The Tampa Bay Buccaneers today announced the signing of three free agents: cornerback Bryce Hall, wide receiver Sterling Shepard and linebacker Anthony Walker Jr.
Hall (6-1, 202) appeared in one game for Tampa Bay in 2024 before suffering a season-ending injury. He originally entered the league as a fifth-round pick (No. 158 overall) by the New York Jets, where he spent four seasons before signing with the Buccaneers in the 2024 offseason. He has appeared in 40 career games, making 26 starts and recording 122 tackles (five for loss), 21 passes defensed, two interceptions, two quarterback hits, one fumble recovery and 0.5 sacks. His best season came in 2021, when he started all 17 games and logged 79 tackles (four for loss), 16 passes defensed and two quarterback hits.
The Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, native played collegiately at the University of Virginia (2016-19), appearing in 44 career games and amassing 144 tackles, 39 passes defensed, five interceptions, 4.0 sacks, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. As a junior in 2018, he earned first-team All-ACC and second-team All-American honors after leading the FBS in passes defensed with 21.
Shepard (5-10, 198) appeared in 14 games for Tampa Bay in 2024, making five starts and bringing in 32 receptions for 334 yards and one receiving touchdown, while adding eight carries for 69 yards. His 403 yards from scrimmage for the Buccaneers last season marked his highest output since the 2020 season. In his career, Shepard has started 79-of-104 career games between the New York Giants and the Buccaneers, totaling 404 receptions for 4,429 yards and 24 receiving touchdowns along with 32 rushing attempts for 255 yards and one rushing score.
He originally entered the league as a second-round pick (No. 40 overall) by the Giants in the 2016 NFL Draft. The Heritage Hall, Oklahoma, native played collegiately at the University of Oklahoma (2012-15), appearing in 50 career games and amassing 233 receptions for 3,482 yards and 26 receiving touchdowns. He received first-team All-Big 12 honors in 2014 and 2015, and was named a first-team All-American in 2015 after establishing career highs with 86 receptions, 1,288 yards and 11 receiving touchdowns with Baker Mayfield as his quarterback.
Walker Jr. (6-2, 235) has started 83-of-99 games in his career, splitting time between the Indianapolis Colts (2017-20), Cleveland Browns (2021-23), and the Miami Dolphins (2024). He has recorded 571 career tackles (26 for loss), 21 passes defensed, nine quarterback hits, 5.5 sacks, four interceptions, four fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles. Walker Jr. has started all three of his career postseason contests, logging 12 tackles (one for loss).
He appeared in 14 games for the Dolphins in 2024, starting eight games and totaling 66 tackles, two passes defensed and 1.0 sack. Walker Jr. originally entered the league as a fifth-round pick (No. 161 overall) in the 2017 NFL Draft. He played collegiately at Northwestern University (2014-16), playing in 38 career games and tallying 278 tackles, 12 passes defensed, 7.5 sacks, six forced fumbles and six fumble recoveries.
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