The Tampa Bay Buccaneers today announced the signing of four free agents: punter Riley Dixon, defensive tackle Greg Gaines, outside linebacker Anthony Nelson and cornerback Kindle Vildor. In addition, the Buccaneers have waived punter Jack Browning.
Dixon (6-4, 221) has appeared in 148 career games between the Denver Broncos (2016-17, 2023-24) New York Giants (2018-21) and Los Angeles Rams (2022), punting 668 times for 30,687 yards, averaging 45.9 yards per punt and 40.9 net yards per punt. He has recorded 231 punts inside the 20-yard line in his career. He originally entered the league as a seventh-round selection (No. 228 overall) by the Denver Broncos in the 2016 NFL Draft.
Since 2016, Dixon ranks in the top 10 in total punts (first – 668), punting yards (first – 30,687), net punting yards (first – 27,718), punts inside of the 20-yard line (third – 231) and punts inside of the 10-yard line (tied for fourth – 82). He played in all 17 games for the Broncos last season, finishing tied for fourth in the NFL in punts inside the 10-yard line (13), fifth in net punt yards (3,246), sixth in both gross punting yards (3,597) and punts inside the 20-yard line (33).
The Blossvale, New York, native played collegiately at Syracuse University (2012-15), appearing in 39 career games, punting 218 times for 9,291 yards, averaging 42.6 yards per punt. At Syracuse, he received All-ACC second team in 2015 and All-ACC honorable mention in 2014.
Gaines (6-1, 312) has appeared in 91 career games between the Los Angeles Rams and Buccaneers, making 30 starts and totaling 163 tackles (13 for loss), 33 quarterback hits, 12.5 sacks and two fumble recoveries. He has also appeared in nine career postseason contests, starting four games and logging 24 tackles (two for loss), four quarterback hits, two passes defensed and 1.5 sacks.
Gaines appeared in 15 games for Tampa Bay in 2024, making three starts and recording 17 tackles (two for loss), four quarterback hits and 1.0 sack. Gaines was originally selected by the Rams in the fourth round (No. 134 overall) of the 2019 NFL Draft out of the University of Washington (2015-18), where he appeared in 54 games and logged 148 tackles and 9.5 sacks. He wears No. 96 for Tampa Bay.
Nelson (6-7, 271) has appeared in 92 career games for the Buccaneers, making 18 starts and compiling 160 tackles (26 for loss), 42 quarterback hits, 18.5 sacks, five forced fumbles, five
passes defensed and three fumble recoveries. He has also appeared in 10 career playoff games for Tampa Bay, amassing 13 tackles (one for loss), five quarterback hits and 1.0 sack.
Nelson appeared in all 17 games during the 2024 season, starting six games and compiling 40 tackles (six for loss), a career-high 13 quarterback hits and 4.0 sacks. 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.
Vildor (5-11, 189) has appeared in 68 career games between the Chicago Bears, Tennessee Titans and Detroit Lions, making 26 starts and compiling 119 tackles (five for loss), 15 passes
defensed, two quarterback hits, one interception, one forced fumble and 1.0 sack.
He appeared in all 17 games for the Lions in 2024, starting two games and totaling 14 tackles and three passes defensed. Vildor originally entered the NFL as a fifth-round pick (No. 163 overall) by the Bears in the 2020 NFL Draft. He played collegiately at Georgia Southern (2016-19), where he saw action in 47 games and recorded 95 tackles, 24 passes defensed and nine interceptions.
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