Two rookies who could make a big impact for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this fall finally inked deals in time for training camp, which starts on Wednesday, July 27.
Defensive end Loga Hall, the Bucs’ second-round draft pick, shared the announcement of his signing on July 23 via Bucs social media. The Bucs will pay the rookie lineman a four-year deal worth $9.316 million, based on the rookie salary pool, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times.
It’s official ✍️ @loganhall_
Tight end Cade Otton, the Bucs’ fourth-round draft pick, signed a four-year deal worth $4.49 million, per Spotrac, on Sunday, July 24. The Bucs picked Otton in anticipation of star tight end Rob Gronkowski potential retirement. With Gronkowski retired, the Bucs could utilize Otton’s pass-catching skills right a way. Otton caught 91 passes for 1,026 yards and nine touchdowns at Washington.
Hall, Otton and fellow rookies, plus all quarterbacks, arrived at Bucs headquarters on July 23 to prepare for training camp. The rest of the team arrives on Wednesday.
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Bucs Place Two on PUP List
Don Gardner and Sadarius Hutcherson landed on the PUP list due to injuries when players began reporting to Bucs headquarters on July 23.
Gardner, a cornerback, had 133 tackles and four interceptions at Division I South Dakota State before joining the Bucs as an undrafted free agent this year. Hutcherson, formerly All-SEC guard at South Carolina, joined the Bucs as an undrafted free agent in 2021 but tore his ACL in the preseason last year.
Picked off!
After two Sacramento State penalties back up the Hornets, Don Gardner ends the drive with his second interception — and team’s seventh — of the postseason.
Video: ESPN+
#GoJacks🐰🏈
Both undrafted free agents can come off the PUP list at any point during training camp or the preseason, but they also count toward the 90-man camp roster. If those players don’t heal before the regular season, they could go on the reserve/PUP list.
Hall: ‘I’m Really Excited to Work With the Guys’
Tampa Bay took Hall with the 33rd pick in the draft with the idea that he can contribute right away on the defensive line.
“I’m really excited to work with the guys like Vita Vea, Will Gholston, [and] a lot of the outside backers that we have,” Hall said via Buccaneeers.com. “I think we have a lot of talent amongst the rushers from a technique standpoint.”
Hall, 6-foot-6 and 275 pounds, tallied 97 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss, and seven sacks at Houston in college.
Bucs ‘QB School’ Underway
Bucs rookies, injured players, and quarterbacks reported for pre-training camp sessions informally called “QB School” according to Buccaneers.com’s Scott Smith. That crew includes Bucs quarterback Tom Brady, who opted to return after a 41-day retirement last winter.
Just a couple of Florida men.
“Those three extra days won’t involve a large amount of on-field work — around 90 minutes total spread over two workouts on Sunday and Monday — but each of those two days will involve classroom meetings and film work in both the morning and afternoon,” Smith wrote. “The 42 players in attendance will also have a chance to work with trainers, if needed, and get in lifting sessions.”
“The preliminary work makes it easier for those inexperienced players to get up to speed and mesh more seamlessly with the veterans when camp proper begins,” Smith added. “Similarly, quarterbacks have more on their plates, mentally, than any other position on the team and need to be ready to run the show once camp practices began.”
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Bucs Sign Key Players Before Training Camp