The Buccaneers are apparently content to let their existing defensive ends keep digging.
According to Mark Cook of PewterReport.com, the Bucs have no interest at the moment in pursuing veteran defensive ends Dwight Freeney or John Abraham.
The reports cites concerns about Abraham’s character considering the rush-needy Falcons let him go (though that seems an odd rationale), and Freeney’s age and declining production.
While it would seem to us that giving Abraham two chances to stick it to his old team might be something both sides would be interested in, the Bucs appear intent on going with Adrian Clayborn and Da’Quan Bowers and that’s it.
Those two have a combined 12.0 sacks in two NFL seasons, just over the 10.0 Abraham recorded last year.
The Bucs haven’t been bashful about flinging money around in the secondary, and their faith up front in two guys who haven’t been able to stay on the field seems unusual.
At this point, the best bet for Freeney and Abraham might be to just wait, let teams realize what they have and don’t have, and sign up later when teams get to camp and realize a proven pass-rusher might help them.