Ben Bredeson

Season	Team	GP	Grade
2025		11	F F Bottom 5%
2023		16	F F Bottom 5%
2022		11	F F Bottom 5%
2021		8	F F Bottom 5%
2020		10	F F Bottom 5%

Grades reflect the player's performance in each season. Header grade shows the current season.

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.

Contracts in the Same Value Band

Other same-position deals the Contract Value Index also places in the F band — a quick read on where Ben's contract sits relative to comparable money.

How Ben Compares at the Position

Ben Bredeson ranks 84th of 166 graded gs by performance. That slots Ben between Jake Curhan (D-) just ahead and Lecitus Smith (F) just behind.

Current Sentiment

Ben Bredeson carries a D- sentiment grade right now, with the conversation around his Pro Bowl-caliber moments shaping the narrative. The dominant storyline centers on durability concerns — his Injured Reserve designation during a critical stretch of Tampa Bay's schedule, particularly near a high-profile divisional matchup against the Falcons, has amplified questions about his availability and consistency. That injury news sits uncomfortably alongside his D- performance grade, suggesting the on-field production hasn't been strong enough to absorb a health scare; a player grading higher would have more organizational goodwill to weather an IR stint. General Manager Jason Licht's public signal that Bredeson's return is a point of emphasis provides a modest counterweight, but it's been immediately undercut by reports identifying him as a potential roster casualty on draft night — a contradiction that reflects genuine uncertainty about his standing heading into 2026. The Buccaneers' recent wave of signings (adding depth at linebacker, running back, and the receiving corps) suggests an organization actively shopping for upgrades across the roster, which only amplifies the fragility of Bredeson's positional security. Bottom line: he retains coaching staff respect but no margin for error; he must prove health and demonstrate consistent play in 2026 or risk losing his spot on a team actively exploring alternatives.