The Tampa Bay Buccaneers probably can’t completely clean house at edge rusher this offseason. It doesn’t mean they shouldn’t try.
The most underperforming of all the defensive position groups needs a complete overhaul this offseason. That can come in big ways, like not bringing back former NFL All-Pro Haason Reddick, and it can come in little ways, like cutting veteran Anthony Nelson to save $1.9 million in salary cap space.
Nelson, 6-foot-7 and 271 pounds, has spent his whole career with the Buccaneers since they selected him in the fourth round (No. 107 overall) of the 2019 NFL draft, including winning a Super Bowl following the 2020 season.
B/R Calls Nelson No. 1 Cap Casualty Target on Bucs
Bleacher Report’s Anthony Ballentine tagged Nelson, 28 years old, as the player on Tampa Bay’s roster most likely to become a salary cap casualty this offseason even though the amount ins almost negligible as the salary cap goes over $300 million for the first time.
It also might end up being critical for a team like the Buccaneers, who are going to have to rework some of the contracts of their best players to help make the roster better because they only have $16.8 million in salary cap space as of now.
“It says more about the Bucs’ books than it does anything about Anthony Nelson that he’s number one on this list,” Ballentine wrote. “There isn’t even $2 million in cap savings, but he is still the most realistic contender to be cut that could create cap savings. He’ll turn 29 in March and his production has slowly declined over the last few seasons. This year he played just 41 percent of the defensive snaps and logged three sacks. It’s time to bring in a younger player to see what they can do in the role.”
Nelson Failed to Cash In as Free Agent
Nelson had a great opportunity to cash in during free agency following the 2024 season but came back to the Buccaneers on a 2-year, $10 million contract — the exact same deal he signed following the 2022 season.
Nelson made Bleacher Report’s list of the Top 50 NFL free agents in the 2025 cycle, coming in at No. 30 after he had 40 tackles, 4.0 sacks, 6 TFL, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery and 13 QB hits in 2024. He did so while playing in all 17 games with only 6 starts and playing in just 51 percent of Tampa Bay’s defensive snaps.
There’s a high likelihood the Buccaneers use multiple draft picks in 2026, including their first rounder, on edge rushers. They drafted one promising edge rusher in 2025 with David Walker but he tore his ACL in the preseason.
“Linebacker Anthony Nelson has never been a full-time starter with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers,” Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox wrote in March 2025. “What he’s been over the past three years is a highly productive outside ‘backer who can set the edge, clog passing lanes and get after the opposing quarterback. Nelson, who will turn 28 in March, isn’t quite a pure pass-rusher, but he was very effective in that role in 2024. Having played both outside linebacker and defensive end in Tampa, he should be viewed as a fit for a variety of base schemes.”
Bucs’ 6-foot-7, 271-Pound Pass Rusher Called Likely Salary Cap Casualty