The Tampa Bay Buccaneers today signed safety Ifeatu Melifonwu and defensive tackle Travis Shaw. Additionally, the team has waived/injured defensive lineman Haggai Ndubuisi.
Melifonwu (6-3, 210) has appeared in 53 career games, including 22 starts, between the Detroit Lions and Miami Dolphins, totaling 120 tackles (seven for loss), 14 passes defensed, eight quarterback hits, 5.5 sacks, three interceptions, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble. He appeared in 16 games with eight starts for Miami in 2025, producing a career-high 53 tackles while adding 1.0 sack, one interception and one pass defensed. He originally entered the league as a third-round selection (No. 101 overall) by the Lions in the 2021 NFL Draft out of Syracuse University (2017-20), where he appeared in 29 career games with 19 starts and logged 88 tackles, 26 passes defensed, three interceptions and 1.0 sack. He earned second-team All-ACC recognition in 2020 after posting 55 tackles, 10 passes defensed and one interception. The South Grafton, Massachusetts, native will wear No. 35 for Tampa Bay.
Shaw (6-5, 334) originally entered the league as a college free agent with the New England Patriots on May 20, 2026, before being waived on July 17. He played collegiately at the University of North Carolina (2022-24) and the University of Texas (2025), appearing in 50 career games and totaling 68 tackles (6.5 for loss), four passes defensed and two fumble recoveries. Shaw appeared in 13 games with one start during his lone season at Texas, recording 13 tackles (one for loss). A former five-star prospect, the Greensboro, North Carolina, will wear No. 71 for Tampa Bay.
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