Todd Bowles mentioned a potential position switch for Tykee Smith; the Buccaneers’ 2024 nickel could move to safety. That would stand to conflict with Jordan Whitehead‘s role, but the Bucs may end up separating from a player they brought back in 2024.
Tampa Bay will not exercise Whitehead’s roster bonus, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo tweets. That will make him a free agent two weeks from today. The door is open to another deal — which would be a third Bucs-Whitehead pact — but GM Jason Licht mentioned (via Garafolo) the team will need to see how the veteran safety recovers from injury.
Whitehead, who signed a two-year deal worth $9MM to return to Tampa in 2024, missed five of the Bucs’ final six games last season. It would stand to reason the Bucs would want him back at a lower rate — if a return will be seriously considered. Whitehead is only due a $750K roster bonus on Day 5 of the league year. The Bucs not being prepared to pick that up would stand to diminish the chances the seven-year veteran comes back. Whitehead was due a $3.75MM base salary in 2025.
A November setback halted Whitehead’s run alongside Antoine Winfield Jr. A pectoral injury led Whitehead to IR, but he ran into more trouble upon returning. Whitehead had made it back in time for the Bucs’ Week 17 game, but injuries sustained in a car accident led him to the NFI list, where he remained to close out the season. Whitehead, 28 in March, still has some work to do to rehab those injuries. Licht expressed fondness for the player he once chose in the 2018 fourth round, but the Bucs will protect themselves in the meantime.
Among a wave of Bucs DBs chosen in the draft from 2018-20, Whitehead started 12 games for the team last season. Whitehead has started 101 career games; 67 of those have come with the Bucs. The Jets signed Whitehead to a two-year, $14MM deal in 2022; Licht said he regretted letting the former Super Bowl LV starter leave. Although the veteran GM rectified that by signing off on a reunion last year, Pro Football Focus ranked Whitehead 72nd among safety regulars in 2024.
A Smith move to safety could lead Christian Izien back to a full-time slot role. Whitehead will likely remain on the Bucs’ radar, but it could be a bit before the team strongly considers a third contract due to how his season ended. Whitehead’s crash occurred on his way to the Bucs’ facility before their regular-season finale. The Pitt product had never previously missed more than three games in a season.