Just as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are wrapping up their offseason workout program, they are also putting a bow on their efforts to get every player on the roster signed before training camp. That process was completed on Wednesday when rookie quarterback Mike Glennon signed a four-year pact for his first NFL deal.
Glennon, the team's third-round pick in the 2013 draft and the 73rd player selected overall, is the sixth and final drafted rookie to reach contract agreement. The Bucs first signed running back and defensive end Steven Means in mid-May, then followed in quick succession with defensive end , defensive tackle and cornerback , all to four-year deals.
The 6-6, 220-pound Glennon played collegiately at North Carolina State, starting all 26 games over the last two seasons after waiting for his chance behind current Seahawks starter Russell Wilson. Glennon threw for 7,075 yards and 62 touchdowns against just 29 interceptions in those two years, and his 7,411 passing yards overall rank third in school history. He also completed more than 60% of his passes during his time with the Wolfpack. Considered a highly-intelligent athlete, Glennon earned two degrees while at NC State and carried a 3.8 GPA in his Master's program.
In his first year as a starter in 2011, Glennon burst onto the scene with 3,054 passing yards, a 62.5% completion percentage and a 31-12 TD-INT ratio. Last fall, he eclipsed 4,000 yards and threw another 31 touchdown passes, setting a career-high with 12.2 yards per completion. His total yards ranked as the sixth-best season in ACC history.
The Buccaneers will wrap up their current mini-camp on Thursday and then send the players on one final break before the start of training camp in late July (though Glennon and the other rookies still have some league responsibilities in the interim). Like the rest of his draft class, Glennon will be able to prepare for an important training camp without the worry of contract negotiations. That might be particularly important to Glennon, who will be battling veteran Dan Orlovsky for the primary back-up role behind starter Josh Freeman.
