Before the first week of free agency could come to a close, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers added one more move to an eventful few days. According to a well-connected source, the team agreed to terms with veteran wide receiver Sterling Shepard on a new one-year contract on Friday afternoon.
Buccaneers General Manager Jason Licht and his crew have been busy since the beginning of the pre-free agency negotiation period on Monday. In addition to adding outside linebacker Haason Reddick, cornerback Kindle Vildor and punter Riley Dixon, the Bucs have locked up a number of their own potential free agents. Those efforts started last Friday with a new deal for ageless linebacker Lavonte David and continued on Monday with anothe multi-year contract for wide receiver Chris Godwin. New deals for guard Ben Bredeson, defensive lineman Greg Gaines, outside linebacker Anthony Nelson, quarterback Kyle Trask and now Shepard followed in rapid succession.
Licht's tagging of Oklahoma football in his "scoop" alluded to the close connection that Shepard has with Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield, dating back to when the two were a prolific pairing in the Sooners' passing attack back in 2015. Shepard signed with the Buccaneers last June after eight seasons with the New York Giants in part on Mayfield's recommendation.
Shepard started the 2024 season on Tampa Bay's practice squad but his role quickly expanded. He was promoted to the active roster in Week Five and, following the season-ending injury suffered by Chris Godwin in Week Seven, eventually took over as the team's primary third receiver. Shepard went on to catch 32 passes for 334 yards and one touchdown while adding 69 yards on eight carries.
A second-round draft pick by the Giants in 2016, Shepard played in 90 games with 74 starts over his eight seasons in New York and amassed 404 catches for 4,429 yards and 24 touchdowns. He averaged just under 63 receptions per season over his first five campaigns before injuries slowed him over the next three. Shepard ranks fifth all-time in receptions in Giants franchise history.
