- New Bucs QB Mike Kafka was a fourth-round pick of the Eagles in 2010 and most recently a Jacksonville Jaguar during training camp last summer
- Tampa Bay has released four players from the roster, including T Gabe Carimi and DT Derek Landri
- Kafka's outstanding senior season at Northwestern included a 532-yard passing performance in the 2010 Outback Bowl in Tampa
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have made several dozen personnel transactions since early January, but none of them involving players, as Lovie Smith put his coaching staff together and Jason Licht came on as the new general manager. On Monday, however, that new Buccaneer management made a small round of roster moves, headlined by the signing of former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Mike Kafka.
The Buccaneers also waived three players – tackle Gabe Carimi, running back Michael Hill and quarterback Jordan Rodgers – and released defensive tackle Derek Landri on Monday. All four players joined the team in 2013.
Kafka first entered the NFL as a fourth-round draft pick out of Northwestern University by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2010. He spent two seasons in an Eagles uniform, seeing action in four games and completing 11 of 16 passes for 107 yards and two interceptions. He primarily served as Philadelphia's third quarterback behind Michael Vick and Kevin Kolb as a rookie, before appearing in relief in two early-season games in 2011.
Kafka did not play in the NFL in 2012 after being waived by the Eagles at the end of the preseason, but he signed with the New England Patriots last offseason. After being waived by New England in June, he signed with the Jaguars and went to training camp in Jacksonville. He was released by Jacksonville before the start of the regular season.
At Northwestern, Kafka capped his collegiate career with an eye-opening senior season during which he led the Big Ten with 3,430 yards. He also ranked seventh in the nation in completions, 16th in passing yards and 12th in total offensive yards. Kafka led the Wildcats to the 2010 Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, an overtime loss to Auburn in which he completed 47 passes and threw for 532 yards and four touchdowns.
QB Mike Kafka played two seasons in Philadelphia after being drafted in the fourth round
The Buccaneers acquired Carimi, a former first-round pick of the Chicago Bears in 2011, in a trade last June. He appeared in 14 games last season, starting the first two at left guard in the absence of Carl Nicks. Hill was signed off the Green Bay Packers' practice squad in November after a rash of injuries to Buccaneer running backs; he played in six games and rushed nine times for 23 yards. Landri signed as a free agent last offseason and saw action in eight games with one start, contributing nine tackles and one sack. Rodgers signed with the Buccaneers in October and spent the rest of the season on the practice squad, running scout team offenses in practice.
