TAMPA, Fla. — Three safeties have left the Bucs via free agency the past two seasons, so it was only a matter of time before they replenished that position.
Seattle safety Ryan Neal has agreed to terms on a one-year contract with the Bucs.
Neal, 27, recorded a career-best 66 tackles with the Seahawks last season and has three career interceptions.
The Seahawks rescinded their one-year tender to Neal, worth $2.627 million as a restricted free agent, after signing Giants safety Julian Love.
Neal has played in 43 games with 19 starts since 2020 for Seattle. Last year, the Bucs lost safety Jordan Whitehead, who signed as a free agent with the Jets. This offseason, they lost safety Mike Edwards to the Chiefs and Keanu Neal to the Steelers as unrestricted free agents.
The Bucs have only Antoine Winfield Jr. and Nolan Turner on their 2023 roster at safety. Defensive back Dee Delaney also has played the position.
The signing of Neal wouldn’t necessarily preclude the Bucs from addressing the position early in the NFL draft.
Neal was undrafted out of Southern Illinois in 2018, and spent some time with the Eagles and Falcons that season before signing with the Seahawks in 2019.
