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The 2018 legal tampering period begins Monday. This day allows for teams across the league to begin negotiations with players before free agency begins March 14.
Tampa Bay enters the new league year with holes all over the roster. Bucs Nation offered up a few best bets for each position over the weekend, which can all be found here.
This is a good time for the Bucs to beef up their rosters with veterans before the draft. This is also a pivotal time for this regime which faces a lot of heat after underperforming last season. They have to be cautious about who to sign, hoping the signing does not backfire on them.
We’ll track every piece of news related to the Buccaneers and post it right here, updating it often throughout the week.
March 16
Well, It’s Day 3. Restlessness continues to grow. Bucs, however, are as cool as a cucumber.
8:39p.m. ET
Jensen chooses the Bucs, per multiple reports. This is the huge news fans have been waiting for!
11:21a.m. ET
The #Saints are re-signing pass-rusher Alex Okafor to a 2-year deal worth up $10M, source said. He visited the #Bucs but stayed home.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 16, 2018
March 15
Day 1 of free agency has come and gone and the Bucs addressed the defensive line with players many are not too excited about. With reports linking the team to veteran cornerback Morris Claiborne amd defensive lineman Alex Okafor, they may be continuing to look at addressing their positions of need on defense in Day 2.
Plenty of players still available. Whether they signed them or not remains to be seen.
7:38p.m. ET
Bucs re-signed defensive end Will Clarke — 2.5 sacks last year — for one year, veteran minimum of $790,000, with a $90,000. Low-risk depth.
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) March 15, 2018
5:09p.m. ET
A league source tells me that the Bucs have inquired about three-time Pro Bowl center Mike Pouncey, who was granted a release by the Dolphins today. No visit set at this time, but they have inquired. https://t.co/gTpqA1nuq7
— JennaLaineESPN (@JennaLaineESPN) March 15, 2018
3:00p.m. ET
Welp...
Sources tell me Ryan Jensen's visit has concluded with the Bucs and he is boarding a private plane right now to Indianapolis to visit the Colts, as scheduled. Yes, the Colts sent a private plane down to Tampa. https://t.co/ZdwbJD7z2s
— JennaLaineESPN (@JennaLaineESPN) March 15, 2018
10:38a.m. ET
Wonder if the Bucs can find a way to cancel his flight...
The Bucs are hosting pass rusher Alex Okafor for a visit today. Offensive linemen Ryan Jensen's visit is scheduled to wrap up this afternoon, with him slated to fly to Indianapolis around 2 p.m. I'm told that Indy is preparing to make a hard push on... https://t.co/rHeJmbtbvF
— JennaLaineESPN (@JennaLaineESPN) March 15, 2018
5:44a.m. ET
Looks like Tampa Bay may lose out on Jensen.
#Ravens free agent center Ryan Jensen spent yesterday visiting the #Bucs and today is slated to head to the #Colts for a visit. He could command double digits.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 15, 2018
March 14
Teams can officially begin signing players later today at 4p.m. ET. The Bucs have been quiet thus far aside from keeping their own guys. Will they make any splash signings today ornin the coming days? We’ll have to wait and see.
6:18p.m. ET
#Bucs agreed to terms with Bears DE Mitch Unrein
— Rick Stroud (@NFLSTROUD) March 14, 2018
4:57p.m. ET
A kicker!
I'm hearing that Bucs are signing former Cardinals and Jets kicker Chandler Catanzaro. Went 25/30 on FGs, 29/29 on PATs last year in New York.
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) March 14, 2018
4p.m. ET
#Buccaneers and former #Eagles DT Beau Allen agreed to a 3-year deal worth $15m ($5m APY), worth up to $16.5m with incentives.
— Adam Caplan (@caplannfl) March 14, 2018
12:47p.m. ET
The Bucs have re-signed safety Keith Tandy. Both sides agreed to a two-year deal.
11:36a.m. ET
Beau Allen to sign with the Bucs.
Eagles DT Beau Allen expected to sign with Bucs https://t.co/ZquBtJTr0o
— JennaLaineESPN (@JennaLaineESPN) March 14, 2018
I'm told that the Patriots are among the three final teams (including the Bucs) in the running to land Redskins outside linebacker Trent Murphy. https://t.co/cjRfqhdeyb
— JennaLaineESPN (@JennaLaineESPN) March 14, 2018
11:22a.m. ET
Ravens’ free-agent C Ryan Jensen’s agent, Mike McCartney, said his client is planning on visiting the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and then the Indianapolis Colts.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 14, 2018
7:57a.m. ET
Bucs closely monitoring the Tyrann Mathieu contract situation in Arizona?
Cardinals trying to restructure Tyrann Mathieu's contract. #Bucs studied him and DL coach Brentson Buckner has insight into Cards safety. But may be more of a FS than SS at this point in his career. Something to watch.
— Rick Stroud (@NFLSTROUD) March 14, 2018
March 13
The first day of the legal tampering period is in the books. With less than 24 hours before free agency officially begins, the Bucs have come to terms a few of their own already. Rumors have been swirling of the team being tied to top free agents. We’ll see what Day 2 of the legal tampering period brings.
1:37p.m. ET
Bucs are showing interest in running back Jerick McKinnon.
Continue to hear Bucs have interest in RB Jerick McKinnon. Team looking to bolster backfield after Doug Martin release.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) March 13, 2018
9:46a.m. ET
Peyton Barber has been signed through 2018.
The Bucs have signed RB Peyton Barber to a one-year, $630,000 contract through 2018, per league source. As of now, he could be in the mix to start at RB.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) March 13, 2018
March 12
7:58p.m. ET
Report states Philly’s DT Beau Allen is on the Bucs radar.
Hearing Detroit and Tampa Bay are among teams interested in free-agent defensive tackle Beau Allen, who just won a Super Bowl with Philadelphia and is from Minnetonka, Minn. Haven't heard #Vikings linked to him.
— Chris Tomasson (@christomasson) March 12, 2018
6:27p.m. ET
Bucs trying to add a top DT.
Teams I continue to hear looking to add DT (Poe, Star, S. Richardson) with most fervor are KC, TB, IND, DEN, WSH
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) March 12, 2018
3:50p.m. ET
Bucs place a tender on receiver Adam Humphries.
#Bucs placed second-round tender on WR Adam Humphries for $2.914-million.
— Rick Stroud (@NFLSTROUD) March 12, 2018
2:37p.m. ET
Grimes is returning to the Bucs, per Rick Stroud of Tampa Bay Times. It is reportedly a one-year deal worth $10M.
#Bucs have also agreed to terms with CB Brent Grimes
— Rick Stroud (@NFLSTROUD) March 12, 2018
2:25p.m. ET
La Canfora reports the Bucs and Cameron Brate agree to an extension. This is great news for Jameis Winston and the offense.
Bucs are keeping TE Cam Brate. The redzone target has a new 6 year deal in Tampa
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) March 12, 2018
2:06p.m. ET
Bucs want to bring back McClain.
Source tells me that the Bucs are interested in bringing back cornerback Robert McClain, who started nine games last year for them and had three interceptions, lining up outside and at nickel. https://t.co/qmvHxOv3Di
— JennaLaineESPN (@JennaLaineESPN) March 12, 2018
Early Monday Morning
CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora states the Bucs are in on Trumaine Johnson:
Teams like Green Bay, Tennessee, Tampa and Houston are doing a lot of work at the corner position; one of them is likely to land Trumaine Johnson and I have a hunch it may be the Texans, who badly need defensive upgrades after injuries and free-agent defections (A.J. Bouye) weakened that unit in 2017.