Lions re-sign Tahir Whitehead after Bucs visit

Update: The Lions have re-signed Tahir Whitehead, according to Ian Rapoport.

Having cut Bruce Carter and not tendered restricted free agent Danny Lansanah, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers need a new strongside linebacker. Those usually aren't too hard to come by, but the team is putting in some effort anyway. According to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, the Bucs are hosting linebacker Tahir Whitehead for a visit.

Whitehead has started 24 games over the past two seasons for the Detroit Lions, having spent most of 2014 as the team's starting middle linebacker when Stephen Tulloch tore his ACL, and moving to strongside linebacker for 2015. He produced three interceptions, eleven passes defensed, and two sacks over that time. Those are pretty good numbers for a 4-3 linebacker.

Having experience as a middle linebacker will make Whitehead a little more valuable, as he can step in in case Kwon Alexander is injured -- or suspended again. Whitehead also represents the kind of signing Jason Licht has perfected over the past couple of years: a third-tier free agent who could turn into a valuable contributor, if not a difference maker.