The New Orleans Saints have few reservations about poaching free agents from division rivals, and that extends to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That trend should continue in the 2019 free agency signing period, so we’re surveying the options from Tampa Bay as well as every other NFL team. Here’s the previous entries in this daily series:
- Arizona Cardinals
- Atlanta Falcons
- Baltimore Ravens
- Buffalo Bills
- Carolina Panthers
- Chicago Bears
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Cleveland Browns
- Dallas Cowboys
- Denver Broncos
- Detroit Lions
- Green Bay Packers
- Houston Texans
- Indianapolis Colts
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Los Angeles Rams
- Miami Dolphins
- Minnesota Vikings
- New England Patriots
- New York Giants
- New York Jets
- Oakland Raiders
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- San Francisco 49ers
- Seattle Seahawks
With that, we’re on to Tampa Bay:
Unrestricted free agents
- CB Brent Grimes
- DE Vinny Curry
- DT Rakeem Nunez-Roches
- FS Chris Conte
- FS Josh Shaw
- K Cairo Santos
- LB Adarius Taylor
- LB Kevin Minter
- LB Kwon Alexander
- LB Corey Nelson
- LB Cameron Lynch
- LS Garrison Sanborn
- QB Ryan Fitzpatrick
- QB Ryan Griffin
- RB Jacquizz Rodgers
- SS Andrew Adams
- WR Adam Humphries
Options for the Saints
This discussion begins with the last player listed: slot receiver Adam Humphries. Humphries has been a consistent producer for the Buccaneers, averaging 64 receptions for 690 yards over the last three years. He truly hit his stride in 2018 with five touchdown catches and ten starts (appearing in all 16 games). He also boasts a career catch rate over 70-percent, backing up the sure hands he displays in games. Humphries’ talents will be in high demand, but few teams present him a clearer fit and road to a Super Bowl title than the Saints.
It would be fascinating if the Saints worked to bring back quarterback Ryan Griffin. Griffin was a local prospect highly regarded by the Saints out of Tulane, and he spent some time on the practice squad before being let go so the coaches could focus on Garrett Grayson, a draft pick. Graysom flamed out and Griffin has slowly climbed the ladder in Tampa Bay behind Jameis Winston and Ryan Fitzpatrick. If the Saints can’t hold on to Teddy Bridgewater, Griffin would make sense as a low-cost signing.
