Tampa Bay Buccaneers

BUCCANEERS SIGN TWO FREE AGENTS

Mar 19, 2024 at 03:26 PM

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers today signed offensive lineman Ben Bredeson and cornerback Tavierre Thomas.

Bredeson (6-5, 310) originally entered the league as a fourth-round selection (No. 143 overall) by the Baltimore Ravens in the 2020 NFL Draft. He played one season for the Ravens before being traded to the New York Giants, where he spent the past three seasons.

He has appeared in 45 career games, making 25 starts. In 1,159 career pass blocking snaps, Bredeson has been credited with just seven sacks allowed. He has played primarily left guard throughout his career, logging 972 career snaps there compared to 487 snaps at right guard and 376 snaps at center.

The Hartland, Wisconsin, native played collegiately at the University of Michigan (2016-19), appearing in 51 career games and making 46 starts. At Michigan, he received first-team All-Big Ten honors in 2019, second-team All-Big Ten honors in 2017 and 2018, and was named a second-team All-American in 2019. Bredeson was a two-time team captain from 2018-19 and was the recipient of the Toughest Player Award in 2018.

Thomas (5-10, 205) joins Tampa Bay after spending the previous three seasons with the Houston Texans. He has appeared in 81 career games, making 22 starts, between the Cleveland Browns and the Texans, amassing 182 tackles (six for loss), six forced fumbles, six passes defensed, two quarterback hits, two fumble recoveries, two interceptions (one returned for a touchdown) and 1.0 sack. The sixth-year pro originally entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Arizona Cardinals in 2018.

The Detroit native played collegiately at Ferris State University (2014-17), appearing in 45 career games and logging 175 tackles, 35 passes defensed, 14 interceptions (two returned for touchdown). Thomas earned Division II first-team All-American honors as well as first-team All-GLIAC (Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) honors in the 2016 and 2017 seasons. He was named the GLIAC Defensive Back of the Year as a senior in 2017 after posting 60 tackles, 18 passes defensed and four interceptions.

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