The Pewter Plank
FanSided

Five Buccaneers the Team Needs to Leave Behind in 2016

By David Harrison

Jan 15, 2016; Tampa Bay, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneer general manager Jason Licht , co-chairman Edward Glazer , head coach Dirk Koetter, co-chairman Joel Glazer , co-chairman Bryan Glazer pose for a photo as they introduce Koetter as the new head coach at One Buccaneer Place Auditorium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 15, 2016; Tampa Bay, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneer general manager Jason Licht , co-chairman Edward Glazer , head coach Dirk Koetter, co-chairman Joel Glazer , co-chairman Bryan Glazer pose for a photo as they introduce Koetter as the new head coach at One Buccaneer Place Auditorium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 6
Next
Sep 27, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Alterraun Verner (21) against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 27, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Alterraun Verner (21) against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /

CB, Alterraun Verner

Verner signed with the Buccaneers in 2014, and was supposed to be a consistent defensive presence after failed attempts with the likes of Aqib Talib and Darelle Revis.  Two years later, he’s third on the depth chart and has been replaced by a career nickel back named Sterling Moore and an undrafted rookie named Jude Adjei-Barimah.

Moore, the former Cowboy and Patriot finished the year with nine starts, Adjei-Barimah with seven, and Verner had just six.  Further declining the seven-year vets’ value is the fact he finished with his second lowest tackle total in his career, and had just one interception.  Not numbers you need to see out of a veteran who is supposed to be leading the secondary in a takeaway centered scheme.

While none of the Buccaneers secondary players had a year to brag about, both Moore and Adjei-Barimah outplayed all of their counterparts on a regular basis, and made it no mystery who deserved to start.

Verner was on the field for more than 75% of the defensive plays for the Buccaneers in 2014.  In 2015, he found himself on the field for less than 55%.  With his cap hit set at $6.75 million for the upcoming season, the team can cut the six-year veteran without carrying any dead money, and move forward looking for the cornerbacks needed to run new defensive coordinator Mike Smith’s system.

Next: Logan Mankins

Home/Bucs News