Buccaneers re-sign William Gholston to one-year deal

Something the Tampa Bay Buccaneers made a theme this year was getting the band back together, which continued on Tuesday.

As initially reported by ESPN's Jenna Laine, veteran free agent defensive end William Gholston signed a one-year deal with the Buccaneers. Per Laine, the terms of the deal are disclosed, and is the latest transaction Tampa Bay has made this offseason.

Not only is this the 16th different move by the Buccaneers this offseason, but is the third straight offseason Gholston has signed a new deal to extend his lengthy career in Tampa. Gholston, the No. 126 pick in the fourth round of the 2013 NFL draft, is set to enter his 12th season in the league, all as a Buccaneer.

Since entering the league, Gholston has played in 169 total games and started in 88, with the former ranking as the sixth-most by any player in team history and the most by a defensive lineman.

The longest-tenured defensive lineman in Tampa Bay Buccaneers franchise history has signed on for another year. In addition, Gholston has appeared in at least 14 games in each of the past ten seasons, while missing just one game over the last six years. Gholston is the second-longest tenured player on the Bucs' 2024 roster behind linebacker Lavonte David, who is entering his 13th NFL season.

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Overall, Gholston has recorded 420 tackles, 58 tackles for loss, 77 quarterback hits, 19.5 sacks, 14 pass breakups, three forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries. In nine career playoff games, three of which were starts, Gholston recorded eight tackles, one tackle for loss, and four quarterback hits.

Since the arrival of Todd Bowles as a defensive coordinator and later the head coach from 2019, Gholston has played an integral role in the Buccaneers' stout defense. Of the 88 games Gholston has started, 40 have been since the hiring, and Gholston finished the 2021 season with a career-high 4.5 sacks and his first Super Bowl ring. The year before, Gholston added a team-high 20 quarterback hits and has been a key figure in the Buccaneers run defense that routinely ranks near the top of the league.

This past season, Gholston played in all 16 games with one start, and played a rotational role along the defensive line alongside Vita Vea, Calijah Kancey, Logan Hall, and Greg Gaines. All five of those players are under contract for the 2024 season, and the Buccaneers did add defensive end Randy Gregory to a one-year deal as well.

Even so, Gholston will continue to be a veteran presence on the field and the locker room for a young and maturing Buccaneers' defensive line.

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