Paying Ben Bredeson?
January 20th, 2025
“Graham, look how rich I’m going to be.”
So the 16th-highest paid guard in the NFL this season (as of late August) is a former Buccaneer.
No, not Alex Cappa of the Bengals. Joe’s referring to 31-year-old Shaq Mason, who earned $11.7 million in the midst of a multi-year contract with the Houston Texans.
Joe brings this up because starting Bucs left guard Ben Bredeson, who turns 27 next month, is a pending free agent coming off a strong season that showcased his durability.
Do the Bucs want Bredeson back for 2025? Of course. Why wouldn’t they?
Coaches and personnel types love stability and continuity on an offensive line, and Bredeson is likely entering his prime after not playing a ton early in his career with the Ravens and Giants.
But are the Bucs willing to play Bredeson the $10 million-plus per season he’s likely to command?
The Joe typing here would trust Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht to replace Bredeson with a cheaper alternative or a top draft pick and use the saved money to fortify the Bucs defense.
That’s no knock on Bredeson, but Joe doesn’t think re-signing Bredeson is in the slam-dunk category.
January 20th, 2025 at 10:26 am
I wouldn’t be upset if we lost him but continuity on the Line is huge. Let’s focus on restructuring and extending some key pieces first.
January 20th, 2025 at 10:26 am
No way. He’s a backup. The film doesn’t lie. Dude is constantly overpowered. He’s the very weak link on the O-line.
January 20th, 2025 at 10:28 am
This is the part of the year where JL earns his money.
Tough tough decisions….
January 20th, 2025 at 10:35 am
He’s fine but Goedeke and then Mauch and then Barton will all want and probably deserve more than Bredeson gets.
January 20th, 2025 at 10:52 am
Way too many holes on D to pay Bredesen anything close to 10 mil a year.
January 20th, 2025 at 10:55 am
If someone does a better job for the same price let him walk. However find that person first so the team doesn’t have to carry the extra weight in the meantime.
January 20th, 2025 at 11:09 am
This is another one where I trust the two Todds especially Licht and even more so with Licht’s specialty the OL. He knows what he’s got with Bredeson and players behind him waiting their turn.
The only thing I feel pretty certain about is he’s not going to use a high draft pick for an OL with the D starving for talent. Todd will figure this out and I’ll be happy with whatever he comes up with.
January 20th, 2025 at 11:14 am
Move Mauch to LG and play 2024 rookie Klein on the right side. This will be a huge economic move and allow the Bucs to spend the money where it is most needed on the defense.
January 20th, 2025 at 11:20 am
These are not widgets that you can shove in and out, Joe.
Pay the man the money. He delivered.
January 20th, 2025 at 11:22 am
Yeah that’s a tough call. Continuity on the OL would be nice and he could be entering his best years, but he is the weak link of the line.
I kind of want the draft picks to be all D early on but I can see the merits of spending the 10-12 million on a veteran defensive player since we want to win now and drafting a LG to compete with Klein and possibly Hainsey if he were to be resigned as depth.
January 20th, 2025 at 11:24 am
dump ben he gets beat physically all the time. Plug klein in his spot he’s way stronger and has the lower body strength to pushback ! bredeson offer 5 mil to stay as backup
January 20th, 2025 at 11:46 am
I am pretty sure Licht will re sign Bredeson however, I keep hearing these words, sign and draft defensive players to fix the defense. We have a stack of drafted defensive players who started with great potential only to regress or fade off into the sunset I am no NFL assistant but, it seems to me that Bowles need to adjust his defensive players call a bit, move around or replace some defensive assistants especially the DL and CB coaches or all the above.
January 20th, 2025 at 11:52 am
Hainsey can play guard, too. Jason’s got this . Baker will probably have some very well earned thoughts about Bredeson when Jason asks him for his take.
January 20th, 2025 at 12:12 pm
What about Sua Opeta? If I recall, he was expected to start in front of Bredeson before his injury. He would be a cheap option.
