BSPN: “Underrated” Ben Bredeson
March 7th, 2025
Chargers may want Michigan Man.
Just gauging the comments on this here corner of the interwebs, more than a few Bucs fans want the team to wash its hands of left guard Ben Bredeson.
Joe doesn’t get this. At all.
The Bucs had one of the better offensive lines in the game blocking for one of the best quarterbacks, one of the best passing offenses and one of the best running attacks. Where exactly is the evidence that Bredeson is dragging the team down?
Ben Solak of BSPN thinks Bredeson is an “underrated” free agent. He seems to imply Bucs fans will miss him if he jumps off the pirate ship next week in free agency.
In fact, Solak thinks the Chargers will be in play for Bredeson. Why? Well, Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh recruited the Michigan Man at Michigan, coached Bredeson at Michigan and the team Harbaugh currently coaches needs guards.
Buccaneers G Ben Bredeson: The left guard was unspectacular but rock solid on a one-year deal this past season, and will look to leverage that into a multiyear extension somewhere. Bredeson has played on both sides of the line, which will increase his value for teams with multiple open spots. It’s worth noting he played for Jim Harbaugh at Michigan and was drafted by John Harbaugh’s Ravens when Greg Roman was offensive coordinator. The Chargers need some guards.
What Solak wasn’t specific about is that Roman, the offensive coordinator who worked with Bredeson as a rookie, is now Jim Harbaugh’s coordinator in Los Angeles.
Joe is a big believer in not fixing something that isn’t broken. The Bucs’ offensive line was not broken. Not at all.
NFL coaches preach for hours how consistency with guys on an offensive line is critical. Tristan Wirfs also preaches this Gospel.
So why not keep Bredeson? He’s 27 and durable, and he’s inexpensive and just based on the Bucs’ line play last year, Bredeson is getting the job done.
March 7th, 2025 at 12:37 am
The key word, inexpensive. Gotta help playing next to Tristan.
March 7th, 2025 at 12:40 am
Bredeson did quite well last year considering that it was his 1st year with a different team & teammates. And he did it for only $3.0 mil for the year. That’s cheap for a non-rookie starting Guard IMO.
I’d have no problem signing Ben to a 3-year contract for $11-$12 mil total (average $3.7-$4.0 per year). In 2026 we’ve got to do a new contract on Luke Goedeke (or his replacement). In 2027 we’ll need a new contract on Cody Mauch (or his replacement). In 2028 we’ll need a new contract on Graham Barton (or pick up his 5th year option in 2028 then do another contract in 2029). And in 2030 we’ll need a new contract on Tristan Wirfs (or his replacement; ya, like that’s gonna happen).
Right now JL has a good ‘flow’ going with our OLine starters. They’re ALL young; Bredeson is actually the ‘old man’ at 27 (backups Skule & Opeta are both 28). We can milk this bull probably for another 4 years (maybe even more). Let’s not create problems. We got enough to deal with already.
March 7th, 2025 at 1:08 am
That sounds inexpensive to me!
March 7th, 2025 at 2:04 am
LG round 2.
Young, cheap, fast.
We need an elite LG for the next 4 while years why we pay Wirfs and Goedeke.
We need Barton, Mauch and a LG on rookie deals for the next few years.
Goedeke will not be cheap. Wirfs in the most expensive LT in football.
Draft a LG.
Guaranteed stud in Round 1. But we need a DE/DT to replace Hall in Round 1.
We drafted the replacement for JTS in Braswell. Some can’t draft another OLb in round 1-2.
So draft the trenches in Round 1-2.
DE/DT run stuffer to replace Hall.
LG to replace Brederson.
Always draft BIG MEN in rounds 1-2.
March 7th, 2025 at 2:32 am
LOL have these “more than a few” watched any of what his (sorry Luke) predecessors did at LG? Stininie, Leverett, and Luke were pitiful. Didn’t help that some of that was the predictable attack of previous OCs. Yeah You Leftnut.
So before you ship Bredeson out you may wanna look at some of the LG play from pre 2024 seasons. It wasn’t just Leftnut or just Canales for that matter.
I am sure that there will be some competition in camp this year for LG BTW. That is a good thing.
Go Bucs!
March 7th, 2025 at 4:29 am
Ben earned $3M last year on a 1 year deal. A raise is in order – but any more than $5M per on this guy is too much….
March 7th, 2025 at 4:50 am
Not every player is a pro-bowl caliber player.
But, that’s ok.
They just need to be solid. Ben played solid last year.
@Garro makes a good point. Go look at the tape from previous years.
Consistency is good. We need to resign Ben.
March 7th, 2025 at 5:22 am
I just don’t see people rioting and insisting that he has to be replaced. Maybe I’m missing something because apparently Joe sees it as a major situation.
I just don’t see it. I suppose there is better out there. Sure, but are they as affordable as him and just how much better than Bredeson are they really? I’m not seeing the comments Anywhere remarking that replacing him is a Priority One….
In fact I highly doubt replacing him is a Bucs priority.
Where are you seeing all the pitchforks coming from Joe because I haven’t see much of that right here on the site or anywhere else.. I see A LOT of the type of comments above but none of the jumping up and down you’re describing.
March 7th, 2025 at 5:46 am
I believe of all position groups, OL benefits the most with consistency and of course talent. Last season Tampa OL had both.
March 7th, 2025 at 7:21 am
California = 13% income tax rate, he doesn’t wanna go there
March 7th, 2025 at 7:43 am
Obvious Says:
March 7th, 2025 at 5:22 am
I just don’t see people rioting and insisting that he has to be replaced. Maybe I’m missing something because apparently Joe sees it as a major situation.
**************
Click bait when there is no story create one… Lol
March 7th, 2025 at 7:57 am
@DR, ex-Buc Alex Cappa just signed with the Raiders. He got $11MM for 2 years. Ben is better than Cappa, so I expect Ben is looking for a minimum of the same compensation. But I would sign Ben for $5.5 per year just to keep continuity. He did a good job, regardless what other posters here say
March 7th, 2025 at 8:01 am
Last year’s rookie, Elijah Klein has a good chance of breaking the lineup for LG. He had a good camp last year and things will be much faster for him this year.
March 7th, 2025 at 8:09 am
Yup
March 7th, 2025 at 8:21 am
I do not understand the Bredeson disrespect.
Dude was solid at a pre-season questionable position last season.
March 7th, 2025 at 8:53 am
It all depends on what they think of Klein. You’ve got to let some players go and rely on youngsters, because you can’t pay everyone. LG seems like that kind of position.
March 7th, 2025 at 9:25 am
I said it yesterday, the oline needs to be kept as is. Don’t get me wrong I like Baker and what he brings to the table. But the oline is in pretty good sinc the way it is now. Go messing with that and the whole game plan could be be in trouble. Ain’t no body up front doing anything but their jobs last season. Fix the problems on the defense and maybe something on the wishlist for the offense. We could talk all day about penalties and whatever but they got us to the playoffs and Baker made a bad decision and a kinda bad throw and that was the END of the season. Hurts, but the truth usually does. Go Bucs!!!
March 7th, 2025 at 10:03 am
Jason, being the OL guru, has this. If he doesn’t sign Big Ben B, it’s due to him having a better plan.
March 7th, 2025 at 10:27 am
Keep the man. He’s solid and that’s all you can ask for.
March 7th, 2025 at 11:26 am
Sign him and Skule and we can avoid spending any draft picks on the OL this year.