The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' 2025 season started with promise and ended with frustration - a familiar script for a team that looked like it had turned the corner early on. Sitting at 5-1 after six weeks, Tampa Bay was clicking on both sides of the ball, and Baker Mayfield was playing the best football of his career.
There was real talk about him being in the MVP conversation. But as the season wore on, injuries piled up, momentum vanished, and the Bucs stumbled to an 8-9 finish, missing the playoffs entirely.
Now, with the offseason underway, the front office is staring down some hard truths - and perhaps none more pressing than the need to revamp the pass rush. Haason Reddick was brought in to be a game-changer off the edge, but he never quite delivered the impact the team hoped for. That leaves a glaring hole in a defense that otherwise has pieces to compete.
Enter Trey Hendrickson.
The Cincinnati Bengals edge rusher is reportedly unhappy with his current situation, and there’s growing chatter that he could be on the move. One prediction making the rounds: Hendrickson ends up in Tampa Bay. And on paper, it makes a whole lot of sense.
Let’s be clear - Hendrickson isn’t a bargain-bin addition. He’s a high-level pass rusher who’s going to command top-tier money, likely in the range of $30 million per year.
That’s not pocket change, and it’s almost certainly going to take a multi-year commitment. For a player entering the back half of his career, that’s a significant investment.
But here’s the thing - Hendrickson can still play. He’s the kind of edge presence that can tilt a game, the kind of player who forces offenses to adjust their protection schemes before the ball is even snapped. If Tampa Bay is serious about taking the next step, adding someone of Hendrickson’s caliber could be the move that gets them over the hump.
The Bucs already have a solid offensive foundation. Mayfield showed he can lead this team, the weapons are in place, and the line held up well when healthy.
The defense, while talented, lacked that one true disruptor up front - the kind of player who can wreck a drive with a single play. Hendrickson fits that mold.
Of course, it all comes down to general manager Jason Licht and whether he’s willing to pull the trigger on a big-money deal for a veteran. It’s a gamble, no doubt.
But it’s also a statement - that this team isn’t content with being close. That it’s ready to chase something more in 2026.
If the Bucs want to go from spoiler to serious contender, this might be the kind of bold move that makes all the difference.