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NFL free agency is off and running, and while much of the league has been wrapped up in a whirlwind of signings and big-name trades, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have changed course from the last few offseasons, choosing to stay quiet through the first wave of activity.
But with multiple visits taking place on Tuesday and more scheduled for Wednesday, the Bucs should be wading into the free-agency pool and making a few deals of their own soon.
The team will make some additions, but there are also some subtractions that could allow the Bucs to be even more aggressive in the second wave of free agency.
Who are a few veterans Tampa Bay should part with to make room for new faces? Here's my take.
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If the Bucs are looking for an easy way to clear a little more cap space, parting ways with Michael Koenen should be their first stop.
He had an up-and-down season in 2014, finishing strong after struggling for much of the early going. Tampa Bay's struggles on both sides of the ball weren't helped by Koenen losing the field position battle far too often.
With Koenen due to make $3.25 million this season, it would make plenty of sense for the Bucs to let him go and look for a younger, cheaper option who could be more effective, as well.
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A big-ticket free-agent signing back in 2013, Dashon Goldson simply hasn't lived up to the lofty expectations that came along with his hefty salary.
Since signing a five-year deal with the Bucs worth over $40 million, Goldson has been more well-known for drawing penalties and huge fines than he has for making big plays in the secondary. He looked out of place last year in the Tampa 2, struggling against both the run and the pass.
Tampa Bay would have to eat $4 million in dead money to cut him, but it would also save the same amount in cap space. He is just one of four players currently on the roster who is over 30 years old, and the Bucs could easily replace him with a cheaper player who is a better fit for the current defensive scheme.
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This move is a bit more unlikely, but the Bucs should consider other options at center after Evan Dietrich-Smith's performance in his first year with Tampa Bay.
After signing as a free agent last offseason, the former Green Bay Packer struggled for most of the season. Whether it was mental mistakes—penalties or poor/mistimed snaps—or just ineffective play, Dietrich-Smith was yet another signing who didn't live up to expectations for the Bucs.
With free agent Stefan Wisniewski scheduled to visit the team and the draft still on the horizon, don't be shocked if Tampa Bay cuts its losses with another one of last year's veteran additions.
Note: Salary numbers courtesy of Spotrac.com.
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