The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have signed former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Sean Renfree to a reserve/futures contract for the 2017 season.
Originally a seventh-round pick by the Falcons out of Duke in 2013, Renfree saw action in two regular-season games in 2015, completing three of seven passes. Though he spent his rookie season on injured reserve he was Matt Ryan's backup during the 2014 and 2015 seasons. Dirk Koetter, now the Buccaneers' head coach, was Atlanta's offensive coordinator for Renfree's first two seasons with the Falcons.
The best players expected to hit free agency, according to NFL.com.
- S Barry Church
- OT Ricky Wagner
- S Tony Jefferson
- CB Trumaine Johnson
- LB Nick Perry
- G TJ Lang
- WR Terrelle Pryor
- WR DeSean Jackson
- TE Martellus Bennett
- DT Dontari Poe
- LB Dont'a Hightower
- CB AJ Bouye
- CB Stephon Gilmore
- G Kevin Zeitler
- LB Jamie Collins
- DE Jason Pierre-Paul
- DT Brandon Williams
- DE Calais Campbell
- LB Melvin Ingram
- WR Alshon Jeffery
- LB Chandler Jones
- DT Kawann Short
- QB Kirk Cousins
- S Eric Berry
- RB Le'Veon Bell
Renfree's contract takes effect at the start of the 2017 season. The Buccaneers finished 2016 with three quarterbacks on the roster but Mike Glennon, the team's primary reserve behind Jameis Winston the last two years, is due to become an unrestricted free agent in March. Quarterback Ryan Griffin could become a restricted free agent at the same time but the Buccaneers would retain a right-of-first refusal on any contract he signs as long as they extend the necessary tender offer prior to the start of free agency.
Renfree played four seasons at Duke, the last three (2010-12) as the team's starter, completing 898 of 1,389 passes for 9,465 yards, 51 touchdowns and 40 interceptions. As a senior, he set the school's single-season record for completion percentage with a mark of 67.3%. The 249th overall selection in 2013, Renfree was the first Duke quarterback drafted since Spence Fisher in 1996.
The Buccaneers have signed 14 players to reserve/futures contracts since the end of the 2016 season: Renfree, G Josh Allen, TE Kivon Cartwright, G Jarvis Harrison, RB Quayvon Hicks, S Isaiah Johnson, LB Jeff Knox, T Michael Liedtke, K John Lunsford, CB Cody Riggs, RB Blake Sims, C James Stone, WR Derel Walker and TE Tevin Westbrook.
