Jenna LineESPN staff writerRead for 1 minute
TAMPA, Fla. – The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have not yet tackled their defensive line with five unsigned free agents and on Saturday matched former Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Greg Gaines to a one-year contract, a source told ESPN.
It’s a movement that animates youth along an aging defensive front that has spent the past two seasons vowing to get younger and faster under head coach Todd Bowles and has already lost one member during this free broadcast period in Rakeem Nunez-Roches, who signed with the New York Giants.
In 59 regular season games over the past four years, Gaines recorded, 26, 25 starts with 10.5 sacks – 8.5 over the past two seasons – 11 tackles for loss, 24 quarterback hits and a fumble to recover . He recorded three tackles in Super Bowl LVI.
The 2019 fourth-round draft pick joins former Washington teammates and Bucs first-round draft picks Vita Vea (defensive tackle) and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka (outside linebacker).
In addition to Gaines, the Bucs also re-sign outside linebacker Cam Gill and defensive lineman Pat O’Connor to one-year deals. Gill has been with the club since 2020 and recorded a half sack in Super Bowl LV but missed last season with a Lisfranc injury. O’Connor played in all 17 games for the Bucs last season, recording six tackles.