Bucs Re-Sign OG Aaron Stinnie

Stinnie, a 2018 undrafted free-agent signing by the Tennessee Titans, did not appear in a game with the Bucs last season after suffering a torn ACL and MCL in his left knee during the team’s preseason game against the Titans, his former team. Before the injury, he was expected to make the team and potentially be the starting left guard to begin 2022 after the retirement of Ali Marpet.

Instead, that spot went to Luke Goedeke, who may be making the shift to right tackle while Wirfs tries to maintain his All-Pro status by moving to the blindside.

If this happens, it would mean every starting position along the line from the start of 2022 would be different heading into 2023, as center Ryan Jensen was sidelined for most of the season before returning in the Bucs’ Wild Card loss to the Dallas Cowboys.

Regardless of how the team goes about moving around the pieces in the trenches, keeping Stinnie allows for the Bucs to have some continuity and a familiar face. This is vital to an extent, as with a new starting quarterback, and rookies Rachaad White and Cade Otton stepping into larger roles, the offense will look a lot different from a personnel and philosophy standpoint.

Bucs Re-Signing OG Stinnie Gives Team A Starting Option

With the trade of Mason, Stinnie offers a more affordable option to claim a starting guard position. The team saved slightly over $5 million by sending him to Houston, while Stinnie will be a fraction of that price at $2.5 million.

Fans may remember Stinnie most during the Bucs’ 2020 Super Bowl run, as he filled in for injured right guard Alex Cappa capably by starting in the last three postseason contests, including the 31-9 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs that kept the Lombardi Trophy in Tampa Bay. Those were the first and only starts for Stinnie so far in the NFL, but that may change in 2023.

At the moment, this deal sets him up well to be the starting left or right guard at some point next season. Nick Leverett and Robert Hainsey will be the main competition in his way, and they may have the advantage of health on their side. Having suffered his knee injury last August, Stinnie could be sidelined up until training camp.

But the Bucs would not have traded Mason and re-signed Stinnie if they felt he would not play or did not have the ability to be a starting offensive lineman.

If he does become one, his re-signing will bring surplus value. Time will tell when/if that happens, but the Bucs will keep one member of their Super Bowl-winning team in town for another season.