Buccaneers: Grading the Notable 2017 Free Agents
Chris Baker
Now we get onto the newest members of the Bucs. First we are talking about Chris Baker (don’t worry the big one will be on the next page). Being able to close out games is all about having fresh legs in the fourth quarter. You need depth to make that happen. What do the Bucs do? Go out and sign a starting defensive lineman from the Redskins. Last season, Baker started all 16 games, posting 48 total tackles, 4.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and two passes defended.
Pay no attention to the “dab” in the picture above. Big guys typically cannot dance.
One thing coaches love about their defensive linemen is versatility, and Chris Baker is versatile. During his tenure with the Redskins he spent time both on the inside and on the outside. Having a player that can be plugged in all over the line is a valuable asset as the players endure their annual bumps and bruises. Is this guy DeMarcus Ware? No. He is, however, a solid piece of a rotation that will keep stars like Noah Spence fresh.
Give Jason Licht credit once again for his contract structure. He really is a smart man with the way he doles out the finances. In this case, it’s a three-year contract worth $15.75 million including a guarantee of $9 million. Though it’s a three-year deal, however, all of the guaranteed money comes out in year one, meaning if things don’t go well, they can get out after 2017.
That’s the way you take a shot with a player without mortgaging the future. Kudos to Licht and he again helps out the grade here.