The Tampa Bay Buccaneers today agreed to terms with outside linebacker Anthony Nelson. Nelson will be made available alongside cornerback Jamel Dean today at the AdventHealth Training Center at approximately 12:30 p.m. ET.
"Anthony has been a valuable contributor to our football team since we drafted him, particularly over the past two seasons when he his emergence coincided with his increased playing time," said Buccaneers General Manager Jason Licht. "He is an extremely hard worker and possesses many of the attributes we look for in our players – smart, tough, dependable. We look forward to his continued growth here in Tampa Bay.
Nelson (6-7, 271) has totaled 87 tackles (13 for loss), 23 quarterback hits, 11.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, three passes defensed and two fumble recoveries in 59 career games with the Buccaneers. He has also appeared in seven career playoff games, amassing seven tackles (one for loss), four quarterback hits and one sack.
During the 2022 season, Nelson established career highs in tackles (44), solo tackles (25), sacks (5.5) and forced fumbles (three). He is one of just five players with 10-or-more sacks in 500-or-fewer pass rush snaps over the last two seasons combined.
Since Nelson joined the Buccaneers in 2019, Tampa Bay's defense leads the league in rushing yards allowed per game (92.3), yards per carry (3.95), quarterback hits (452) and fumble recoveries (47). They rank second in strip sacks (32), third in tackles for loss (348), fourth in forced fumbles (64) and fifth in both sacks (187.0) and takeaways (102).
Nelson was originally selected by the Buccaneers in the fourth round (No. 107 overall) of the 2019 NFL Draft out of the University of Iowa. The Urbandale, Iowa, native wears No. 98 for Tampa Bay.
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