January 20th, 2025 at 12:50 pm
Bred is nothing special. Dime a dozen. I wouldn’t pay him $11M. Draft his replacement in the 4th or 5th round, if necessary.
January 20th, 2025 at 1:37 pm
I don’t see it. The offensive line is going to get extremely expensive here shortly, and I doubt the Bucs would want to allocate $10m to Bredeson. Nothing against Ben, he’s a solid player, and someone will probably pay him in the $8m range I’d guess – but I don’t think the Bucs can afford it. Plus Licht is exceptional at finding cheap replacements.
But don’t go the draft route, the Bucs have too many holes on defense, and the small school guys that Licht loves tend to take a year or so to develop.
Whatever Licht decides to do, however, is fine with me. He’s more than proven himself over and over again with offensive lineman.
January 20th, 2025 at 1:55 pm
He’s not that good. Way too much for him. If he’s cheap, fine, but I suspect we will see Klein there next season.
January 20th, 2025 at 2:25 pm
The Bucs have some guys that can play LG:
Bredeson (free agent)
Sua Opeta
Royce Newman (free agent)
Hainsey
Klein
The OL coaches, Carberry and Piccolo, need to work with Licht on this. Bredeson was healthy this year, a huge plus in my mind, but he did struggle at times and is the weak link. Is Bredeson worth the $10M ?
January 20th, 2025 at 2:42 pm
Ben Bredson –
1126 snaps
6 penalties
2 sacks allowed
3 QB hits allowed
34 QB pressures allowed
Overall PFF grade – 56.2
Ranked 93 out of 135 OGs in the NFL.
It would be nice to bring him back but he isn’t irreplaceable and I wouldn’t want to pay a premium for his services.
January 20th, 2025 at 2:44 pm
No let him walk he was the weak link
January 20th, 2025 at 3:01 pm
Hainsey at G would be more expensive & worse than Bredeson
January 20th, 2025 at 3:12 pm
He’s about a $3-5 million dollar player.
January 20th, 2025 at 3:23 pm
@ gotbbucs
I agree OTC has Bredson at @ $3M APY…
4 years @ $15M with $10M guaranteed sounds about right to me.
I trust Licht to do the right thing.
January 20th, 2025 at 3:26 pm
Isn’t Goedeke the next guy up for a big payday. Licht may weigh that up as he deals with the Bredeson re-signing in the coming months.
January 20th, 2025 at 3:32 pm
The only thing in Bredson’s favor is the complete lack of free agent LGs available in free agency.
The good old supply and demand.
He is one of only a few legit LGs available in free agency this off-season and that could drive up the price.
January 20th, 2025 at 3:33 pm
Unfortunately, I have to agree. Let him go.
Agree with Koala, looking forward in seeing more of Elijah Klein next season.
January 20th, 2025 at 3:44 pm
You guys are right, Ben probably won’t get more than 4-4.5 mil
January 20th, 2025 at 4:05 pm
If the Bucs replace him, Licht better be very careful with who they select in the draft. What is Joe always saying? If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. The O-line is not broke. I’m sure there are better players at the position, but most likely they too will cost $10M/yr.
January 20th, 2025 at 4:12 pm
There is a salary cap, overpaying for players like Bredeson or Otton leaves you no money to go out and get difference making players. You have Sua Opeta, Royce Newman and Elija Klein. There are bigger holes on this team than plugging in a guard who plays next to your first round pick center and all pro left tackle.
January 20th, 2025 at 4:14 pm
Bucs can’t afford to let their 5th best OL move up to a competitive starter cost of the average left guard when they need dollars of go after edge rush like they did when they signed JPP, Simeon Rice or Barrett. They cannot move forward without someone else that can get to the QB.
The blitz scheme that Bowles employed isn’t fooling opposing offenses. They know where the blitzed is vacating and throw 5-8 yard passes and the first guy always misses so it turns into a 12-15 yard completion.
