Headlines

Tampa Bay Buccaneers News & Rumors

Minor NFL Transactions: 3/16/18

By | at March 16, 2018 9:39 pm

Here are today’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Jacksonville Jaguars

Minnesota Vikings

  • Re-signed: DT Dylan Bradley

Oakland Raiders

  • Signed: P Colby Wadman

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

1 comment Arizona Cardinals Carolina Panthers Chicago Bears Jacksonville Jaguars Las Vegas Raiders Minnesota Vikings Tampa Bay Buccaneers Transactions

Buccaneers Sign C Ryan Jensen

By | at March 16, 2018 7:36 pm

The Buccaneers fortified their front five on Friday, signing former Ravens center Ryan Jensen, Mike McCartney, the player’s agent, tweets. 

NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero reports the contract is a four-year deal for $42MM with $22M in guaranteed money (Twitter link). The deal made Jensen the highest-paid center in the league and suggests that Ali Marpet will move back to guard in 2018.

That’s quite the haul for Jensen, who played his first three seasons in the league as a guard before switching to center in 2017. He proved up to the task in his first season at the position, ranking as Pro Football Focus’ No. 9 center in the league. With Weston Richburg off the board, Jensen was the best pure center remaining on the open market.

Jensen was inactive for all 16 games as a rookie and was waived in his season before returning to the Ravens practice squad. He played just 19 games in his first four seasons before enjoying his breakout campaign in the middle of Baltimore’s front five in 2017.

The addition of Jensen should help open up some running lanes in Tampa Bay. In 2017, Peyton Barber led the team in rushing yards with a measly 423 yards. Kickstarting the rushing attack will help open up things through the air for Jameis Winston and Mike Evans.

[RELATED: Buccaneers Depth Chart]

 

6 comments Newsstand Tampa Bay Buccaneers Transactions

Saints To Re-Sign Alex Okafor

By | at March 16, 2018 10:25 am

Alex Okafor is back with the Saints. New Orleans has re-signed the pass rusher to a two-year deal worth up to $10MM, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. 

Okafor visited the rival Buccaneers this week, but wound up staying put. That was Okafor’s only known outside visit and it’s quite possible that his list of suitors was limited by the torn Achilles that ended his 2017 early. Rapoport hears that he is recovering well from his torn Achilles, though he is still not 100%.

Before the injury, Okafor started in all ten of his games and racked up 4.5 sacks with a career high 43 tackles. He’ll look to turn in a similarly strong performance over a 16-game set this time around.

In addition to re-signing Okafor, the Saints have also added Demario Davis to the front seven.

1 comment New Orleans Saints Tampa Bay Buccaneers Transactions

Contract Details: Lotulelei, Bradham, Lewis

By | at March 15, 2018 8:49 pm

Let’s take a look at the details from the latest contracts signed in the NFL:

1 comment Buffalo Bills Cincinnati Bengals Detroit Lions New York Giants Philadelphia Eagles Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tennessee Titans

Buccaneers Re-Sign DE Will Clarke

By | at March 15, 2018 6:41 pm

The Buccaneers have re-signed defensive end Will Clarke, according to Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times (Twitter link). It’s a minimum benefit salary pact, and Clarke will receive a $700K base salary and a signing bonus of $90K.

The Bengals selected Clarke in the third round of the 2014 draft, but he never lived up to that billing. Cincinnati waived Clarke after he failed to start a game with the club, and the Buccaneers picked him up prior to the 2017 campaign.

Clarke, 26, didn’t make much on an impact in Tampa Bay, either. While he played on roughly a third of the Bucs’ defensive snaps, Clarke posted only 2.5 sacks and graded as the No. 84 edge defender among 106 qualifiers, per Pro Football Focus. Clarke also chipped in on special teams, where he saw nearly 50% playtime.

0 comments Newsstand Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Alex Okafor Leaves Bucs Visit Without Deal

By | at March 15, 2018 5:37 pm

Alex Okafor isn’t signing with the Buccaneers… for now. Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times reports (via Twitter) that the defensive end met with the Buccaneers today but left without a deal. The reporter adds that there’s mutual interest between the two sides.

