Chase Lucas heads to Tampa Bay after 49ers left him untendered

Tampa Bay patches its secondary quickly with the addition of the cornerback.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 4:24am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A cubist, fragmented painting depicting a football player in motion, with sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in shades of pewter and red, conveying the dynamic nature of the sport and the Buccaneers' efforts to reshape their defensive backfield.The Buccaneers' secondary undergoes a geometric transformation as they seek to rebuild their cornerback depth.Today in Tampa

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have reached an agreement with cornerback Chase Lucas on a one-year deal, according to his agent Jamal Tooson. Lucas played for the San Francisco 49ers last season but was left untendered, making him an unrestricted free agent. The Buccaneers are looking to bolster their secondary after losing Jamel Dean to the Pittsburgh Steelers in free agency.

Why it matters

The Buccaneers' secondary was a major area of need this offseason, and the addition of Lucas provides some depth at the cornerback position. While he may not be a starter, Lucas has experience playing on special teams and could contribute in that capacity.

The details

Lucas was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft and spent two seasons with the team, mostly playing on special teams. He joined the 49ers in 2023 and played in 98 defensive snaps and 204 special teams snaps. The Buccaneers also signed cornerback Kemon Hall on Thursday, and Lucas will compete for a depth role against the likes of McCollum, Morrison, and Parrish.

  • Lucas was released by the 49ers, making him an unrestricted free agent.
  • The Buccaneers signed Lucas to a one-year deal on April 10, 2026.

The players

Chase Lucas

A cornerback who was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft and spent the 2023 season with the San Francisco 49ers.

Jamal Tooson

The agent for Chase Lucas.

Todd Bowles

The head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Jamel Dean

A cornerback who played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for seven seasons before signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers in free agency.

Kemon Hall

A third-year cornerback from the University of Florida who also signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

The Buccaneers will continue to evaluate their cornerback depth and may look to add more players to the position group during the offseason.

The takeaway

The addition of Chase Lucas provides the Buccaneers with some much-needed depth at cornerback, but he is unlikely to be a starting-caliber player. The team will need to continue addressing its secondary issues in order to remain competitive in the NFC South.