Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Grading the T.J. Ward signing

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers added veteran safety T.J. Ward to their defense following Ward’s release from the Denver Broncos. Was the move a wise one?

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have talent on defense, and there’s no questioning that. The ever-charismatic Gerald McCoy remains one of the best defensive tackles in football. Kwon Alexander is a player whose needle is surging upward. Brent Grimes, despite his age, remains a piece in that defense. Vernon Hargreaves III figures to take a step forward in his second year, and Lavonte David is still a very good players.

But despite the talent on the defensive side of the ball, safety was a major concern entering the season. The Bucs appeared to be rolling with Chris Conte and Keith Tandy as their primary safeties. While Tandy enjoyed a very productive 2016 — and remains one of the NFL’s most underrated players — Conte as a starter is unappealing.

Additionally, J.J. Wilcox, formerly of the Dallas Cowboys, and rookie Justin Evans figured to be the depth at that position. But despite that, Tampa Bay elected to improve in the safety department.

The team bolstered its safety group by signing T.J. Ward. According to ESPN’s Josina Anderson, Tampa Bay inked Ward to a one-year, $5 million deal.

Any way you look at it, this deal makes sense for the Buccaneers, and they deserve praise for nailing this signing. Ward, 30, remains a productive player. The three-time Pro Bowler played a major part in helping the Broncos win Super Bowl 50. Ward was the starting safety in Denver’s vaunted “No Fly Zone” secondary.