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Tampa Bay Buccaneers Secure Veteran Tackle As NFL Roster Movement Hits High Gear

TAMPA, Fla. – The NFL landscape shifted on Monday as several franchises finalized a wave of signings and releases, headlined by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers reuniting with a familiar face.

According to the official league personnel notice circulated on April 6, the Buccaneers have signed veteran offensive tackle Justin Skule, marking a return for a player who previously suited up for Tampa Bay from 2022 to 2024.

Skule returns to Tampa following a 2025 campaign with the Minnesota Vikings, where he appeared in 16 games and made nine starts. His versatility was on full display in Minnesota, where he logged a career-high 578 snaps on offense while filling in for starters Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill on both sides of the line.

This versatility is well-known to the Buccaneers’ coaching staff; during the 2024 season in Tampa, Skule stepped in for four starts at right tackle in place of Luke Goedeke and one start at left tackle for Tristan Wirfs during a dominant Week 11 win over the Giants.

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The veteran’s journey began as a 2019 sixth-round pick for the San Francisco 49ers, where he played in Super Bowl LIV before a knee injury in 2021 sidelined him. His return to Tampa Bay solidifies a tackle group anchored by Wirfs and Goedeke, with Skule and 2025 standout Benjamin Chukwuma providing depth.

While Tampa Bay focused on their offensive line, the New York Giants overhauled a portion of their secondary.

The Giants placed four players on waivers: defensive backs Patrick McMorris, T.J. Moore, and Myles Purchase, along with wide receiver Da’Quan Felton. Teams across the league have until 4:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday to submit claims for these players.

The Cleveland Browns were also highly active, retaining the exclusive rights of six players: tight end Brenden Bates, long snapper Rex Sunahara, linebacker Winston Reid, kicker Andre Szmyt, and wide receivers Malachi Corley and Jamari Thrash. Cleveland also signed unrestricted free agent defensive back Myles Bryant, formerly of the Houston Texans.

Elsewhere, the Philadelphia Eagles added edge rusher Joe Tryon from the Chicago Bears, and the Detroit Lions signed veteran defensive back Avonte Maddox. Rounding out Monday’s moves, the Baltimore Ravens added punter Luke Elzinga, the Las Vegas Raiders signed center Will Putnam, and the Houston Texans hosted defensive back Martin Emerson for an official visit.

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