We heard yesterday that the veteran was set to visit with Tampa Bay. Okafor already had a connection to both general manager Jason Licht and defensive line coach Brentson Buckner, so the pairing makes plenty of sense. However, the Bucs could have some competition for his services. The Saints have interest in retaining their defender, according to Joel A. Erickson of the New Orleans Advocate.

Following four years with Arizona, the 27-year-old joined the Saints last offseason. The 2013 fourth-rounder ended up starting each of his 10 games for New Orleans, compiling 4.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and a career-high 43 tackles. Unfortunately, Okafor’s season was cut short after he suffered a torn Achilles in Week 11.

Pro Football Focus was particularly fond of his performance last season, ranking him 22nd among 106 eligible edge defenders. Okafor was also listed sixth in our positional free agent rankings.

2 comments New Orleans Saints Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Buccaneers Reach Out To Mike Pouncey

By | at March 15, 2018 5:12 pm

Mike Pouncey is already generating some interest on the open market. ESPN’s Jenna Laine reports (via Twitter) that the Buccaneers have inquired about the recently-released center.

The veteran offensive lineman requested and was granted his release earlier today. The former first-rounder had spent his entire seven-year career in Miami, earning three Pro Bowl nods. Despite his previous success, the 28-year-old wasn’t nearly as productive in 2017.

After playing in only five games in 2016, Pouncey looked slowed down by the hip injury this year. In the past, we’ve heard that he may eventually require replacement surgery at some point. One doctor went so far as to tell Pouncey that he would have to retire as a result of the malady, but Pouncey, for now, is bucking medical advice.

Pro Football Focus also noticed Pouncey’s regression last season. The site ultimately ranked Pouncey as the league’s No. 25 center, a sharp contract with his No. 11 ranking in 2015.

0 comments Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Buccaneers Sign Mitch Unrein

By | at March 14, 2018 5:22 pm

The Buccaneers have agreed to sign former Bears defensive end Mitch Unrein, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times (on Twitter). It’s a three-year deal worth $3.5MM annually, reports Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune (via Twitter).

In 12 games this year, Unrein recorded a career-high 31 tackles and 2.5 sacks for Chicago. His season ended prematurely after he aggravated a nagging knee injury in a late season game against the 49ers. The 30-year-old previously had stints with the Chargers and Broncos.

Pro Football Focus, which had Unrein listed as an interior defender, gave him a career-high 83.9 score for his work in 2017. At the time of his injury, that placed him No. 29 among all interior defenders. Unrein will compete with Noah Spence, Pat O’Connor, and Davonte Lambert for snaps behind Robert Ayers and William Gholston.

0 comments Chicago Bears Tampa Bay Buccaneers Transactions

RFA/ERFA Tender Decisions: 3/14/18

By | at March 14, 2018 4:06 pm

Here are today’s restricted free agent and exclusive-rights free agent tender decisions, with the list being updated throughout the day. All links go to Twitter unless otherwise noted:

RFAs

Tendered at the second-round level ($2.914MM):

Tendered at original round level ($1.907MM):

Non-tendered:

ERFAs

Tendered:

Non-tendered:

2 comments Atlanta Falcons Baltimore Ravens Carolina Panthers Christopher Milton Cleveland Browns Dallas Cowboys Detroit Lions Green Bay Packers Houston Texans Indianapolis Colts Jacksonville Jaguars Kansas City Chiefs Las Vegas Raiders Los Angeles Chargers Los Angeles Rams Miami Dolphins New Orleans Saints New York Giants New York Jets Pittsburgh Steelers Seattle Seahawks Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tennessee Titans Transactions

Buccaneers Sign K Chandler Catanzaro

By | at March 14, 2018 4:01 pm

The Buccaneers are signing kicker Chandler Catanzaro, a source tells Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (on Twitter). He’ll fly south after one year with the Jets. It’s a three-year deal for the veteran worth $9.75MM ($3.75MM guaranteed), according to Garafolo (Twitter link).

Catanzaro, a long time fantasy football hero, will step into a role that the Bucs have worked hard to fill. Over the last two years, Roberto Aguayo, Nick Folk, and Patrick Murray have all struggled as the club’s place kicker. Football Outsiders ranked the Bucs 30th in the NFL with -13.2 points created on field goals and extra points.

Catanzaro, who converted 83.3% of his field goals in 2017, will try to do better.

2 comments Tampa Bay Buccaneers Transactions
Show all
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors