With the 2020 schedule now released, Giants.com will be taking a look at the offseason moves made by each of the team's 13 opponents.
Next up are the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who made one of the biggest splashes of the offseason.
Matchup: Week 8 - Monday, November 2, 8:15 PM at MetLife Stadium
2019 record: 7-9
Head Coach: Bruce Arians (second season with Tampa Bay)
Free Agency
Re-signed:
EDGE Shaquil Barrett (franchise tag), QB Blaine Gabbert (signed to 1-year deal), EDGE Jason Pierre-Paul (signed to 2-year deal), DT Ndamukong Suh (signed to 1-year deal), CB Ryan Smith (signed to 1-year deal), LB Kevin Minter (signed to 1-year deal), S Andrew Adams (signed to 1-year deal), TE Antony Auclair (signed to 1-year deal), OT Josh Wells (signed to 1-year deal).
New Additions:
QB Tom Brady – The Buccaneers made the biggest splash in free agency when they landed six-time Super Bowl champion and three-time NFL MVP quarterback Tom Brady. Brady joins the Buccaneers after an illustrious 20-year career with the New England Patriots in which he made 14 Pro Bowls, led the league in touchdowns four times, led the NFL in passing yards three times and took home four Super Bowl MVP awards. The soon-to-be 43-year-old has not missed a start due to injury in 11 years (he was suspended four games in 2016) and has time because of an injury only once (2008) since 2002. Brady completed 60.8 percent of his passes last season for 4,057 yards, 24 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
TE Rob Gronkowski – After retiring for one season, Gronkowski will join Brady in Tampa Bay for the 2020 season. In 13 games (11 starts) in 2018, the veteran tight end caught 47 passes for 682 yards and three touchdowns. Throughout his nine years with the Patriots, Gronkowski won three Super Bowls, made five trips to the Pro Bowl and was a four-time First-Team All-Pro. He finished five of his nine seasons in New England with double-digit touchdowns, including a league-high 17 touchdowns in 2011.
OT Joe Haeg – After winning five NCAA FCS National Championships at North Dakota State, Haeg was a fifth round pick of the Indianapolis Colts in 2016. He played in 15 games with 14 starts as a rookie before playing in all 16 games with 15 starts in 2017. Haeg went on to start the first three games of the 2018 season, two at right tackle and one at left tackle, before suffering an ankle injury that led to him being placed on injured reserve. He returned at the end of the season to start two more games. Haeg played in all 16 games as a backup in 2019.
Free Agent Departures:
QB Jameis Winston (signed 1-year deal with Saints), RB Peyton Barber (signed 2-year deal with Redskins), WR Breshad Perriman (signed 1-year deal with Jets), DE Carl Nassib (signed 3-year deal with Raiders), DL Beau Allen (signed 2-year deal with Patriots), G Mike Liedtke (signed 1-year deal with Redskins), OT Demar Dotson, OLB Sam Acho, T Jerald Hawkins, S Darian Stewart, S Orion Stewart.
View photos of the additions made by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this offseason.
2020 Draft Class
(Round 1, Pick 13) OT Tristan Wirfs, Iowa – Wirfs made some history while at Iowa, becoming the first true freshman to start at offensive tackle since Kirk Ferentz took over as head coach in 1999. He started seven games at right tackle that year. He continued as the starting right tackle through his junior season last year, in which he was named the Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year and First-Team All-Big Ten.
(Round 2, Pick 45) S Antoine Winfield Jr., Minnesota – Injuries derailed Winfield's career at Minnesota as the safety was able to play just 18 games total across his first three seasons. However, he was able to play in 12 games for the Golden Gophers in 2019 and put his talents on full display. Winfield recorded 83 tackles (53 solo), 3.0 sacks, 3.5 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, one pass defended and a whopping seven interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown. He was named an Unanimous All-American, First-Team All-Big Ten and won the Tatum-Woodson Defensive Back of the Year award, given to the Big Ten's top defensive back.
(Round 3, Pick 76) RB Ke'Shawn Vaughn, Vanderbilt – Vaughn began his collegiate career at Illinois, where he ran for just over 1,000 yards and nine touchdowns in 22 games across his first two years. He then transferred to Vanderbilt and saw his numbers skyrocket. Vaughn took 157 carries for 1,244 yards and 12 touchdowns in 12 games in 2018, averaging 7.9 yards per carry on his way to being awarded the SEC Newcomer of the Year. As a senior last year, the back ran for 1,028 yards on 198 carries (5.2 yards per carry) while adding 28 receptions for 270 yards and an additional score.
(Round 5, Pick 161) WR Tyler Johnson, Minnesota – Johnson put up strong numbers in his final two seasons at Minnesota. As a junior in 2018, he caught 78 passes for 1,169 yards and 12 touchdowns, earning First-Team All-Big Ten honors by the media and Second-Team All-Big Ten honors by the conference's coaches. As a senior, Johnson reeled in 86 passes for 1,318 yards and 13 touchdowns. He was named First-Team All-Big Ten after setting several new single-season school records. He left Minnesota as the school's all-time leader in receiving yards (3,305) and receiving touchdowns (33).
(Round 6, Pick 194) DT Khalil Davis, Nebraska – Davis made 11 starts, all of which came during his senior year, in 47 games across his four seasons at Nebraska. He was named the Cornhuskers' Defensive Lineman of the Year in both 2018 and 2019. Davis was selected as Third-Team All-Big Ten last year after registering 44 tackles (28 solo), 8.0 sacks, 11.0 tackles for loss and one pass defended.
(Round 7, Pick 241) LB Chapelle Russell, Temple – Russell's first strong season came as a redshirt sophomore in 2017 when he finished the year with 70 tackles (45 solo), 0.5 sacks, 4.0 tackles for loss, one pass defended and two forced fumbles in nine games. He played in 13 games in each of the following two seasons, recording at least 70 tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss and three passes defended in each campaign. Russell registered 8.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble in 2019.
(Round 7, Pick 245) RB Raymond Calais, Louisiana-Lafayette – Calais racked up over 1,800 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns throughout his four years at Louisiana-Lafayette. As a senior last season, he took 117 carries for 886 yards (7.6 yards per carry) and six touchdowns, earning Third-Team All-Sun Belt as a running back. Calais was also named First-Team All-Sun Belt as a return specialist after gaining 541 kick return yards on 19 attempts, good for a conference-high 28.5 yards per attempt.
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