Jason Cole of Yahoo! Sports reports that free agent cornerback Cortland Finnegan is actively “recruiting” free agent wideout Vincent Jackson to join Finnegan on his next NFL team. Cole suspects that team is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Finnegan has reportedly been text messaging back and forth with Jackson. The Bucs certainly have the salary cap space to land both players, and Finnegan and Jackson play positions of need in Tampa.
Bucs incumbent No. 1 receiver Mike Williams played more like a No. 2 last season. Arrelious Benn has been a disappointment, unable to break free from a receiver committee with the similarly pedestrian Dezmon Briscoe. Preston Parker is strictly a slot guy.
With Ronde Barber unsigned for 2012 and considering retirement, Finnegan would be a natural replacement -- and upgrade -- at right cornerback. Left corner Aqib Talib is in danger of a league-imposed suspension.
The Buccaneers have been criticized for sitting on large amounts of cap space in past offseasons, but they’re publicly committed to opening the pocketbook this spring.
Jackson and Finnegan would be an awfully aggressive way to start.