Tampa Bay Buccaneers sign offensive lineman, re-sign defensive tackle

Continuing to add depth to their roster, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers sign a former draft pick of Bruce Arians and re-sign a defensive tackle.

Friday night, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed offensive lineman Earl Watford, a member of the Cleveland Browns in 2018. Watford was also a member of the Arizona Cardinals’ 2013 draft class, a class that also included current Buccaneers Kevin Minter and Andre Ellington; the Bruce Arians reunion tour continues.

Tampa Bay also brought back defensive tackle Rakeem Nunez-Roches on a one-year deal, an agreement that was announced Friday morning. The 25-year-old has experience playing nose tackle during his time in Kansas City as well as defensive end in a 3-4 scheme, so Nunez-Roches figures to add depth at different spots on the Tampa Bay defensive line in Todd Bowles’ defensive scheme.

Watford has started 22 games in his career, all in Arizona, and has played both guard and tackle in the NFL. Nunez-Roches has started 16 games in his career and recorded 1.5 sacks and five tackles behind the line of scrimmage.

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After Bucs after Dark last night discussed how the Buccaneers are in position to add depth instead of spending huge money to plug holes, Jason Licht continues to do just that in Tampa Bay. Outside of signing projected starters Peyton Barber, Deone Bucannon and Shaquil Barrett, Licht has added depth along the offensive line, defensive line, in the secondary, and at wide receiver.

With the cap situation in Tampa Bay still a little murky, budget contracts are the gospel of the current Buccaneers plan, while they will look to add the majority of their talent through the upcoming draft. Now in a better position to trade out of the fifth overall pick in the draft without compromising their roster, the Buccaneers can add a handful of valuable assets without feeling guilty about missing out on a top-five caliber player.

Taking a chance on Alex Cappa in 2019 at right guard, it is a nice fallback to add a versatile lineman who has starting experience under Arians. Bringing back Nunez-Roches gives Bowles some much needed depth and gives Vita Vea, Gerald McCoy and the other starters along the defensive line an opportunity to hit the oxygen tanks.