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Alterraun Verner signs four-year deal with Buccaneers

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers sign their second big-name free agent in Alterraun Verner.

By Sander Philipse

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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have signed cornerback Alterraun Verner, the team announced. The cornerback signed a four-year deal worth $26.5 million with $14 million in guarantees, according to Rick Stroud. That's a very palatable deal for a well above-average cornerback.

Verner was the top remaining free agent cornerback, coming off a career year with five interceptions and 23 passes defensed. He ranked 12th in Pro Football Focus's grading for the 2013 season. The former fourth-round pick is at his best in zone coverage, and his best asset is his ball skills, but that doesn't mean he can't play man coverage. He'd be a great fit for Lovie Smith's defense opposite Johnthan Banks.

While Verner is not a shutdown cornerback, he does possess the physical tools to continue to develop into one. He struggled when going against top receivers in man coverage last year,  however, according to Cian Fahey, who broke down Verner's tape in detail.

With Verner's addition, the Buccaneers will almost certainly say goodbye to Darrelle Revis, who's expected to be released tomorrow. The Buccaneers can't afford to keep Revis, pay Verner, Michael Johnson, Clinton McDonald and the slew of other free agents they're expected to sign. The Bucs are rebuilding in a hurry, and they need all the cap space they can get to do so.

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