The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are taking a step toward fixing up their defensive line on Wednesday when the new league year begins. The team is expected to sign defensive tackle Beau Allen, per Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times.
With the free agency period officially beginning on Wednesday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers made their first move. Unsurprisingly, that move was made to boost the team’s defensive line. With Chris Baker released and Clinton McDonald hitting free agency, Tampa Bay is bringing in former Eagles tackle Beau Allen:
#Bucs are expected to sign Eagles DL Beau Allen
— Rick Stroud (@NFLSTROUD) March 14, 2018
In Allen, the Bucs are getting a tough nose tackle to pair with perennial Pro Bowler Gerald McCoy. He was more of a role player for the Eagles, but he could get the chance to start for Tampa Bay, considering how thin the team is up front. And even if he was called on more as a fill-in player, both his play and personality made him well-liked in Philadelphia. Over four seasons, Allen has totaled 87 tackles (53 solo), two sacks, a fumble recovery, eleven run stuffs and two passes defended.
The former Eagle is listed at 6-foot-3 and weighs in at 327 pounds. He could be a force in the run game for Tampa Bay after being part of the number one run defense in the league last year. By comparison, the Bucs were 23rd in stopping the run last year.
Of course, Allen is not Dontari Poe or Ndamukong Suh. But just because he isn’t a household name doesn’t mean he is a bad signing. He could very well be a major part of a Buccaneer defense that needs to be much better in 2018.
Allen, a seventh round pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, turns just 27 in November. He is the first free agency piece to fall for Tampa Bay in 2018, but surely not the last. The Bucs still have needs off the edge, in the secondary, along the offensive line and in the backfield.
Next: Buccaneers 2018 Free Agency Tracker
Bucs fans, be sure to continue following along with us as the free agency rush continues.
**UPDATE** – Deal with Allen is set to be three years, $15 million dollars, worth up to $16.5 million with incentives