Ndamukong Suh: In cruise control and cashing Buccaneers checks

Ndamukong Suh, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
Ndamukong Suh, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)

After signing a $10 million deal this offseason with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Ndamukong Suh went to the team that offered the most money.

This offseason, all of the hype was surrounding new defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, the number 93, and the guy who wore the number before him. There were some who said that Suh, upon signing a one-year deal would rewrite the defensive history books and become the best player to ever wear the number 93 in franchise history.

Yes, those takes are out there. Instead, Suh will exit Tampa at the end of the 2019 season, and many will look back with a response of, “Oh yeah! I forgot he even played here.”

Through the first seven games of this 2019 season, Suh has been a non-factor across the pewter and red defensive line, other than a scoop-and-score touchdown on a play that former kicker Roberto Aguayo could have made. Suh is put it in cruise control and is in Tampa to cash checks from the Buccaneers.

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So far this season, Suh has tallied just a half of a sack, four tackles for loss, and one hit on opposing quarterbacks. For comparison, nose tackle Vita Vea, who is taking on double team after double team so that the ends and outside backers can have one-on-one matchups, has the same amount of sacks and tackles behind the line of scrimmage, and more hits on the quarterback.

Out of the entire front five in Tampa Bay this season, consisting of Suh, Vea, William Gholston, Carl Nassib, Shaquil Barrett, and now Jason Pierre-Paul, Suh is grading out as the worst performer of the front. Yes, you read that correctly, Suh is grading out lower than the likes of Gholston and Nassib.

With a Pro Football Focus (subscription required) grade of 64.5, Suh is grading out at a replaceable level for the pewter and red. Besides, with Pierre-Paul back in the lineup for the Bucs, they had more success running Nassib inside with JPP and Barrett off of the edges.

At $10 million this season that Suh is owed by the Bucs, the seasoned veteran is in Tampa to coast and cash checks. Next season he will be off to the next location, his fourth team in four years, to do the same thing to whatever team is willing to give him the biggest contract.

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