TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - Four-time Pro Bowl cornerback Brent Grimes and former New York Giants defensive end Robert Ayers Jr. have agreed to contracts with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in free agency.
Grimes agreed to a two-year, $13.5 million deal, while Ayers landed a three-year, $21 million contract.
The Bucs announced the deals Friday, addressing a need to bolster a defense that allowed opposing quarterbacks to complete 70 percent of their passes and throw for 31 touchdowns last season.
Grimes spent the past three seasons with the Dolphins. In nine NFL seasons, he has 26 interceptions, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.
Ayers had a career-best 9 1-2 sacks with the Giants in 2015.
Earlier this week, the Bucs re-signed All-Pro running back Doug Martin and added former Seattle Seahawks guard J.R. Sweezy in free agency.