Buccaneers sign Louis Murphy to multi-year extension

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have signed wide receiver Louis Murphy to a multi-year extension, the team announced today. Murphy was signed as an unrestricted free agent this year, and put up 31 catches for 380 yards in 11 games, mostly as a third receiver. He ended the season on injured reserve with a short-term injury.

The 6'2", 200 lbs. veteran was a solid complement to Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson this year, so keeping him around a little longer makes perfect sense. There's a chance he'll be asked to start next year, if the Bucs decide that $10 million is to pay a declining Vincent Jackson -- but I'd expect him to be the Bucs' third receiver when all is said and done.

The terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Scott Smith of Buccaneers.com notes it's a three-year deal. The contract should be fairly low-cost for the Bucs, given Murphy's overall mediocre production in his NFL career.