After the preliminary wave of free company, the Bucs nonetheless had a major want on the security place. Now, they’ve crammed it, agreeing to a one-year cope with former Seahawks standout Ryan Neal. The Score’s Jordan Schultz reported the information Tuesday night, and Pewter Report has confirmed it.
Former #Seahawks security Ryan Neal has agreed to phrases on a one-year cope with the #Bucs, supply tells @theScore.
Respectable beginning caliber participant who put collectively very strong tape in Seattle final season. Solely 27 years previous.
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) April 4, 2023
Neal, who is simply 27 years previous, completed 2022 as Professional Soccer Focus’ highest-graded security. He earned an 85.6 — greater than three factors higher than the No. 2 security — after incomes a beginning job in Week 5. PFF’s Jonathon Macri wrote the following about Neal after final season:
“In what is probably going probably the most out-of-nowhere efficiency of the 2022 NFL season, Neal stepped right into a beginning position in Week 5 after Jamal Adams’ season resulted in Week 1 and after Josh Jones, who initially changed Adams, wasn’t as much as snuff as an NFL starter within the three video games that preceded Neal taking up.
“From Week 5 on, Neal didn’t enable a single landing and only a 54.3% completion share as the first protection participant on 35 targets. He posted a 20.0% compelled incompletion charge (tied for tenth) and surrendered only a 51.3 passer score when focused (ninth) in that point, as nicely, which led to the second-best protection grade (85.7) on the place.”
Earlier this offseason, the Seahawks initially tendered a suggestion to Neal, who was a restricted free agent. However on Friday, the workforce withdrew the tender, making him a free agent. The transfer got here after Seattle added Julian Like to a security group that already included Jamal Adams and Quandre Diggs. Neal was finally the odd man out regardless of his spectacular 2022 season. That opened the door for the Bucs.
Bucs Take Benefit Of Good Situation To Fill Main Want
Seahawks security Ryan Neal Picture By: USA At this time
It didn’t take lengthy for the Bucs to leap at an surprising alternative, getting Neal in to affix a security room that included solely Antoine Winfield Jr. and 2022 undrafted free agent Nolan Turner.
The protection place has already seen some vital turnover within the final couple of weeks. Mike Edwards signed with Kansas Metropolis in free company, Keanu Neal signed with the Steelers final week and Logan Ryan stays a free agent. So, Ryan Neal steps proper right into a wide-open room as he arrives in Tampa on a one-year contract. After enjoying at such a excessive degree when given the chance final yr, he’ll pair properly with a Professional Bowl-caliber participant in Winfield through the 2023 season.
Neal is an even bigger security, standing at 6-foot-3 and weighing 200 kilos. He has some versatility to his recreation, as he can play as each a field security and a free security along with masking the slot. Final yr, he performed 362 snaps within the field, 236 at free security and 118 within the slot.
Neal set profession highs final yr with 66 tackles, 4 tackles for loss and eight passes defensed. He added an interception, a sack and a compelled fumble to that stat line, enjoying 14 video games for a playoff workforce.
Initially an undrafted free agent out of Southern Illinois in 2018, Neal will make the Bucs his fourth NFL workforce after beforehand spending time with the Eagles, Falcons and Seahawks.
Tampa Bay can now examine off one in all its largest wants with the NFL Draft looming later this month, although the workforce ought to nonetheless be available in the market for a security within the early rounds. The Bucs will add Neal to their free company class that already included Baker Mayfield, Greg Gaines, Chase Edmonds and Chase McLaughlin. The workforce has additionally retained some key free brokers this offseason, most notably Lavonte David, Jamel Dean and Anthony Nelson. Given the cap constraints they confronted, the Bucs’ brass has performed nicely to piece issues collectively so far within the offseason.
