Buccaneers sign two big defensive ends to compensate for injuries

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have signed two new defensive ends, according to Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times. The two defensive linemen: Tavaris Barnes and Sterling Bailey.

Barnes played 13 games for the New Orleans Saints in 2015, almost exclusively on special teams, after going undrafted in that year’s undrafted. He played his college football at Clemson, and was cut by the Saints last year. He then signed with the Seattle Seahawks, but was placed on injured reserve in training camp.

As for Bailey, he went undrafted out of Georgia last year, and bounced around a few offseason and practice squad rosters without getting a footing somewhere. He played defensive tackle at Georgia, mostly as a hard-working run-stuffer.

At 6’4”, 284 lbs. and 6’5”, 296 lbs. respectively, both of these players are pretty big for their positions—a lot more William Gholston than Noah Spence. That fits the Bucs’ recent trend of signing big, versatile defensive linemen.

The Bucs needed some extra depth as Robert Ayers, Jacquies Smith and Noah Spence or all recovering from old injuries. They’re expected to be back by training camp, which makes this signing not much more than depth—though there is some room for one of these players to make the roster.