The Tampa Bay Buccaneers left a lot to be desired on defense in 2025, so maybe an almost full-scale revamp isn’t the worst thing for 2026.
That doesn’t mean there shouldn’t still be some concern when players who could have provided key depth at key positions walk out the door in free agency for greener (and much colder) pastures — and for a team that’s a legitimate Super Bowl contender.
“Former Buccaneers free-agent CB Kindle Vildor is signing a one-year deal with the New England Patriots,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter wrote on his official X account on Thursday.
Vildor, 28 years old, spent 1 season with the Buccaneers in 2025, where he played in 12 games with 1 start. Financial terms of his new deal weren’t immediately available.
“Kindle Vildor has some Patriots ties,” Patriots reporter Alex Conti wrote on his official X account. “He was in Tennessee with Mike Vrabel in 2023, and was in Detroit with Terrell Williams and Carlton Davis in 2024.”
Great Day for Former Sun Belt Defensive POYs
Vildor, 5-foot-11 and 189 pounds, starred at Georgia Southern and finished his career as a 2-time All-Sun Belt Conference pick as well as being named Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Year and All-American in 2018.
Thursday ended up being a pretty incredible day for former Sun Belt Defensive POYs. On the same day Vildor inked his new deal with the Patriots, 2017 Sun Belt Defensive POY and Washington Commanders safety Jeremy Reaves also signed a contract extension.
Reaves, 29 years old, is in his 9th season with the Commanders and earned NFL All-Pro honors and was a Pro Bowl selection on special teams in 2022. It’s the 3rd consecutive season the Commanders have made a move to bring back Reaves following a 2-year, $6 million contract in 2024, a 1-year, $3.35 million contract extension.
Kindle Vildor Carves Out NFL Journeyman Career
Vildor cemented his NFL draft stock by running the 40-yard dash in 4.44 seconds at the NFL scouting combine and was a 5th round pick (No. 163 overall) by the Chicago Bears in the 2020 NFL draft.
After signing a 4-year, $3.6 million contract, Vildor became a full-time starter for the Bears in his 2nd season and was a starter in 2022 before an ankle injury forced him to miss the final 6 games of the regular season.
The Bears released Vildor before the 2023 season, and the Patriots will be his 5th team in 4 seasons, following stints with the Tennessee Titans, Philadelphia Eagles, Detroit Lions, and Buccaneers.
Vildor is perhaps best known for a play from his time in Detroit that helped prevent the Lions from going to the Super Bowl for the 1st time in franchise history.
That moment came in the NFC Championship Game following the 2023 season. With the Lions leading 24-10 late in the 3rd quarter, San Francisco 49ers threw a deep pass that bounced off Vildor’s facemask … and into the hands of wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk at the Lions’ 5-yard line to set up a touchdown on the way to San Francisco’s comeback win.
“Brock Purdy goes deep, the ball literally bounces off of Kindle Vildor‘s facemask, and Brandon Aiyuk comes down with it,” The 33rd Team’s Ari Meirov wrote. “Holy smokes.”
Buccaneers Defender Jumps Ship for Super Bowl Contender