Buccaneers Free Agents: Super Bowl Winning Defensive Lineman Leaving Rams for Bucs
In this story:
After the first wave of NFL free agency the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been more active than many may have expected.
On top of retaining cornerback Jamel Dean and linebacker Lavonte David, the Bucs also added quarterback Baker Mayfield who is expected to compete with Kyle Trask to be the team's starter this season.
Friday, the releases of running back Leonard Fournette and tight end Cameron Brate also became official, joining offensive tackle Donovan Smith on the list of players leaving Tampa Bay.
Here is the latest at the time of writing on the Bucs' contract situations.
BUCCANEERS RUMORS
According to Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL Media the Dallas Cowboys have informed running back Ezekiel Elliott of his release, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, "will be interested," says Tampa Bay Times' Rick Stroud.
PLAYERS SIGNED OR AGREED TO CONTRACTS WITH BUCS
Lavonte David, Linebacker
21 NFL linebackers got deals before David, but in the end Buccaneers fans were through the roof to find out their favorite off-ball defender would be back in 2023.
The deal is for one year and is worth $7 million guaranteed according to NFL.com.
Jamel Dean, Cornerback
Dean re-signed with the Buccaneers on a four-year deal worth up to $52 million with $24.5 guaranteed according to Spotrac.
His cap number for 2023 will be just over $4.5 million.
READ MORE: Baker Mayfield 'Should Thrive'
Dee Delaney, Cornerback
The Buccaneers tendered an offer to the exclusive rights free agent, meaning Delaney will be back with the team in 2023.
Chase Edmonds, Running Back
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter Tampa Bay is signing former Denver Broncos running back Chase Edmonds.
Greg Gaines, Defensive Lineman
After spending four seasons with the Los Angeles Rams, Gaines joins the Buccaneers just days after former teammate Baker Mayfield also headed to Florida.
A fourth-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, Gaines entered the league from the Washington Huskies program that also produced Bucs star defensive tackle Vita Vea the year prior.
Gaines played in a total of 59 games for the Rams and started 25 over the past two seasons.
His best season came in the team's 2021 Super Bowl run where he started 13 games and collected a career-high 55 tackles and 4.5 sacks.
Baker Mayfield, Quarterback
Former Rams quarterback and Cleveland Browns first-round NFL Draft pick signed a one-year deal with the Bucs.
Anthony Nelson, Outside Linebacker
Nelson is re-signing with Tampa Bay on a two-year deal worth up to $13 million as reported by Fowler.
Patrick O'Connor, Defensive Lineman
According to Jordan Schultz of The Score the Buccaneers are re-signing O'Connor.
Aaron Stinnie, Guard
Stinnie re-signed with the Bucs on a one-year deal worth up to $2.5 million according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.
The announced return of Stinnie coincided with Tampa Bay's trade with the Houston Texans that brought in a 2023 6th Round pick in the NFL Draft in exchange for guard Shaq Mason and a 2023 7th Round pick.
PLAYERS LEAVING BUCCANEERS
Cameron Brate, Tight End
Released by the team.
Mike Edwards, Safety
Edwards is leaving Tampa Bay to join the Kansas City Chiefs on a one-year deal worth $3 million.
Leonard Fournette, Running Back
Released by the team.
Shaq Mason, Guard
Mason is headed to the Houston Texans via trade along with a Buccaneers seventh-round pick in the upcoming NFL Draft.
The Bucs are receiving a sixth-round pick this year in exchange.
Rakeem Nunez-Roches, Defensive Tackle
'Nacho' is leaving the Buccaneers after agreeing to a deal with the New York Giants.
The contract is for three years and is worth up to $12 million with nearly $7.5 million in total guarantees.
Donovan Smith, Offensive Tackle
Released by the team.
TAMPA BAY PLAYERS STILL AVAILABLE
Genard Avery, Outside Linebacker
Giovani Bernard, Running Back
Blaine Gabbert, Quarterback
William Gholston, Defensive End
Cam Gill, Linebacker
Akiem Hicks, Defensive End
Julio Jones, Wide Receiver
Scotty Miller, Wide Receiver
READ MORE: Buccaneers Starter Gets Performance Bonus
Sean Murphy-Bunting, Cornerback
After re-signing Dean it's unlikely Tampa Bay also brings back his fellow 2019 draft buddy.
The Minnesota Vikings have been linked with SMB, but recently agreed to a deal with Byron Murphy from the Arizona Cardinals on a two-year $22 million deal.
It's not out of the realm of possibility the Vikings decide to bring in two free-agent cornerbacks, but there hasn't been much smoke around that deal since the signing of Murphy was revealed.
Carl Nassib, Outside Linebacker
Kean Neal, Safety
Breshad Perriman, Wide Receiver
Kyle Rudolph, Tight End
Logan Ryan, Cornerback
Deadrin Senat, Defensive Tackle
Josh Wells, Offensive Tackle
Released players Smith and Fournette don't have much buzz around them at the moment, but this should change in the coming days.
And while more and more players agree to deals with other NFL teams, the possibility of some of these names returning grows.
Find David Harrison on Twitter @DHarrison82
Stick with BucsGameday and the Locked On Bucs podcast for more coverage of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers throughout the season.
