The first big free agency signing of the year is in: the Tampa Bay Buccaneers agreed to terms with linebacker Quincy Black for a five-year, $29 million deal with $11.5 million in guaranteed money. Black has been a solid linebacker these past two years and should start as Sam linebacker. Re-signing Black makes it less likely the Bucs re-sign Barrett Ruud, as they now have Tyrone McKenzie and Mason Foster focused on the MLB position, with Dekoda Watson backing up Quincy Black.
The only concern I have is that Raheem Morris will continue to try to build pass-rush packages around Quincy Black, when we'd be much better off building them around Gerald McCoy and Da'Quan Bowers. Re-signing Quincy Black adds some solidity to the young linebacking corps, though, and his contract helps the Bucs get just a little closer to the salary floor. They will still have to re-sign Davin Joseph and one big free agent to reach the actual cash floor.