The Bucs bolstered their defensive line with a splash by agreeing to terms on a one-year deal with veteran defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, Thursday. Widely regarded as the best available free agent, Suh will be entering his 10th season in the NFL and is coming off a productive year while with the Los Angeles Rams in 2018.
Suh was used a lot on the interior at nose tackle of a defensive line that included Aaron Donald in Los Angeles' 3-4 system last year. A natural and productive disruptor, he totaled 59 combined tackles, 4.5 sacks, 19 quarterback hits and even four passes defensed. He provided an experienced defensive anchor to a relatively young Rams team during his one-year tenure before becoming a free agent this offseason.
Prior to Los Angeles, Suh spent three years in Miami with the Dolphins after signing what was the most lucrative deal for a defensive player in NFL history in 2015. As a Dolphin, he registered 15.5 sacks, 181 tackles, 49 quarterback hits and 13 passes broken up and garnered a Pro Bowl selection in 2016. The bulk of his career came with Detroit, where he spent five seasons with the Lions after they drafted him second overall in the 2010 NFL Draft. Former Buccaneers defensive tackle Gerald McCoy was taken that year as well, just a pick behind Suh, at third overall out of Oklahoma.
Suh was an immediate double-digit sack player for the Lions as a rookie, recording 10.0 and combining for 65 tackles, 13 of which were for loss. During his five years in Detroit, Suh was named an All-Pro and selected to the Pro Bowl three times, including his rookie season where he also won 2010 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.
His 107 career tackles for loss currently rank ninth among all active players and he's appeared on the NFL Top 100 list every season since entering the league.
View photos of DT Ndamukong Suh from his career so far.
Los Angeles Rams' Ndamukong Suh (93) warms up before the NFL Super Bowl 53 football game between the Los Angeles Rams and the New England Patriots Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
Los Angeles Rams nose tackle Ndamukong Suh (93) lines up prior to the snap during an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Dec. 30, 2018 in Los Angeles. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
New England Patriots' Tom Brady (12) throws the ball as Los Angeles Rams' Ndamukong Suh (93) rushes during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 53 football game Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, left, blocks a pass by Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins during the first half in an NFL football game Thursday, Sept. 27, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Rams defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh speaks during a media availability ahead of the NFL Super Bowl 53 football game against the New England Patriots Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Los Angeles Rams nose tackle Ndamukong Suh (93) in action during NFL Super Bowl 53 against the New England Patriots on Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019 in Atlanta. The Patriots defeated the Rams, 13-3. (Ryan Kang via AP)
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nick Foles, left, passes under pressure from Los Angeles Rams nose tackle Ndamukong Suh during the second half in an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 16, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh (93) in action against Green Bay Packers offensive tackle David Bakhtiari (69) during an NFL football game on Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018, in Los Angeles. The Rams defeated the Packers, 29-27. (Ryan Kang via AP)
Los Angeles Rams nose tackle Ndamukong Suh (93) runs around the edge as Kansas City Chiefs offensive tackle Eric Fisher (72) blocks during a week 11 NFL football game on Monday, Nov. 19, 2018 in Los Angeles. Los Angeles won 54-51. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
New Orleans Saints' Drew Brees, bottom, is sacked by Los Angeles Rams' Ndamukong Suh during the first half of an NFL football NFC championship game, Sunday, Jan. 20, 2019, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott breaks away from Los Angeles Rams nose tackle Ndamukong Suh during the first half in an NFL divisional football playoff game Saturday, Jan. 12, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh (93) applies pressure on Arizona Cardinals quarterback SAmm Bradford (9) during an NFL Week 2 game on Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018, in Los Angeles. The Rams shutout the Cardinals 34-0. (Kevin Terrell via AP)
Los Angeles Rams defensive tackles Aaron Donald (99) and Ndamukong Suh (93) pressure New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) during the NFC championship NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 20, 2019, in New Orleans. The Rams defeated the Saints 26-23 in overtime. (Kevin Terrell via AP)
Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) is pressured by Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh (93) during the NFL preseason football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018 in Los Angeles. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh (93) in action during an NFL football game against the Oakland Raiders, Monday, Sept. 10, 2018, in Oakland, Calif. The Rams defeated the Raiders, 33-13. (Ryan Kang via AP)
Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh (93) chases Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) in the first half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Monday, Nov. 13, 2017. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) is sacked by Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh (93), during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 11, 2017, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
FILE - In this Dec. 3, 2017, file photo, Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh (93) and Miami Dolphins strong safety T.J. McDonald (22), tackle Denver Broncos running back C.J. Anderson (22), during the first half of an NFL football game, in Miami Gardens, Fla. The Miami Dolphins appear ready to move on without their defensive anchor. Miami is discussing releasing five-time Pro Bowl tackle Ndamukong Suh when the NFL's new year begins Wednesday, a person familiar with the situation said Monday, March 12, 2018. The person said nothing has been finalized, and confirmed the conversations to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the Dolphins have not commented.(AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File)
Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh (93) tackles Buffalo Bills running back LeSean McCoy (25) during an NFL football game on Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016, in Orchard Park, N.Y. Miami won 34-31 in overtime. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh (90) stops Miami Dolphins running back Lamar Miller (26) during the first half of an NFL football game in Detroit, Sunday, Nov. 9, 2014. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh (90) sacks Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) during the second half of an NFL football game at Ford Field in Detroit, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2014. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Carolina Panthers' Cam Newton (1) is sacked by Detroit Lions' Ndamukong Suh (90) during the second half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Sept. 14, 2014. The Panthers won 24-7. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (9) is sacked by Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh (90) during an NFL wild card playoff football game at AT&T Stadium on Sunday, January 4, 2015 in Arlington, Texas. Dallas won 24-20. (AP Photo/Aaron M. Sprecher)
A native of Portland, Oregon, Suh attended the University of Nebraska from 2005 to 2009. In his last season for the Cornhuskers as a senior, Suh was named AP College Football Player of the Year, won the Bill Willis Trophy, the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, the Chuck Bednarik Award, the Lombardi Award and Outland Trophy, in addition to consensus First-Team All-America honors. He was also a Heisman Trophy finalist.
It was just a few days ago that Buccaneers Head Coach Bruce Arians said the team's roster was still a long way away from resembling the final product for the 2019 season. The addition of Suh comes immediately after the team mutually agreed to part ways with defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, who had spent the previous nine seasons in Tampa Bay. It also follows news that veteran pass rusher Jason Pierre-Paul will likely miss significant time in the 2019 season due to a neck injury suffered in a car accident this offseason.
