While his second stint with the Bucs didn’t go as planned, Tampa Bay can’t be happy to hear that Super Bowl champion safety Jordan Whitehead reportedly visited a division rival yesterday.
The Bucs secondary struggled through injuries about as much as any team in the NFL last season. According to RotoWire’s list of the most injured teams in 2024, only six teams lost more games to injury. It’s tough to deal with that many injuries no matter which unit they impact. But, the difficulty jumps up a notch when your Super Bowl-winning safety tandem plays seven total games together.
Super Bowl Champion Safety Jordan Whitehead Struggled Mightily in 2024
Unfortunately, even when Whitehead was active last season, he struggled mightily. He recorded the fewest pass deflections of his career, and did not record an interception for the first time since his rookie season.
That was a far cry from his performance during the Bucs 2020 Super Bowl season. In 2020, Whitehead notched career-highs or matched them in the following categories: sacks, tackles for loss, quarterback hits, forced fumbles and fumble recoveries.
Unfortunately, the Bucs couldn’t agree to an extension with Whitehead after the 2021 season. So, Whitehead decided to head to New York in free agency. During a two-year stint with the Jets, he recorded his two highest tackle totals and six of his 11 career interceptions. But, New York decided not to bring him back for 2024.
Last May, Bucs general manager Jason Licht called it a mistake to let Whitehead walk during the 2021 offseason. During an appearance on the “Loose Cannons” podcast, Licht acknowledged the mistake.
“With Jordan, it was a Mea culpa,” Licht said. “We had to draw the line at some point. And I made a mistake. I’m glad we got him back. It was a mistake that I regretted the minute we let him walk…”
Unfortunately, their reunion lasted just one season, as Whitehead’s struggles became too much for the Bucs. His on-field performance, combined with several injuries and a season-ending car crash, led to a tough decision for Tampa Bay’s front office.
In February, the Bucs decided to let Whitehead walk once again. This time, general manager Jason Licht spoke about the team needing to make “some smart business decisions” about the Super Bowl champion safety’s future.
Now, as Mike Garofolo of NFL Network has reported, Whitehead visited with the Falcons yesterday. So, after multiple stints with the Buccaneers, the veteran safety could be headed to a division rival.
Bucs Hoping for Improved Performance in 2025, Thanks to Overhauled Secondary
While they decided to move on from Whitehead, the Bucs made several other moves in their secondary this offseason. Tampa Bay drafted defensive backs with back-to-back picks, selecting Benjamin Morrison in the second round and Jacob Parrish in the third round.
During an instant analysis of each team’s draft on April 26, PFF’s staff gave the Bucs a grade of B+. They praised several of Morrison’s abilities, writing that he showed “good awareness, high football IQ and smooth movement skills.” While they noted Parrish’s low coverage grade in 2024, they called him “fluid and fast,” writing that “he has the skills to play in the slot or outside in the NFL.”
The Bucs also added experienced corner Kindle Vildor as a free agent and re-signed Bryce Hall.
While Vildor’s stats may not raise too many eyebrows, he should serve as a nice depth piece for the Bucs. He’s played 68 games across five seasons, making a total of 26 starts. But, the five-year veteran should be able to fill in when needed for the Buccaneers.
That would be a welcome addition, considering Tampa Bay’s struggles to stay healthy in 2024. If they’re serious about a Super Bowl run in 2025, the Bucs will likely need Vildor to play well in a supporting role alongside Zyon McCollum, Jamel Dean and Tykee Smith.
Earlier this week, Vildor reportedly caught the eye of head coach Todd Bowles, according to Dustin Lewis of Sports Illustrated. During a press conference following Sunday’s practice, Bowles appeared pleasantly surprised with Vildor’s performance so far.
“A lot of versatility back there – there are a lot of guys that can do a lot of things,” Bowles said. “All of them are very smart. Obviously, [Kindle] Vildor coming in, No. 22, does a lot of things well for us. That was a surprise.”
As for Hall, he has played even less than Vildor so far, making 26 starts across 40 total appearances. Unfortunately, his first year in Tampa Bay ended after just 11 snaps, as he suffered a dislocated ankle during their week one win over the Commanders.
But, the Buccaneers saw enough to bring Hall back for another one-year deal, as they re-signed him in March. As Buccaneers Senior Writer/Editor Scott Smith noted in March, Hall has “a second chance to make a first impression” in 2025.
While their offense may be even better in 2025, the Bucs will need their secondary to step up. With some new pieces in place, we’ll see if they can build rapport this summer and stay healthy.
Even after losing a Super Bowl champion safety as a cap casualty, Tampa Bay should be primed for another playoff run. But, it’s still never fun to lose a player to a division rival.
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