Linebacker Kevin Minter signed a one-year deal with the Buccaneers on Wednesday prior to becoming an unrestricted free agent before the 4 p.m. deadline.
Minter was added to Tampa Bay's roster to add depth after linebacker Kwon Alexander went down with an ACL injury in Week Seven last year. He played in five games for the Buccaneers, registering 10 combined tackles and a sack. The rest of his season was cut short after he was placed on Injured Reserve following the Bucs' Week 11 matchup against the New Orleans Saints at home. He'll get another opportunity to prove himself in Tampa Bay to a not-so-new staff.
Minter had spent last offseason with the New York Jets under Todd Bowles before being cut after the preseason, and spent the 2017 season with the Cincinnati Bengals. Before Cincinnati, Minter was a member of the Arizona Cardinals from 2013 to 2016 under then-Head Coach Bruce Arians, with Bowles as his defensive coordinator for his first two years. Minter started all 16 games in 2015 and 2016 for the Cardinals, registering 94 and 81 tackles in those seasons, respectively. He reunites with his former coaches on a one-year deal that will keep him in Tampa Bay through the 2019 season.
The Buccaneers have also agreed to terms with free agent linebacker Deone Bucannon, joining a room that includes Minter, Lavonte David, Devante Bond, Kendell Beckwith, Jack Cichy, Riley Bullough, Corey Nelson and Emmanuel Smith.
