While the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have had a largely successful free agency, not everything has gone smoothly. The additions of Haason Reddick and Riley Dixon, along with the return of Chris Godwin, have certainly bolstered the team, but there are still areas that need attention.
Despite the gains, the Bucs have also suffered some losses.
The latest setback came on Thursday when the Minnesota Vikings swooped in to sign Tavierre Thomas away from Tampa Bay. While Thomas may not have been a headline player, his departure underscores a bigger issue that the Bucs have yet to address, particularly in their secondary and special teams depth.
Vikings Steal Tavierre Thomas from Buccaneers in Free Agency
Thomas’ signing is part of a flurry of moves the Vikings made after a quiet start to the offseason, including adding big names like Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave, and re-signing Byron Murphy—who may have been on the Bucs’ radar as well.
Tavierre ThomasFor Buccaneers fans, Thomas is likely remembered more for his impact on special teams than his role in the secondary. While his departure may not seem like a major blow to some, it highlights the ongoing depth issues in both special teams and the secondary, which have yet to be addressed in the current offseason.
Thomas served more as a backup in the secondary, stepping up when injuries ravaged the Bucs’ defensive depth, including playing key snaps in games against the Panthers and Raiders. While this is more a reflection of the team’s injury woes, Thomas’ strong performance on special teams will be harder to replace. Still, his loss isn’t a huge blow to the secondary—though it does thin an already shallow unit.
Ultimately, this move is a reminder that the Bucs still have work to do. While Thomas wasn’t a major factor in the secondary, his departure further weakens a group that’s already struggling with depth. The pressure is mounting on the team to avoid another season of running out of bodies when it matters most.
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