“Our [priority] in free agency will be our guys – see how many that we can get back and then build a team from there,” said Arians. “I always look forward to that part of it, and then the draft. Each year is so different and so new. Last year, to get everybody back was amazing. I doubt we can do it all again this year, but we’re sure going to give it our best.”
It will indeed be challenging. The Buccaneers currently have 25 players who could become free agents of some sort when the new league year begins on March 16, including 23 potential unrestricted free agents. The list includes 10 players who started at least 10 games each during the regular season.
Like every team, the Buccaneers have exclusive negotiating rights with all their pending free agents until 72 hours before the start of the new league year. Unrestricted free agents are players with four or more accrued seasons and an expiring contract; restricted free agents have three accrued seasons; exclusive rights free agents have two or fewer accrued seasons. Teams may also begin placing franchise tags on potential free agents on February 22.
Here is Tampa Bay’s list of potential 2022 free agents.