Buccaneers sign defensive tackle Tony McDaniel

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have agreed to terms with defensive tackle Tony McDaniel to a one-year deal worth "up to" $2.5 million, Rand Getlin reports and since confirmed by several other outlets. The contract should be signed tomorrow, pending a physical.

McDaniel is an eight-year veteran who has played for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Miami Dolphins and Seattle Seahawks in his career. He was released by the Seahawks earlier this month in a cost-cutting move after they signed Bobby Wagner and Russell Wilson to pricy extensions.

At 6'7", 295 lbs. McDaniel is longer and a little heavier than most of the Bucs' defensive tackles, having just 10.5 sacks in his career despite playing 111 games and starting 34. Almost all of those starts came with the Seahawks in the past two years, where they used him as more of a run stuffer next to more explosive defensive tackles like Brandon Mebane and Michael Bennett, coming off the field on most passing downs. However, he lined up at both three-technique and 0-/1-technique, so he has experience playing both roles.

McDaniel feels like a direct replacement for nose tackle Akeem Spence, who's expected to be out for several months with a back injury. McDaniel will have to compete with Da'Quan Bowers for a roster spot behind Gerald McCoy, Clinton McDonald and Henry Melton.