Buccaneers Free Agent Backup Offensive Lineman Signs With New England Patriots
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have put together one of the better free agency periods of this year and it has largely gone unnoticed because much of the work they have done has been with their own free agents. The Buccaneers have re-signed key pieces like WR Mike Evans, QB Baker Mayfield, LB Lavonte David, and K Chase McLaughlin while also franchise-tagging Antoine Winfield Jr. and bringing back former Super Bowl-winning safety Jordan Whitehead on a two-year deal.
The retention and arrival of players are not the only things that need to be paid attention to, the Bucs also traded CB Carlton Davis III to the Detroit Lions and now a depth piece from their offensive line will be heading elsewhere. Backup G Nick Leverett has reached an agreement with the New England Patriots according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.
The Rice product has not seen a ton of live game action at the NFL level since going undrafted in 2020. Leverett, although a backup for most of his career, did see 10 starts in his sophomore season with the Bucs as the team was going through some major injury issues across the line of scrimmage in Tom Brady’s last season. He did not earn any snaps offensive snaps in 2023 and the team is introducing a new offensive line coach after Joe Gilbert followed Dave Canales to Carolina.
The details of the contract are unknown at the time, but it will be interesting to see if he will become a backup in New England or compete for a starting spot across their offensive line. His versatility across the offensive front gives him an opportunity to stick with the Patriots.
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