According to Stephen Holder of the St. Petersburg Times the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are getting close to a multi-year contract with strongside linebacker Quincy Black. The linebacker was a third-round draft pick for the Buccaneers in 2007 and has started the past two years. He has been a solid but largely unspectacular linebacker who missed part of last year with injuries. Still, Black has a lot of physical talents and at times flashed some ability. Raheem Morris likes to use him as a pass rusher for some reason, but he isn't particularly good at it. 

Still, Black is a good player and he should help the Bucs get closer to being a good defense. He wasn't a difference maker these past seasons, but he wasn't a liability either. Getting him in the building would give the Bucs a decent linebacking corps with Geno Hayes and Mason Foster likely being the other starters. With Tyrone McKenzie and Dekoda Watson as the main backups, the Bucs could re-sign Adam Hayward as well. If Black signs it becomes even less likely that Barrett Ruud decides to re-sign. 

Signing Black would help the Bucs get a little closer to the salary floor, but there will still be tens of millions of dollars left to spend. Look for the Bucs to give Davin Joseph a long-term contract and attract one more big free agent at some point. 

Update: Black has officially signed a 5 year deal worth $29 million, $11.5 million of which is guaranteed