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Bucs land DT Chris 'Swaggy' Baker from Redskins

 
DT Chris Baker has 9? sacks and five forced fumbles in the past two seasons.
DT Chris Baker has 9? sacks and five forced fumbles in the past two seasons.
Published March 10, 2017

TAMPA — DeSean Jackson wasn't the only free agent the Bucs nabbed Thursday from the Redskins.

Tampa Bay also signed Chris Baker, a 320-pound defensive tackle who's affectionately known as "Swaggy" and has 9½ sacks and five forced fumbles in the past two seasons.

"I'll definitely miss all my teammates and fans, but understand the Redskins didn't want me back as crazy as that sounds," he wrote on Twitter.

Baker played defensive end in a 3-4 defense last season, but he will be a tackle for the Bucs alongside Gerald McCoy. That means Clinton McDonald, a starter when healthy the past three years, is likely now in a rotational role, and there's a decent chance the Bucs address defensive tackle in the draft, too.

He got HOW much?

Perhaps the most polarizing figure in free agency is Bucs backup QB Mike Glennon, who got a reported $45 million deal over three years with the Bears despite throwing only 11 passes in the past two seasons.

MORE BUCS FREE AGENCY: Receiver DeSean Jackson signs a three-year, $35 million contract.

The deal only includes $18.5 million in guaranteed money, so if Chicago drafted a rookie and cut Glennon after two years, it wouldn't be out much more than the $8 million per year the Bucs were offering to keep him as a backup.

And yes, the Bears come to Tampa Bay this season, so the Bucs might get a chance to face the player they drafted in the third round in 2013 out of N.C. State.

Welcome back

The Bucs' running back situation remains uncertain. Will Doug Martin return? Will Tampa Bay use its first-round pick on a back? But Jacquizz Rodgers will be back, re-signing with a modest two-year deal reportedly worth $3.3 million.

Rodgers, who made $760,000 last year after being cut by the Bears, doubles his salary after leading the Bucs with 560 rushing yards as a surprise success.

Unlucky '13

With QB Mike Glennon's departure, the only remaining member of the Bucs' 2013 draft class is DE Will Gholston, who re-signed Monday with a five-year deal.

JONES ON JACKSON: Signing receiver DeSean Jackson is risky business, columnist Tom Jones says.

DT Chris Baker's arrival meant the Bucs weren't re-signing 2013 pick Akeem Spence, who landed a three-year deal with Detroit. "Never thought I'd be saying (peace) to Tampa Bay but it's been fun," Spence wrote on Twitter, thanking the Glazer family, his coaches and teammates.

Other moves

With Mike Glennon gone to Chicago, the Bucs have a backup in mind and tendered a one-year, $1.8 million offer to Ryan Griffin, 27, who has been Tampa Bay's No. 3 quarterback the past two years. He knows the offense well but has yet to take a snap in a regular-season game, stuck his first two years behind Drew Brees in New Orleans, then Jameis Winston in Tampa.

The Bucs also re-signed S Chris Conte, who had key interceptions against the Bears and Chiefs last year to help spark a five-game win streak.

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What will he wear?

DeSean Jackson wore No. 11 with the Redskins the past three years, but Adam Humphries has that number with the Bucs. It's possible Jackson will go back to the No. 10 he wore with the Eagles — he switched to 11 in Washington because QB Robert Griffin III already had 10 when he arrived.

The hope among some Bucs fans is Jackson somehow chooses No. 83, so they can recycle the No. 83 they've proudly worn for WR Vincent Jackson, who is unlikely to be back with the team after his contract expired.

Contact Greg Auman at gauman@tampabay.com and (813) 310-2690. Follow @gregauman.