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By Rowan Fisher-Shotton
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Through Week 14, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are 7-6 and lead the NFC South, but they’re hardly secure, sitting just one game ahead of the Carolina Panthers for the division lead.
As a result, the front office moved quickly to add a familiar face to the building, signing two-time Super Bowl champion Jason Pierre-Paul after a tryout with the team.
The 36-year-old pass rusher — a key rotational piece on the Bucs’ 2020 Super Bowl team and three-time Pro Bowler — arrives after a two-year absence from consistent snaps and will initially provide depth, experience, and a veteran voice around the locker room.
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On Tuesday, Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield broke down what the addition means for the team as they approach a crucial stage of the NFL season.
"A guy that's had a ton of production over the years, that was a huge part of the Super Bowl here. Just a little bit more juice in the building, guys get excited about that. It puts the pressure on."
"Obviously, when you bring guys in like that, you're trying to elevate the standard, the performance level. It pushes us on offense because we haven't done enough to score enough points, quite frankly," Mayfield added.
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A first-round pick in 2010, Pierre-Paul holds career totals of 94.5 sacks with 21 forced fumbles, 167 QB hits, and two Super Bowl rings (one with the New York Giants, one with the Buccaneers).
Once active, he provides veteran depth, capable of winning early-down snaps and strengthening the pass rush alongside Elijah Roberts and Logan Hall.
More than anything, the move highlights urgency, as the Bucs look to defend their division title and secure a playoff berth in a crowded NFC.
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Through 13 games, Mayfield has totaled 2,722 passing yards with 20 touchdowns and sixinterceptions, completing 61.6% of his throws for a 90.6 passer rating — production that's kept Tampa Bay in the mix but also raised questions about their offensive ceiling.
Tampa Bay has scored 299 points (23.0 per game) while surrendering 325 (25.0 per game), a -26 differential that ranks 21st in the league and leaves the team on unstable ground despite clinging to a playoff spot.
Adding a veteran with championship experience in Pierre-Paul is a low-risk, potentially high-reward bet for depth, mentorship, and situational snaps — especially if injuries or matchup needs force rotation up front.
Looking ahead, the schedule still includes four key games: vs. Atlanta, at Carolina, at Miami, and a season finale vs. Carolina, meaning Tampa Bay has limited margin for error if it wants home-field advantage or even a comfortable path as a division winner.
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