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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have signed a minor upgrade for their offensive line. Center James Stone is the team’s latest addition, the Bucs announced today.
Stone entered the league as an undrafted free agent out of Tennessee back in 2014, spending his first two years with the Atlanta Falcons. Stone actually started nine games as a rookie, replacing now Bucs center Joe Hawley, and one game in his second year before getting cut and spending 2016 away from the NFL.
Stone didn’t too well when replacing Hawley in 2014 and 2015, which is why he’s now available in free agency, but he’s still a nice upgrade to have around. Part of his release last year can be explained by his coming off a knee injury, and if he’s fully healthy now, he could push Evan Smith off the roster as the primary backup at center.