Buccaneers Make Two Moves
- The Buccaneers signed wide receiver Shaq Hill and waived recently added rookie wideout Jhajuan Seales. Hill was a Texan for a short period during the spring, when he signed with them as an undrafted free agent out of Eastern Washington. Seales will now look for his third team since going undrafted from Oklahoma State. He initially signed with the Bears, who cut him, and then hooked on with the Bucs this past weekend. The union proved to be fleeting.
Buccaneers Sign Marqueston Huff
The Buccaneers have signed free agent safety Marqueston Huff, the club announced today. Tampa Bay also signed wide receiver Jhajuan Seales and waived wide receiver and Thomas Sperbeck and safety Alex Gray.
Huff, 25, has already enjoyed stints with two other clubs — the Ravens and Chiefs — this offseason. After Baltimore withdrew Huff’s restricted free agent tender, Huff signed on with Kansas City, but his tenure with the Chiefs didn’t last long. Kansas City cut ties with Huff after he spent fewer than three months on its roster.
A former fourth-round pick, Huff has primarily been a special teams player throughout his three-year NFL career, as he’s appeared in 41 games but only posted one start. Last season with the Ravens, Huff played in 11 games but saw action on just 32 defensive snaps. He played on nearly half of Baltimore’s special teams snaps, though.
Tampa Bay has boasted one of the league’s worst safety tandems for several years running, but the club made several additions to the position this offseason. The Buccaneers used a second-round pick on Texas A&M defensive back Justin Evans, and also signed free agent J.J. Wilcox to two-year pact.
Doug Martin Not Guaranteed To Start Upon Return
- We heard earlier this month that the Buccaneers are well-stocked at running back even without Doug Martin, who will miss the first three games of the 2017 season due to suspension. And, as Dan Graziano of ESPN.com writes, GM Jason Licht is so pleased with his stable of RBs that he says Martin may not be the starter when he returns in Week 4. That may just be GM-speak to give Martin a little extra motivation, but it underscores how comfortable Tampa Bay is with its backs, who do offer a nice variety of skill-sets.
Buccaneers Sign Justin Trattou
The Buccaneers have signed defensive end Justin Trattou and waived/injured fellow DE Evan Panfil, tweets Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times.
The 28-year-old Trattou joins the Bucs after spending the first six seasons of his career with the Giants and Vikings. Since going undrafted out of Florida in 2011, Trattou has totaled 37 appearances but hasn’t yet started a game. His most productive campaign came with Minnesota in 2015, when he improbably logged more interceptions than tackles (two to one) across five games. He then posted his first 16-game season in 2016, but only 10 of his 280 snaps came on defense. Trattou was third on the Vikings in special teams snaps (270) and is now moving from an ST unit that finished ninth in DVOA last year to one that placed 21st.
Panfil, formerly with Purdue, signed with Tampa Bay as an undrafted free agent in May.
Charles Sims Likely To Make Roster; Most Intriguing Camp Battles
- An article from Scott Smith of Buccaneers.com could have been construed to indicate that Buccanneers RB Charles Sims is a long-shot to make the team’s 53-man roster, but Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times says he would be surprised if Sims is cut, especially before Doug Martin returns from suspension in Week 4 (Twitter link). Auman adds (via Twitter) that Smith’s article probably meant to suggest that Blake Sims, not Charles, is a long-shot to make the roster. Indeed, Smith’s piece discusses how well-stocked Tampa Bay is at running back, and he suggests Charles Sims is one of the reasons the Bucs can field a solid RB group even without Martin. Smith later confirmed Auman’s interpretation via Twitter.
- An article from Scott Smith of Buccaneers.com could have been construed to indicate that Buccanneers RB Charles Sims is a long-shot to make the team’s 53-man roster, but Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times says he would be surprised if Sims is cut, especially before Doug Martin returns from suspension in Week 4 (Twitter link). Auman adds (via Twitter) that Smith’s article probably meant to suggest that Blake Sims, not Charles, is a long-shot to make the roster. Indeed, Smith’s piece discusses how well-stocked Tampa Bay is at running back, and he suggests Charles Sims is one of the reasons the Bucs can field a solid RB group even without Martin. Smith later confirmed Auman’s interpretation via Twitter.
- In addition to running back, the Buccaneers also have intriguing position battles at slot corner, safety, and kicker, as Roy Cummings of FanRagSports.com writes.
Mike Evans Excited About Teaming Up With DeSean Jackson
- The Buccaneers inked free agent wideout DeSean Jackson to a contract earlier this season, and fellow receiver Mike Evans is excited about the duo’s potential. “This is going to be awesome,” Evans told Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. “Obviously, I think we could be one of the best tandems in the league. DeSean is an explosive receiver. I think we can do great things together…As soon as he got signed, we had dinner and we connected right away. We knew each other already. I’ve always been a fan of his game and the swagger he brings. Having him on the team will be very helpful.” Evans finished last season with 1,321 yards on 96 catches, while Jackson hauled in 56 catches for 1,005 yards.
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Buccaneers Retain Paul Magloire
- The Buccaneers waived undrafted rookie linebacker Paul Magloire at the end of May, but he’ll stay with the team on injured reserve, reports Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times. Magloire is facing a 30-week recovery after undergoing surgery on a double hernia and torn groin muscle. The Bucs originally added Magloire on a split contract, which will allow the ex-Arizona standout to earn 75 percent of the $465K rookie minimum ($348K) while on IR.
Poll: Will The Bucs Make The Playoffs?
In 2007, the Jon Gruden-led Buccaneers won the NFC South with a 9-7 record, but quarterback Jeff Garcia could not get his squad past the Giants in the Wild Card round. In the nine years since, the Bucs have not returned to the postseason. Yup, its been a while since the Bucs have been in the playoffs. 
This year, the Buccaneers are hoping to snap their skid after making a handful of key roster upgrades. The biggest splash was the addition of DeSean Jackson and the speedy veteran should give Jameis Winston a steady deep ball threat to work with. Last year, Winston pretty much had to make do without Vincent Jackson, so the presence of DJax should represent a major boost for the offense. They say speed doesn’t age well, but the 30-year-old hasn’t really lost a step. In 2016, Jackson led the NFL in yards per reception for the second time in his career as he totaled 56 receptions for 1,005 yards and four touchdowns.
Cameron Brate was a revelation for the Bucs last season. This season, opposing defenses may find themselves in double trouble as rookie O.J. Howard comes into the picture. The Alabama star was widely projected as a top 10 pick coming into the draft, so GM Jason Licht was doing cartwheels when he had the opportunity to snag him at No. 19 overall. At 6’6″, Howard has the size to win almost any jump ball and also has the speed to beat most linebackers across the middle of the field. In a two tight end set with Howard and the 6’5″ Brate, Dirk Koetter‘s Bucs could create one of the league’s biggest matchup nightmares.
On the other side of the ball, the Buccaneers have retooled their safety group with the additions of second round pick Justin Evans and former Cowboy J.J. Wilcox. Those two plus the returning Chris Conte should help turn one of the team’s former weaknesses into a strength. It also helps that the Bucs safeties will be sandwiched between standout corners Vernon Hargreaves and Brent Grimes.
Will the Bucs’ offseason moves be enough to propel them to the playoffs in 2017? Cast your vote and back up your decision in the comment section.
Anquan Boldin Looking To Play In Florida?
Anquan Boldin says that he wants to continue playing in 2017, but he won’t necessarily accept any gig that comes his way. The wide receiver would like to play near his home in Florida, people close to him tell Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. 
Unfortunately for Boldin, all three Florida teams seem pretty well set at wide receiver. The Dolphins have their big three of Jarvis Landry, Kenny Stills, and DeVante Parker with 2016 third round pick Leonte Carroo and Jakeem Grant in support. The Bucs have Mike Evans, DeSean Jackson, Adam Humphries, Chris Godwin, and Josh Huff with talented receivers like Freddie Martino and Donteea Dye on the fringe. In Jacksonville, standouts Allen Robinson, Marqise Lee, and Allen Hurns are joined by rookie Dede Westbrook and former Buc Arrelious Benn. That’s not to say that Boldin couldn’t crack the roster with those teams, but there is not a clear path to significant playing time.
Meanwhile, it doesn’t sound like the Lions are looking for a reunion. Even though Boldin all Lions WRs in touchdown catches (eight) and finished second in receptions (61) in 2016, coach Jim Caldwell says that he’s content with his current group.
“You never say never,” Caldwell said. “Obviously, he contributed quite a bit for us, just not certain at this point in time. I think we’re in good shape where we are right now. I think we have a really good core.”
Boldin, 37 in October, averaged a career-worst 8.7 yards per grab last year. Even though he still has solid route running skills and soft hands, he’s not quite as fleet-footed as he used to be.
Minor NFL Transactions: 6/14/17
Today’s minor moves:
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: WR Cameron Posey
- Waived: S Brian Blechen
Denver Broncos
- Signed: CB Chris Lewis-Harris (Twitter link via Nicki Jhabvala of the Denver Post)
- Waived: CB Taurean Nixon
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: T Robert Leff
- Waived: C Jacob Flores
- Waived off IR with injury settlement: CB David Rivers (Twitter link via Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Waived off IR with injury settlement: DE Deondre Barnett (Twitter link via Howard Balzer)
Washington Redskins
- Waived: DB Shakiel Randolph