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Bucs sign three defensive backs, waive two

 
Published July 30, 2015

TAMPA — Two days before veterans report for the start of training camp, the Bucs tweaked the bottom of their roster Wednesday, signing three young defensive backs and waiving two undrafted rookies.

Gone are former Texas A&M CB Deshazor Everett and former Minnesota S Derrick Wells. Signed were former South Carolina State S Kimario McFadden, former Bowling Green CB Jude Adjei-Barimah and former West Chester CB Al-Hajj Shabazz.

McFadden has a history with the Bucs. He was briefly on their practice squad last season. Adjei-Barimah, who was born in Italy to Ghanaian parents and moved to the United States when he was 10, had 82 tackles as a senior last season. Shabazz, the biggest of the three at 6 feet 2, signed with the Colts after the draft and was recently cut.

The Bucs have solid depth at safety, with Bradley McDougald, Chris Conte, D.J. Swearinger and Major Wright expected to make the roster, but there's more of a competition for the last spot at corner, behind starters Alterraun Verner, Johnthan Banks and Mike Jenkins. If Sterling Moore is the starting nickel, that leaves just Brandon Dixon, who played as a rookie last year, and the new signees as the primary competition for the fourth corner job.

The new defensive backs also help offset the loss of CB C.J. Wilson, who was placed on the reserve-retired list last week after he lost two fingers on his right hand in a fireworks accident July 4 in North Carolina.

THIS AND THAT: Rookie Donovan Smith is expected to be the starter at left tackle. Asked which left tackles he enjoys watching, he offered two: the Browns' Joe Thomas and the Redskins' Trent Williams. His all-time idol? Hall of Famer Jonathan Ogden, who played for the Ravens. … GM Jason Licht acknowledged that some players might be held out of practice initially due to injury. He declined to say which ones.

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