The dominos are falling for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as they have signed Devante Bond to a one-year deal just an hour after extending Donovan Smith.
Jenna Laine at ESPN has reported that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have re-signed linebacker Devante Bond to a one-year extension at the veteran minimum of $720,000; this coming on the heels of the news that left tackle Donovan Smith had agreed to a three-year extension, avoiding the franchise tag.
With question marks on whether or not Kwon Alexander will return to Tampa Bay, as he will test his market in free agency, and the murky future of Kendell Beckwith’s ankle, this is a wise move to add depth to the linebacker room. While Bond will not be a starter or main contributor for the Buccaneers, he adds talent to special teams and depth to a roster with many holes.
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It has been a busy news day in Tampa Bay, and expect this to be the beginning of a flurry of moves that the Buccaneers will make in order to clear cap space, retain talent, and sign free agents. The seat is getting warmer for veterans DeSean Jackson, Gerald McCoy, and Demar Dotson as the Bucs see their cap space slowly dwindling away.
In what would appear as the last year for their window to compete, as quarterback Jameis Winston is on the last year of his rookie contract, Tampa Bay must spend their money wisely on talent that will give them significant contributions right away. They do not have much help in the draft either with only six picks, but in the case of a trade out of the fifth overall pick, the Bucs could gather a lump sum of assets.
With the deadline to franchise tag a player closing in about an hour, it does not appear Tampa Bay will use theirs; free agency officially opens on March 13. First Smith, now Bond; look for more moves to be made as it feels now that once the first domino falls, the rest are soon to follow