Proximity and tax benefits reportedly pull star edge rusher Trey Hendrickson toward Tampa. Can the Buccaneers' cap situation and his desires align for a blockbuster signing?
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers need edge rushers, and the top impending free agent this year happens to play that position.
So Trey Hendrickson being linked to the Bucs shouldn’t come as a surprise to anybody.
But ESPN’s Adam Schefter saying he believes Hendrickson "would love to be in Tampa" is going to get people talking.
In an interview with the "Pardon My Take" podcast posted Monday, Schefter pointed out that the four-time Pro Bowler and 2024 first-team All-Pro currently resides in Ponte Verde, Florida -- just across the peninsula from Tampa.
Although Ponte Verde is much closer to Jacksonville (less than 30 min), Schefter noted that the Jaguars probably can’t afford Hendrickson.
Per Spotrac, Jacksonville is more than $16.3 million dollars in the hole cap wise, so them adding a player whose market value is more than $50.8 million over two years (also per Spotrac) doesn’t seem plausible.
The Buccaneers have their own cap problems to work through.
For one, the team must see if linebacker Lavonte David, who has been with the organization since 2012, wants to come back for a 15th season.
The 36-year-old David, who could hit the market if he wanted to, has openly stated that he’ll only play for the Bucs and that the Bucs have told him they’ll have him back should he decide not to retire.
Evans, on the other hand, will hit the market, and will likely require a multiyear deal, which the Bucs will have to decide if they want to give to the soon-to-be 33-year-old.
Based on market value, Spotrac has Evans making more than $13.3 million in 2026 and David making $7.43 million.
If those projections hold true, the Bucs would save roughly $21 million, which would almost double their current cap space ($11.3 million, per Spotrac).
Beyond 2026, the Bucs must also account for Baker Mayfield.
Mayfield, who is set to be a free agent after the 2026 season, is also set to have a dead cap hit of roughly $22.35 million.
Ultimately, the most important financial factor is what Hendrickson himself wants.
Hendrickson said last season that, unless the Bengals wanted to sign him to a long-term deal, he would ask for a trade.
Cincy tried to find trade partners for Hendrickson, but ultimately, couldn’t trade him because nobody would meet what the Bengals were asking for.
Ultimately, Cincy decided to not franchise-tag Hendrickson -- which would have cost more than $24 million -- and the star wrote a farewell address to the Cincinnati Bengals.
The most Tampa has ever paid for an outside free agent annually was when the franchise paid Tom Brady $50 million for a two-year deal in 2020.
If Hendrickson gets what he’s supposed to get, he would become the new king.
“Trey would like to stay in Florida,” Schefter said. “No state income tax. But, he’s also open to going to the best possible situation. If Trey has a pick, I think he’d like to end up (with the Bucs) but we will see if it works out that way.”
With or without Hendrickson, the common thought is that the Bucs must address their pass rush for 2026.
Aside from YaYa Diaby, Tampa didn’t have a difference-maker on the edge, and that’s a big reason why the team finished 20th in scoring defend in 2025.
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