How many teams in the current NFL use linemen and pass rushers in coverage as much as. Bowles does. Results are always the same mismatched and untracked 3rd or 4 th down conversations.
January 20th, 2025 at 5:19 pm
Opeta spent the full year on IR. Klein got all of 9 offensive snaps, while Newman got all of 3 offensive snaps. Hainsey got 95 snaps, while Skule was the backup leader with 361 snaps.
Meanwhile Bredeson logged 1128 offensive snaps PLUS another 88 snaps on S/Ts (as many as Skule & Hainsey, and more than Klein or Newman together). Great breakdown Marine Buc on his stats for this year. Our OLine DEFINED the Bucs for this past year (2536 rushing yards was a huge accomplishment). Bredeson proved himself IMO & the last thing we need is to fix what ain’t broke. Make him a reasonable offer (that’s Jason’s bailiwick, not ours).
January 20th, 2025 at 5:26 pm
ModHairKen Says:
January 20th, 2025 at 11:20 am
These are not widgets that you can shove in and out, Joe.
Pay the man the money. He delivered.
==================================
Bucs added two widgets in 2024 in Barton and Bredeson. When a widget gets too expensive, have to consider how much marginal value is added at absurd $amounts. Don’t think there would be much drop off, if any, with Klein. Priority is to resign Goodwin and rebuild defense.
January 20th, 2025 at 6:02 pm
Joe I think you may have miss evaluated Bredeson. He was probably the weak link on the bucs offensive line. Possibly the worst starter on offence. A draft pick with a cheap cap number may be the play at left guard. But I do agree that durability and continuity are important.
January 20th, 2025 at 6:02 pm
Marine Buc Says:
January 20th, 2025 at 2:42 pm
Ben Bredson –
1126 snaps
6 penalties
2 sacks allowed
3 QB hits allowed
34 QB pressures allowed
Overall PFF grade – 56.2
Ranked 93 out of 135 OGs in the NFL.
It would be nice to bring him back but he isn’t irreplaceable and I wouldn’t want to pay a premium for his services.
I see but that his passing game grade. Where’s the road grade number 4 rushing attack grade? No disrespect it’s just I don’t ever ever want to see the lousy rushing offense we have had again.
January 20th, 2025 at 6:23 pm
His pass grade on PFF was 59 and his run grade was 53.6
January 20th, 2025 at 8:16 pm
Absolutely obscene to even think about ten mil for that sluggo. 4 mil tops. So glad to see Marine Buc and DR posting again. Great Buc fans and consistent spot on analysis. Thanks for all the work you put in to educate us.
January 20th, 2025 at 8:58 pm
@ Badbucs
Thanks bud.
I tend to comment more during off-season and preseason.
More to come amigo.
January 20th, 2025 at 10:36 pm
Are u nuts?
He was okay but not good.
2nd round LG. Get an ELITE LG who can help Wirfs.
January 21st, 2025 at 12:15 am
That is crazy Joe! Kudos to Masons agent. He did the snow job of a lifetime to get Mason that deal. Hey… I am available for half of that number, If you’re interested Houston. Seriously Mason did not stink it up here but…Dang it man…
Not disagreeing with you on what Jason may do Joe. I think Klien would have had to already impressed the hell out of some folks at One Buc to replace Bredeson. Remember how bad LG was Joe? Brady retired because between Stinnie/Leverett, Mason, and Hainsey he was gonna get killed. We already tried and failed with FA Feiler.
Here’s hoping that Klien has already impressed though. Heck knowing how Licht likes to keep his FA secrets close to his vest he may already have a guy.
Go Bucs
January 21st, 2025 at 1:51 am
Jason’s got this. One of the lesser problems, considering the condition and performance of the pass defense and the very possible departure of the best OC in team history.
January 21st, 2025 at 2:39 pm
Hell no at more than $5mil