This offseason, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have yet again been able to keep some key free agents from leaving.
There were a few notable names which fans had been wondering about, including the likes of guard Ben Bredeson and wide receiver Chris Godwin. But, another fellow offensive free agent had yet to see his future determined.
What would come up one of Baker Mayfield's close friends, wide receiver Sterling Shepard?
The Buccaneers agreed to terms with Sterling Shepard on a 1-year contract
As it turns out, the Bucs weren't about to let Shepard walk out the door. They're bringing him back for another run, per Jason Licht himself.
This falls right in line what the Bucs have tried to do in recent years, really putting an effort into taking care of their own.
Just last year, the Bucs had two enormous names to decide on between wide receiver Mike Evans along with Mayfield. In the end, Evans did not end up going anywhere. Instead, he kept his home base in Tampa Bay and wound up with yet another 1,000-yard season even when all odds were stacked against him.
Of course, Mayfield got his contract to stay put and ended up having another career year with the Bucs.
Now, Shepard gets to come back for another season in Tampa Bay as well. Last summer, Shepard didn't sign with the Bucs until mid-June. He ended up playing some meaningful snaps after injuries to Evans and Godwin this past year, and because of his synergy with Mayfield, it made sense to keep him around for an additional season.
His 32 receptions for 334 yards and a single touchdown might not mean much to those stat experts out there. But, his veteran presence and relationship with Mayfield speak for themselves. This was a smart re-signing by a club who has, once again, done a good job taking care of their own.