NFL Tampa Bay Buccaneers

5 Free Agents Tampa Bay Buccaneers Should Target In 2015

5 Free Agents Tampa Bay Buccaneers Should Target In 2015

Mark Ingram New Orleans Saints
Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

All that separates the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft is a loss to the New Orleans Saints in Week 17. However, the Bucs can’t rely on the draft to fix all of their problems. Here are five free agents the Buccaneers should think about signing in the offseason.

5. Mark Ingram

Mark Ingram New Orleans Saints
Crystal LoGludice-USA TODAY Sports

5. Mark Ingram

Mark Ingram New Orleans Saints
Crystal LoGludice-USA TODAY Sports

Some teams can get by with utility players at the running back position, but not the Buccaneers. You have to pinch yourself to remember Doug Martin’s rookie season, and Bobby Rainey hasn’t been getting the job done either. Plucking Mark Ingram from divisional rival New Orleans would be a power move for a Buccaneers team that desperately needs a productive runner.

4. Mike Iupati

Mike Iupati San Francisco 49ers
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

4. Mike Iupati

Mike Iupati San Francisco 49ers
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Much of the struggles of Tampa Bay’s 31st-ranked ground game can be attributed to an offensive line that had only one returner from 2013, Demar Dotson. Signing one of the biggest fish in free agency to repair that offensive line is paramount. Iupati is unlikely to return to San Francisco because of all the other big names the 49ers have to re-sign, so he is there for the taking.

3. Eddie Royal

Eddie Royal San Diego Chargers
Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports

3. Eddie Royal

Eddie Royal San Diego Chargers
Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports

Only three Buccaneers wide receivers caught more than six passes in 2014. They need more hands at the position, especially with the prospect of Vincent Jackson leaving. Royal would be the perfect partner for Mike Evans, as he is accustomed to playing second fiddle to promising young receivers (he did that with Keenan Allen in San Diego).

2. Patrick Robinson

Patrick Robinson New Orleans Saints
Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

2. Patrick Robinson

Patrick Robinson New Orleans Saints
Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

Like Ingram, stealing Robinson from the Saints would help to shift the balance of power in the NFC South in favor of the Buccaneers. Robinson’s two interceptions this season were two of the very best in the entire league; he would be a great third cornerback option behind Alterraun Verner and Johnthan Banks.

1. Tom Johnson

Tom Johnson Minnesota Vikings
Brace Hammelgam-USA TODAY Sports

1. Tom Johnson

Tom Johnson Minnesota Vikings
Brace Hammelgam-USA TODAY Sports

The Michael Johnson experiment didn’t pan out in 2014 — he has logged only four sacks in the 10 games he has been healthy. The Bucs shouldn’t ditch Johnson entirely, but they should sign another Johnson to help boost the sack totals and the general solidity of the defensive line.

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