Ted Ginn Jr., Evan Dietrich-Smith, Dane Fletcher visiting Buccaneers
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Ted Ginn (19) runs the end around during the third quarter against the New York Jets at Bank of America Stadium. Panthers defeated the Jets 30-20. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been extremely aggressive this offseason, and I don’t even think comments made by Jason Licht before the offseason about their likely aggressiveness could have hinted at these kinds of moves. In the past two days, the Buccaneers have decided to cut ties with Darrelle Revis and sign Alterraun Verner, Michael Johnson, Clinton McDonald, and Josh McCown. They are also close to signing top offensive tackle Anthony Collins, who is visiting today and would make Donald Penn a likely cap casualty, and could sign Lovie Smith’s favorite Charles Tillman as a No. 2 corner, thus kicking down promising second year Mississippi State product Johnthan Banks into the slot (I wonder if Tillman could also play in the slot in Tampa if he were to sign).
According to the Tampa Bay Times’s Rick Stroud, wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr., center Evan Dietrich-Smith, and linebacker Dane Fletcher are all visiting the Buccaneers today. The Bucs confirmed that those three players are in the building, and they also confirmed that Tillman and Collins are on visits to One Buc Place today.
Ginn Jr. is the new name of those five visitors, and he would be an intriguing signing for the Buccaneers. The Carolina Panthers free agent wide receiver is a No. 3 or 4 piece, but his incredible speed and agility make him a nasty playmaker after the catch and worth taking a look at.
Dane Fletcher is a personal favorite of mine, as he is a versatile linebacker who excels on special teams and has the ability to cover running backs in coverage; he could make plenty of sense for the Buccaneers. Dietrich-Smith doesn’t make as much sense, as Jeremy Zuttah doesn’t need to be cut or upgraded. I’m also not a big fan of Dietrich-Smith anyway, as I view Brian De La Puente of the New Orleans Saints to be superior. Although Zuttah could be cut, EDS only makes sense if his price tag is affordable, and I have a feeling that might not be the case.