The Buccaneers defense has been securing turnovers, is it sustainable?
The Buccaneers' defense has been picking up the slack for the team overall, as the offense has been slow to engage after losing Mike Evans for what is likely the remainder of the season, and Chris Godwin Jr. is dealing with a fibular injury. Taking the ball away in each of the last four games, including four last week in the Superdome against the Saints. But is it sustainable?
In short, yes.
This isn't the same Buccaneers defense from 2024 that gave up historic numbers in yards and fielded practice squad bodies as starters in multiple games. Thanks to another masterful draft by Jason Licht and key players taking a leap, this Buccaneers defense is flush with young talent that has stepped up from the very beginning.
It starts in the secondary. First and foremost, Antoine Winfield Jr is healthy. Last season, Winfield Jr. was dealing with multiple injuries and didn't look like his All-Pro self, and revealed at the end of the season that he was at "about 40%". A healthy AWJ changes everything, and he's picked up where he left off in 2023 with making key plays to help close out games. Next, the cornerbacks.
Zyon McCollum got paid in the offseason and has been quiet in the interception area, but has held things down on his side of the field. Not quite in the interception area has been Jamel Dean, who was a surprise retainee in the offseason but has been even better to start the season, tallying three interceptions, a sack, and multiple forced fumbles, playing the best football of his career. Benjamin Morrison has joined that group and immediately looked the part, showing advanced ball skills and confidence beyond his years, giving the defense another gear, while Tykee Smith has transitioned to safety and has looked like a Winfield Jr. clone flying in on blitzes, into the backfield for TFL, and the same clutch plays.
Vita Vea has still anchored the front seven, but the addition of Haason Reddick and the leap taken by Yaya Diaby have the Buccaneers ranked among the top of the league in pressures. Rookie Elijah Roberts boasts an 11% pass rush win rate and has already moved up the depth chart over Logan Hall as a starter. The pass rush is getting home and creating opportunities for the back end.
They'll only get better as the season progresses, too. The ability to take the ball away should be more than sustainable for a Todd Bowles offense with a full arsenal.
Yankees Urged to Sign Longtime AL East Catcher to Pair With Austin Wells
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Yankees linked to signing veteran catcher to pair with Austin Wells.
The New York Yankees could look to add some catching help this offseason.
New York’s catching duo is Austin Wells and Ben Rice, but Rice could be the long-term answer at first base. If Rice is indeed going to play at first, the Yankees will need to add another veteran.
Yankees insider Pete Caldera of NorthJersey.com links New York to signing Danny Jansen of the Milwaukee Brewers. Jansen is a long-time member of the AL East with the Toronto Blue Jays, Boston Red Sox, and Tampa Bay Rays.
“The veteran, right-handed hitting catcher is expected to be a free agent,” Caldera wrote. “Traded by the Tampa Bay Rays to the Milwaukee Brewers at the July 31 MLB deadline, Jansen earned $8.5 million in 2025 and has a $12 million mutual option for 2026. Jansen, 30, has played with three AL East teams, mostly with Toronto, and the Yankees should be seeking a solid catching complement to the lefty-hitting Austin Wells.”
The option on Jansen is unlikely to be picked up, and the veteran will be one of the top catchers available. He’s a good hitter who’s also known for his defense and can split catching duties with Wells.
Last season, between the Rays and Brewers, Jansen hit .215 with 14 home runs and 36 RBIs. His career high is 17 home runs and 53 RBIs, which he did with the Blue Jays in 2023 in just 86 games.
Yankees Tried Rice at Catcher
Although New York has Wells and Rice under contract, adding a catcher makes a ton of sense.
With Paul Goldschmidt set to be a free agent, the path is open for Rice to be the starting first baseman. If that is the case, adding a catcher is a must.
Yet, last season, Yankees manager Aaron Boone did try Rice at catcher, who had mixed results. But it was a play to get his bat into the lineup. The Athletic’s Yankees reporter Chris Kirschner said that was the reason why Rice played catcher.
“There are two ways the Yankees can maximize Rice’s playing time. Start him at first base when there’s a right-handed pitcher on the mound, or increase his starts behind the plate to supplant the struggling Austin Wells,” Kirschner wrote. “As Wells’ offensive woes continue to pile up, the latter option is looking increasingly compelling.”
“At the beginning of the season, when Rice was mainly getting at-bats as the Yankees’ designated hitter and first baseman, catching coordinator Tanner Swanson said he believed Rice could start for at least a third of MLB teams. Behind the scenes, the Yankees were having Rice catch bullpens and slowly working him into lopsided games behind the plate. He’s now showing he could handle a bigger workload.”
So, with Goldschmidt likely leaving, Rice now has the path to be at first, leaving the backup catcher role open.
What Will Jansen Earn in Free Agency?
Jansen has a $12 million mutual option with the Brewers, which will likely be declined.
The veteran catcher should expect to earn around $8.5 million, which he signed for in 2025 with the Rays.
Jansen isn’t a true starting catcher, as he likely can start between 80-100 games and would be part of a tandem, which would bring his price down.
Yet, with the Yankees, he’s a perfect fit for them. Spotrac has his market value at $7.2 million, which seems on the lower end. Instead, he should get close to $8 million in free agency.
Jansen has appeared in 599 career games over eight seasons in the MLB.
