Tampa Bay Buccaneers tackle Donald Penn (70) during the second half at Raymond James Stadium. San Francisco 49ers defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 33-14. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been incredibly aggressive this offseason, as they have signed Michael Johnson, Alterraun Verner, Clinton McDonald, Anthony Collins, and Josh McCown and have brought in many others like Charles Tillman in for workouts. One player the Buccaneers brought in for a workout yesterday was talented left tackle Anthony Collins, who signed a five-year deal worth $30 million. $6 million per year is a steal for a top pass blocking left tackle who is young, and Collins is an incredibly underrated player who had significant interest from the desperate rival Carolina Panthers and Collins’s former team, the Cincinnati Bengals.
Always viewed as the favorites to sign Collins, the Buccaneers were fully expected to cut ties with Donald Penn once they signed Collins. The former Bengals OT has effectively replaced Penn, and he’s younger, better, and even cheaper than the newly-signed LT. Penn was set to make $6.75 million and $6.5 million over the next two seasons, but he’s now on the free agent block.
The Buccaneers have announced that they have officially released Penn, and this deal definitely doesn’t come as a surprise. Penn is still a solid starting left tackle in this league, and he should generate significant interest. The Panthers are still absolutely desperate for a starting tackle, so they make sense as a landing spot for Penn, who is the second veteran OL to be released by the Bucs this offseason after overrated guard Davin Joseph was an easy cap casualty.