TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers just added another weapon to their defense.
The Bucs announced Thursday that the team signed free agent Ryan Neal, a safety who last played with the Seattle Seahawks. According to multiple reports, the club agreed to a one-year deal.
Neal, 27, was a restricted free agent with Seattle but the team decided to withdraw the tender last week, making him an unrestricted free agent and open to talk to other teams.
Neal spent the last four seasons with the Seahawks. Last year, he recorded 66 tackles, a sack and an interception in 14 games.
After losing safety Mike Edwards and cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting in free agency, Neal will provide some much-needed depth in the backfield for the Buccaneers.
Neal will most likely get his first chance to compete against Nolan Turner for a starting role during offseason workouts, starting on April 17.
During the offseason workout program, players train, learn and undergo physical conditioning for the 2023 season.
OTAs for the Bucs will be held on May 23-25, May 30-June 1and June 6-9. Mandatory minicamp will be held from June 13-15.