to the Bucs defensive line as well as championship experience, having won a Super Bowl with the Rams in 2021. He’s got the size that the Bucs are looking for at 6-foot-3 and 320 pounds. He’ll start in place of Logan Hall at the 4i defensive end spot in the 3-4 base defense and can also be the backup nose tackle when Vita Vea needs a breather. At age 31, Robinson has played a lot of football and it won’t take long for his impact to be felt in Tampa Bay.

Adam Slivon: There Is A Lot To Like About What Al-Quadin Muhammad Brings

The line of thought in adding Al-Quadin Muhammad, Alex Anzalone, and A’Shawn Robinson is that the Bucs’ defense not only added stable veterans into the mix, but each will bring an added level of toughness along the front seven. That has been desperately needed since the days of Ndamukong Suh and Jason Pierre-Paul. While there is reason to believe each can be impactful, I am especially looking forward to seeing how Muhammad can make his presence known and provide for the outside pass rush.

For his contract, it is hard to argue the value the Bucs signed him for. Muhammad will make $4 million with the chance to earn an additional $2 million in incentives. That is a fair price to pay to see if the 11 sacks he had with the Lions in 2025 are anything close to replicable. It is worth taking a chance on and seeing if he can at least be a solid complement to Yaya Diaby, with David Walker, Anthony Nelson, and likely an early 2026 draft pick waiting in the wings. Muhammad will be looking to prove himself again in the hopes of landing a multi-year deal next offseason. He has shown glimpses of promise and will finally have the stage to prove he is not just a one-hit wonder.

It is worth noting that what he accomplished last year was done despite playing just 41% of the defensive snaps in Detroit. Muhammad’s second-best season came with the Colts in 2021, when he played 73% of the defensive snaps and recorded six sacks. I would expect that to be the floor, especially should he get an increase in playing time. His ceiling is being a double-digit sack artist who energizes the rest of the front seven. The Bucs have failed to land Shaq Barrett 2.0, with Randy Gregory never suiting up and Haason Reddick floundering. No one can do what Barrett did, but if he can at least produce somewhere in the middle, the impact of this signing will be felt in a major way.

Bailey Adams: Retaining “Mr. Reliable” Cade Otton Is Bigger Than You Think

Look, we do our best to make sure we each offer up different answers with these roundtable questions, so there will be times when someone draws the short end of the stick. That’s me today. I can’t sit here and pretend like re-signing Cade Otton is actually more impactful than adding a veteran inside linebacker like Alex Anzalone, a productive pass rusher like Al-Quadin Muhammad, a badass defensive tackle like A’Shawn Robinson or a versatile playmaker like running back Kenny Gainwell.

But what I will argue is that re-signing the ultra-reliable Otton is impactful. And it’s a better move than most of the Bucs fan base is acting like it is. Otton has never been a big-time playmaking tight end. But that’s not who or what he’s asked to be or needs to be in Tampa Bay’s offense. Instead, he’s as reliable as they come across the board.

He does the dirty work as a blocker. He catches the ball (two poor moments have destroyed everyone’s brains regarding this part of his game. The fact is, his hands have improved, as evidenced by two drops and a career-low 3.3% drop rate in 2025 after 14 total over his first three seasons. The gloves issue is what it is, but it’s mostly played out). And Otton never really leaves the field. Why? Because he’s good at everything and can play whatever role the Bucs need him to play in a given look.

When the Bucs knew they weren’t going to be able to keep Mike Evans in the fold this offseason, pivoting to re-signing Otton made a ton of sense. They call him “Mr. Reliable” for a reason, and having a guy like that as a mainstay in the offense is valuable. Having a healthy offensive line, a strong backfield, a good quarterback and a host of other weapons at receiver helps to offset the loss of Evans on the field. But so does having a trusted tight end. You know what you’re getting from Otton, and Baker Mayfield knows what he’s getting from Otton. That’s huge.

I’m not sure why so many have chosen to base their entire opinion of Otton on a couple of bad plays/mistakes they’ve cherry picked. But anyone who has done so has clouded their view of reality. And the reality is that No. 88 is solid in just about every way. There’s value in that, especially when the team has so many other positions to address and truly upgrade. So, yeah, this is an impactful re-signing. As Pewter Report’s Josh Queipo said in January: The Cade Otton slander has to stop.

Josh Queipo: Alex Anzalone Raises The Floor At Inside Linebacker

As much as I would love to say – and you all expect me to say – tight end Cade Otton, the fact of the matter is the Bucs inside linebacker room was one of the worst in the NFL last year. Lavonte David’s play declined due to age (35) and injury (knee), and while SirVocea Dennis was a slight improvement over K.J. Britt, he showed that he’s better suited to be a backup in the league than a starter. So any improvement to that part of the roster has to be seen as the most impactful.

Free agent signing Alex Anzalone, brings a solid floor to the position. Even at age 31 – he turns 32 in September, Anzalone is more athletic than David was last year and he is more athletic than SirVocea Dennis is now. Detroit used him as their coverage ‘backer, primarily on the weak side, matching him up with tight ends and running backs out of the backfield.

Those were areas the Bucs really struggled to defend over the last two years. They gave up the second-most yards and fourth-most EPA to running backs and tight ends (1,839 yards and 122.03, respectively) last year per Sumer Sports. That production can largely be attributed to the subpar play of David and Dennis.

Anzalone also brings high energy and good leadership quality to the defense as he was a team captain in Detroit. The Florida alum isn’t a super athlete, but he’s athletic enough and combines that athleticism with smart decision-making. That should raise the coverage floor and help give the pass rush more time to get home to the quarterback. That’s impactful.