Ben Bredeson

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

The Buccaneers made a significant overpay by handing Ben Bredeson a three-year, $22M deal that earns an F CVI grade, representing one of the worst value contracts at the guard position this cycle. Paying $7.3M annually for an unproven interior lineman is franchise-damaging money, especially when Bredeson has failed to establish himself as even a reliable starter despite multiple opportunities across different organizations. The $12.5M in guaranteed money compounds the mistake, as Tampa Bay has essentially locked themselves into paying above-average starter money for a player who hasn't demonstrated he belongs in that tier. This contract reeks of desperation from a front office that panicked in free agency rather than properly evaluating the guard market, where proven veterans and younger prospects were available at more reasonable rates. The Buccaneers just handicapped their salary cap flexibility for years to come while failing to meaningfully upgrade their offensive line protection.

Performance Analysis

Ben Bredeson earns an F for the Buccaneers at guard, one of the worst grades among NFL offensive linemen. Bredeson has been a liability in pass protection and has not provided the physicality needed to open running lanes. Tampa Bay's offensive line has had its issues, and Bredeson has been part of that problem throughout the season. His technique is inconsistent, and he gets knocked off his blocking assignments too easily against NFL-caliber defenders. The Buccaneers need to find better options on the interior if they want their offense to function properly.