Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Top free agency, NFL draft needs for 2017

Tampa Bay Buccaneers breakdown: Free agency, draft shopping list

As they wade through free agency and prepare to evaluate draft prospects at the Indianapolis Scouting Combine (March 1-6), the Tampa Bay Buccaneers must decide which players to keep as they seek to improve upon their 9-7 record from last season.

The Sports Xchange and NFLDraftScout.com evaluated the Buccaneers' roster and created a shopping list to use in free agency and to reference during the Combine.

With Jameis Winston under center, Mike Glennon bided his time, and now he will be a free agent. His departure won't appreciably affect the Bucs ... unless Winston is forced to miss time.

However, the Bucs have other areas on which to focus. The defense began getting comfortable in Mike Smith's scheme as the 2016 season played out. Now, some key additions should make it better.

Running back and receiver will also be scrutinized, especially with Doug Martin being out for the first three games of the season on a league suspension.

THE BREAKDOWN

2016 finish: 2nd in NFC South (9-7)

STATISTICS

TOTAL OFFENSE: 346.4 (18th)

RUSHING: 101.0 (24th)

PASSING: 245.4 (16th)

TOTAL DEFENSE: 367.9 (23rd)

RUSHING: 117.2 (22nd)

PASSING: 250.8 (22nd)

NEEDS, SHOPPING LIST

&=Released

*=Vet who may be released or option not exercised

TOP THREE NEEDS

RUNNING BACK

Doug Martin was suspended four games and Charles Sims went on injured reserve last season. The Bucs gained nearly 40 rushing yards fewer per game than in 2015.

UFA TARGETS (Age, previous contract's average annual salary)

Le'Veon Bell, Pittsburgh (25, $1.03M)

*Adrian Peterson, Minnesota (32 in March, $14M)

LeGarrette Blount, New England (31 in December, $1M)

Latavius Murray, Oakland (27, $567K)

Eddie Lacy, Green Bay (27 June, $848K)

Darren McFadden, Dallas (30 in August, $1.5M)

DRAFT TARGETS (Rating pos/overall, Player, School, Ht., Wt., 40 time, Proj. Rd.)

1/5 Dalvin Cook, Florida State, 5-11, 206, 4.43, 1 (underclassman)

2/9 Leonard Fournette, LSU, 6-1, 230, 4.45, 1 (underclassman)

3/24 Christian McCaffrey, Stanford, 6-0, 202, 4.48, 1 (underclassman)

4/60 Alvin Kamara, Tennessee, 5-10, 215, 4.62, 2 (underclassman)

5/86 Joe Mixon, Oklahoma, 6-1, 226, 4.50, 3 (underclassman)

WIDE RECEIVER

The Bucs need a No. 2 receiver to make teams pay for double-teaming Mike Evans, and speed would be a big bonus. It appears the career of Vincent Jackson might be nearing its end.

UFA TARGETS (Age, previous contract's average annual salary)

DeSean Jackson, Washington (31 in December, $6M)

Alshon Jeffery, Chicago (27, $14.6M)

Pierre Garcon, Washington (31 in August, $8.5M)

Terrelle Pryor, Cleveland (28 in June, $1.67M)

Anquan Boldin, Detroit (37 in October, $2.75M)

Cordarrelle Patterson, Minnesota (26 in March, $1.8M)

DRAFT TARGETS (Rating pos/overall, Player, School, Ht., Wt., 40 time, Proj. Rd.)

1/8 Mike Williams, Clemson, 6-3, 225, 1 (underclassman)

2/16 Corey Davis, Western Michigan, 6-3, 213, 1

3/19 John Ross, Washington, 5-11, 190, 1 (underclassman)

4/37 Curtis Samuel, Ohio State, 5-11, 200, 1-2 (underclassman)

5/42 Dede Westbrook, Oklahoma, 5-11, 175, 2

DEFENSIVE TACKLE

Akeem Spence is a free agent, and Clinton McDonald is getting up in age while his production is down. Gerald McCoy needs help.

UFA TARGETS (Age, previous contract's average annual salary)

Kawann Short, Carolina (28, $1.16M)

Dontari Poe, Kansas City (27 in August, $2.83M)

Domata Peko, Cincinnati (33 in November, $4.5M)

Vince Wilfork, Houston (possibly retiring; 36 in November, $4.5M)

Nick Fairley, New Orleans (29, $3M)

DRAFT TARGETS (Rating pos/overall, Player, School, Ht., Wt., 40 time, Proj. Rd.)

1/2 Jonathan Allen, Alabama, 6-3, 291, 4.82, 1

2/22 Malik McDowell, Michigan State, 6-5, 276, 4.89, 1 (underclassman)

3/50 Caleb Brantley, Florida, 6-2, 297, 5.05, 2 (underclassman)

4/56 Carlos Watkins, Clemson, 6-4, 312, 5.06, 2

5/66 Chris Wormley, Michigan, 6-5, 297, 4.92, 2-3

6/71 Elijah Qualls, Washington, 6-1, 321, 5.37, 2-3 (underclassman)

UFA KEEPERS

QB Mike Glennon (28 in December, $776K)

S Chris Conte (28, $3M)

S Bradley McDougald (27 in November, $2.553M)

ROSTER REVIEW

DEPTH CHART

Starters and backups are listed according to their status at the end of the season, but players who were starters before being injured are included.

* Indicates player who ended 2016 season on reserve.

& Indicates player released since the Super Bowl.

QUARTERBACKS: Starter -- Jameis Winston. Backups -- Mike Glennon (UFA), Ryan Griffin.

RUNNING BACKS: Starter -- *Doug Martin. Backups -- *Charles Sims, Jacquizz Rodgers (UFA), Peyton Barber, *Antone Smith (UFA).

TIGHT ENDS: Starters -- Cameron Brate, Luke Stocker. Backups -- Brandon Myers (UFA), Alan Cross.

WIDE RECEIVERS: Starters -- Mike Evans, *Vincent Jackson (UFA). Backups -- Adam Humphries, Russell Shepard (UFA), Freddie Martino, Donteea Dye, *Cecil Shorts, Josh Huff.

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters -- LT Donovan Smith, LG Kevin Pamphile, C Joe Hawley (UFA), RG Ali Marpet, RT Demar Dotson. Backups -- G/C Evan Smith, T Gosder Cherilus (UFA), G Caleb Benenoch, T Leonard Wester, G Josh Allen, *G J.R. Sweezy.

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters -- RDE Robert Ayers, DT Gerald McCoy, DT Clinton McDonald, LDE Will Gholston (UFA). Backups -- DE Noah Spence, DT Akeem Spence (UFA), DT Sealver Siliga (UFA), DE DaVonte Lambert, DE John Hughes, *DE Jacquies Smith, *DE Howard Jones.

LINEBACKERS: Starters -- WLB Lavonte David, MLB Kwon Alexander, SLB Daryl Smith (UFA). Backups -- Adarius Glanton, Cameron Lynch, *Devante Bond.

DEFENSIVE BACKS: Starters -- RCB Vernon Hargreaves, LCB Brent Grimes, SS Bradley McDougald (UFA), FS Chris Conte (UFA). Backups -- CB Alterraun Verner, CB Josh Robinson, S Keith Tandy, CB Ryan Smith.

SPECIAL TEAMS: K Roberto Aguayo, P Bryan Anger, LS Andrew DePaola, PR Adam Humphries, KOR Josh Huff.