Buccaneers Set 53-Man Roster
Here is how the Buccaneers moved their roster down to the 53-man max Tuesday:
Released:
- OLB Genard Avery
- QB Ryan Griffin
- S Logan Ryan (story)
- DL Deadrin Senat
Waived:
- OLB Andre Anthony
- K Jose Borregales
- T Dylan Cook
- S Chris Cooper
- CB Don Gardner
- WR Kaylon Geiger
- DL Mike Greene
- TE J.J. Howland
- G Sadarius Hutcherson
- WR Tyler Johnson (story)
- RB Patrick Laird
- CB Kyler McMichael
- C John Molchon
- DL Benning Potoa’e
- DL Willington Previlon
- ILB J.J. Russell
- WR Jerreth Sterns
- WR Deven Thompkins
- S Nolan Turner
- OLB Jordan Young
Waived/injured:
- OLB Elijah Ponder
Placed on IR:
Ryan is expected to return soon, Greg Auman of The Athletic tweets. His release — from a contract containing no fully guaranteed money — is likely connected to Ryan Jensen‘s impending IR trip.
The Bucs should also be expected to retain Griffin on their 16-man practice squad, which can include up to six vested vets. Griffin has gone through a lengthy career without much actual usage. A 2013 Saints UDFA, Griffin has been with the Bucs since September 2015. Odds are, after he re-signed to stay in Tampa again this offseason, the veteran QB is part of the initial 2022 Bucs P-squad. Griffin, 32, has played in two career games. He would be the Bucs’ fourth passer — behind Tom Brady, Blaine Gabbert and Kyle Trask — if kept. So, the same arrangement as 2021.
The Bucs signed Avery last week. Avery spent the offseason with the Steelers but did not make their cut to 80; the Steelers have since traded for Broncos backup OLB Malik Reed. Borregales’ exit will give Ryan Succop the kicker job for a third straight year. After the Bucs went through several years of kicker instability, Succop has done well to inject reliability into the equation. Succop’s extension runs through 2023.
Buccaneers Sign 13 UDFAs
After adding eight rookies in the draft, the Buccaneers added another 13 rookies yesterday. The team announced the signing of 13 undrafted free agents:
- TE Ben Beise, Wisconsin-River Falls
- G Curtis Blackwell, Ball State
- OT Dylan Cook, Montana
- ILB Olakunle Fatukasi, Rutgers
- CB Don Gardner, South Dakota
- WR Kaylon Geiger, Texas Tech
- CB Kyler McMichael, North Carolina
- OLB JoJo Ozougwu, Arkansas State
- ILB J.J. Russell, Memphis
- WR Jerreth Sterns, Western Kentucky
- WR Deven Thompkins, Utah State
- S Nolan Turner, Clemson
- OLB Jordan Young, Old Dominion
The Buccaneers added three UDFA wideouts, including the 5-9, 195-pound Sterns. The receiver had an iconic season at Western Kentucky, leading the nation in receptions (150), receiving yards (1,902), and touchdown catches (17). Only three players have accomplished this “Triple Crown” feat over the past 20 years, with Sterns joining DeVonta Smith and Michael Crabtree.
Fatukasi is the younger brother of New York Jets defensive tackle Folorunso Fatukasi. The younger Fatukasi finished his collegiate career with a 2021 campaign that saw him compile 85 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks.