Steelers Acquire DB J.J. Wilcox
The Steelers have acquired safety J.J. Wilcox from the Buccaneers, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter link). Pittsburgh will receive Wilcox and a 2019 seventh-round pick in exchange for a 2018 sixth-round pick, tweets Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
Tampa Bay had just signed Wilcox to a two-year deal this spring, but given that it inked T.J. Ward earlier today, the club no longer need Wilcox around for depth. The Buccaneers won’t take on any dead money by trading Wilcox because they didn’t employ a signing bonus on his contract.
The Steelers had also been mentioned as a potential destination for Ward, but they’ve instead picked up the 26-year-old Wilcox, who boasts 58 career games (38 starts). Wilcox will earn $3.25MM in 2017 and serve as depth behind Pittsburgh starting safeties Mike Mitchell and Sean Davis.
Buccaneers To Sign T.J. Ward
The Buccaneers will sign the newly-released T.J. Ward, as James Palmer of NFL.com tweets. It’s a one-year, $4MM deal that includes a maximum value of $5MM, per Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (Twitter link).
Ward started 41 games over three seasons in Denver after inking a four-year deal with the club prior to the 2014 season. Last season, he made 14 appearances, totaling one interception and one sack while ranking as the NFL’s No. 48 safety, per Pro Football Focus. Ward’s 75.9 grade was the worst mark of his career, and the Broncos felt it was better to move on and get a little salary cap relief in the process.
Per Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (Twitter link), Ward drew interest from seven teams and had serious talks with three. According to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, the Steelers had some degree of interest, but they were not serious contenders for his services.
Tampa Bay has already done a fair amount of tinkering at the safety position this offseason. The Bucs re-signed Chris Conte, signed free agent J.J. Wilcox from the Cowboys, and drafted Justin Evans in the second round. But signing Ward will help solidify the defensive backfield, and as Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times writes, Ward will push either Conte or Keith Tandy to the bench, and Wilcox and Evans will see their potential playing time take a hit as a result.
John Spytek, the Bucs’ director of player personnel and GM Jason Licht‘s right-hand man, was Cleveland’s director of college scouting when the Browns drafted Ward in 2010, and he spent two years as a scout with the Broncos when Ward played in Denver. That connection almost certainly played a role in Ward’s decision, along with the fact that Tampa Bay is a potential playoff team.
Buccaneers Trim Roster To 53
The Buccaneers have moved their roster to 53 players by making the following transactions:
Waived:
- DE Mehdi Abdesmad
- G Josh Allen
- DE Sterling Bailey
- DE Tavaris Barnes
- LB Richie Brown
- LB Riley Bullough
- CB Mariel Cooper
- WR Donteea Dye
- DE Hendrick Ekpe
- RB Russell Hansbrough
- CB Vernon Harris
- G Jarvis Harrison
- WR Shaq Hill
- K Zach Hocker
- WR Josh Huff (story)
- S Marqueston Huff
- FB Austin Johnson
- S Isaiah Johnson
- T Korren Kirven
- LB Jeff Knox
- G Michael Liedtke
- T Marquis Lucas
- WR Freddie Martino
- RB Jeremy McNichols (story)
- CB Jonathan Moxey
- CB Cody Riggs
- G James Stone
- WR Derel Walker
- TE Tevin Westbrook
- WR Bobo Wilson
Waived/injured:
- QB Sefo Liufau
Released:
- LS Andrew DePaola (story)
- DE George Johnson (story)
- LS Garrison Sanborn
Placed on IR:
- DE DaVonte Lambert (story)
- DT Stevie Tu’ikolovatu (story)
Placed on Reserve/Suspended List:
- RB Doug Martin
Buccaneers Waive RB Jeremy McNichols
The Buccaneers are reportedly bailing on a 2017 draft pick. According to NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo (via Twitter), the team has waived running back Jeremy McNichols. The rookie could theoretically pass through waivers and land on Tampa Bay’s practice squad.
The Buccaneers used a fifth-round pick on the Boise State product, and he was expected to serve as a depth piece while the team awaited the return of suspended running back Doug Martin. However, the team was apparently content with Jacquizz Rodgers, Charles Sims, and Peyton Barber for the time being.
McNichols was one of the most productive collegiate running backs over the past two seasons. Between 2015 and 2016, the running back averaged 1,523 yards and 21 touchdowns per season. He also proved to be competent in the passing game, averaging 44 receptions for 321 yards during that same span.
The Buccaneers have also announced the following transactions:
Placed on IR:
- DL DaVonte Lambert
- DL Stevie Tu’ikolovatu
Released:
- LS Andrew DePaola
- DE George Johnson (story)
Buccaneers To Release WR Josh Huff
Josh Huff is now in the market for a new gig. According to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (via Twitter), the Buccaneers have released the wide receiver.
The 2014 third-round pick spent the first three seasons of his career in Philadelphia, but he was released last season following a gun- and marijuana-related arrest. He subsequently joined the Buccaneers, where he proceeded to play in three games.
Ultimately, in 10 total games last year, Huff hauled in only 16 receptions for 113 yards and one touchdown. The 25-year-old’s best season came in 2015, when he compiled 27 catches for 312 yards and three touchdowns. Huff also has brief experience in the running game, and he’s averaged 25.8 yards on 48 career kick returns.
Mike Evans, DeSean Jackson, and Adam Humphries predictably lead the Buccaneers receivers depth chart, and third-round pick Chris Godwin is expected to play a major reserve role. With Huff off the roster, Bernard Reedy, Freddie Martino, or Donteea Dye could be in line for more snaps.
Buccaneers Cut DE George Johnson
The Buccaneers are getting a head start on roster cuts. The team has released defensive end George Johnson, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. 
The move brings Johnson’s second stint with Tampa Bay to an end. In the process, the Bucs get themselves off the hook for his $2.25MM salary, which would have become guaranteed if he was on the roster for Week 1.
Unfortunately, the 29-year-old (30 in December) hasn’t seen the field since the 2015 season. Last August, an ACL tear shut him down for the year.
An undrafted free agent in 2011, Johnson originally signed multiple contracts early in his career with the Buccaneers, and spent parts of the next two seasons with the club. He was quietly effective in 2014, appearing in all 16 games for the Lions and earning a positive grade from Pro Football Focus (subscription required), largely thanks to his excellent pass-rushing acumen. In 2015, Johnson appeared in eleven games for the team, tallying 23 tackles and two forced fumbles.
Johnson’s release could bode well for defensive end Jacquies Smith making Bucs’ roster to start the year, Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times tweets. Smith has been on the PUP list throughout the summer.
Buccaneers To Extend QB Ryan Griffin
The Buccaneers have agreed to a one-year extension with backup quarterback Ryan Griffin, locking him up through the 2018 campaign, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times (Twitter link).
Griffin, 27, was tendered at the original level as a restricted free agent earlier this year. As such, he’d been scheduled to earn $1.797MM for the 2017 season, but that figure could now be adjusted, tweets Stroud. Since entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent out of Tulane in 2013, Griffin has spent time with the Saints’ practice squad and Tampa Bay’s active roster, but has never thrown appeared in a professional game.
Griffin has been set to serve as the Buccaneers’ third quarterback behind Jameis Winston and Ryan Fitzpatrick, but it’s possible he could begin the season on injured reserve after suffering a shoulder injury in Tampa Bay’s preseason opener. The Buccaneers could potentially designate Griffin as an IR/return player, allowing him to return to the club midway through the season.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/28/17
Today’s minor moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: LS Taybor Pepper
Chicago Bears
- Signed: LS Jeff Overbaugh
- Waived/injured: Patrick Scales
Cincinnati Bengals
- Waived: P Will Monday
Cleveland Browns
- Waived: OL Gabe Ikard
Denver Broncos
- Waived/injured: DL Jimmy Bean
Detroit Lions
- Released: WR Keshawn Martin, TE Tim Wright
Green Bay Packers
- Waived: LS Derek Hart, WR Colby Pearson, RB William Stanback
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: S Earl Wolff
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: LB Akeem Dent
- Waived from IR: CB Ezra Robinson
Kansas City Chiefs
- Released: LB Josh Mauga
Los Angeles Rams
- Waived: K Travis Coons
New England Patriots
- Signed: DL Michael Bart, LB Christian Kuntz, LB Nick Usher
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: LB Audie Cole
- Placed on IR: TE Clay Harbor
New York Giants
- Signed: DB Daniel Gray
- Placed on IR: OL Adam Gettis
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: DE Mehdi Abdesmad, DL Hendrick Ekpe
- Waived: RB Blake Sims
- Placed on IR: Justin Trattou
Giants, Others Tried To Claim Kony Ealy
The Jets scooped up Kony Ealy after he was waived by the Patriots, but they weren’t the only team that wanted to claim him. The Giants, Redskins, Cowboys, Buccaneers, Lions, and Cardinals also put in claims on the veteran, Jane Slater of NFL Network and Kimberley A. Martin of The Buffalo News report (Twitter links). 
The Jets aren’t playing for much in 2017 and Ealy has just one year left on his deal, so one has to wonder if they could entertain trades for him. Clearly, there is a market for his services, even though he struggled in offseason practices with the Patriots.
For now, the 25-year-old profiles as a reserve behind the likes of Leonard Williams, Sheldon Richardson, Muhammad Wilkerson, and Steve McLendon. The defensive line is the Jets’ strongest unit, but it stands to reason that Ealy could make the cut when rosters go from 90 to 53 on September 2.
Prior to the trade that sent him to the Patriots this spring, Ealy had played his entire three-year career with the Panthers. The former second-round pick has started a combined 15 games over the past two years with identical stat lines in each campaign: 32 tackles and five sacks. He also added a total of five forced fumbles during that span.
RB Jeremy McNichols Not A Lock For Buccaneers Roster
- Just months after being selected in the fifth round of the draft, running back Jeremy McNichols is not a roster lock for the Buccaneers, according to Jenna Laine of ESPN.com. “He’s gonna get one final chance to show what he can do,” said head coach Dirk Koetter, referring to Tampa Bay’s final preseason game on Thursday. McNichols, who’s been shown having a hard time grasping the Buccaneers’ offense on Hard Knocks, only saw two plays on Saturday (including a failed blitz pickup) before being yanked, per Laine. While Doug Martin will miss the first three games of the season while on suspension, Tampa Bay has other backs to replace him, including Jacquizz Rodgers, Charles Sims, and Peyton Barber.
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