ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter A message to the entire football world That’s big news that could potentially benefit the Buccaneers.
Former Cowboys and Dolphins free agent center Connor Williams is returning from season-ending knee surgery and expects to be ready for the start of the season, and is in talks with multiple teams about where he’ll play in 2024. He plans to choose a new team before training camp…
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 18, 2024
There are still big question marks surrounding the Buccaneers’ offensive line.
Buccaneers offensive linemen Su’a Opeta and Ben Bredeson – Photo: Cliff Welch/PR
After the 2023 NFL season, Buccaneers officials decided they needed improvement at two key positions on the offensive line. The team drafted Graham Burton out of Duke to shore up the center position, replacing last year’s starter Robert Hainsey. At left guard, the team let last year’s two starters, Aaron Stinney and Matt Feiler, go in free agency. In their place, the Buccaneers signed a veteran player. Sua Opeta and Ben Bredeson.
In contrast to Tampa Bay’s investment in Burton (a first-round draft pick), the Buccaneers didn’t take a big risk with either Opeta or Bredeson. Both were acquired on one-year deals. Bredeson received $1.75 million in guaranteed money on a $3 million contract. Opeta only made $1.375 million total, with only $650,000 guaranteed.
Opeta and Bredeson have a combined 2,998 career appearances and 36 starts. They have nine combined seasons of playing experience, but neither has stood out enough to earn a starting spot. In essence, the Buccaneers are betting that the two can provide plenty of playing time in a weak-link system, as neither has shown the ability to perform at that level for an extended period of time.
Opeta’s best season came in 2021, when he earned a blocks rating of 72.9. Pro Football Focus Over 229 snaps. His career blocking, run blocking and pass blocking grades using a simple weighted regression model are 53.6, 54.9 and 58.0, respectively. Bredeson has yet to post an average season. His most consistent season came in 2022, Overall rating: 57.5. Using the same weighting method, his career grades are 50.3 overall, 55.8 in run blocking and 46.1 in pass blocking.
Connor Williams brings big opportunity
Free agent center Connor Williams – Photo courtesy of USA Today
Compared to the current options of Opeta and Bredeson, Connor Williams is a significant upgrade. Though he most recently played center with the Dolphins, Williams has logged over 3,500 career snaps at left guard and had several above average seasons with the Cowboys. He posted a 71.2 overall rating in 2020 and 75.2 in 2021 while playing on the left wing. Most recently, he has earned ratings of 78.4 and 86.5 while playing for the Dolphins. The Dolphins offense is a similar system to the one the Buccaneers will run in 2024.
Williams’ career pass-blocking efficiency rating of 97.8 is one point better than Bredeson and 2.3 points better than Opeta. 700 pass blocks in a season can make the difference between allowing 25 quarterback pressures and allowing 38-54.
If the Buccaneers are serious about returning to the playoffs and going further than they did last year, Williams is a rare, quality player they can acquire late in the offseason.
Brad Spielberger wrote of Williams: Pro Football Focus As we noted earlier this year, “Williams began his career at left guard with the Dallas Cowboys before blossoming as a center at Miami, where he thrived as a run blocker in Mike McDaniel’s zone-blocking scheme and could quickly get to the second level and lead the way. He doesn’t have the world’s strongest anchor in a phone booth, but his quick first step off the line allows him to contain defenders and get into position behind the run.”
Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht – Photo: Cliff Welch/PR
“Unfortunately, Williams tore his ACL in Week 14. His recovery will coincide with the start of free agency in March, which will have a negative impact on his free agent market,” he predicted. He predicted Williams would receive a three-year contract worth $22.5 million.
Given how late the offseason is, it’s much less likely Williams will be able to get a multi-year deal at a salary he’s comfortable with. The likely outcome here is that Williams signs a one-year deal to prove he’s healthy and then uses it as a stepping stone to a bigger contract in 2025.
The Buccaneers currently play for the team with the longest postseason streak in the NFC, and they can give Williams playing time in a system he should thrive in. The Buccaneers should seize this opportunity now, as it could help fill one of the team’s few vacancies and potentially improve the team and its depth.
