The Buccaneers have signed seventh-round pick Sammie Stroughter to a four-year contract, bringing the team one step closer to locking up its 2009 draft class.

Stroughter, from Oregon State, has drawn praise from coaches for his aptitude in quickly learning the offense and his ability to contribute immediately. To that end, the former first team All-Pac 10 selection received a contract that includes some escalators in its final year, giving him the ability to cash in if his contributions are what the team hopes they will be.

"We're very happy with what he's doing," offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski said earlier this week. "He was coming along and doing some things that we drafted him for."

Specifically, the Bucs drafted Stroughter to play in the slot and contend for the team's No. 3 receiver role. Though he missed this week's mini-camp with a hamstring injury, he is soon expected to be at full strength and should make training camp interesting as he battles for playing time.

The Bucs have four unsigned picks remaining: first-rounder Josh Freeman, third-rounder Roy Miller, fourth-rounder Kyle Moore and seventh-rounder E.J. Biggers.

In addition, the Bucs released former South Florida WR Amarri Jackson, LB Jamall Johnson and CB Evan McCollough. Each was an undrafted free agent. Jackson spent part of last summer with the Bucs after coming out of USF but was cut prior to training camp then, too.