Buccaneers Bring Back Veteran DT Nunez-Roches

The 32-year-old defensive lineman returns to Tampa Bay on a one-year deal after three seasons with the Giants.

Apr. 4, 2026 at 7:58am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a defensive lineman making a tackle, with sharp, overlapping planes of pewter, red, and gray colors creating a fragmented, multi-dimensional visual representation of the action.Nunez-Roches' return to the Buccaneers' defensive line adds veteran physicality to a unit in flux.Kansas City Today

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have signed veteran defensive tackle Rakeem Nunez-Roches to a one-year contract, reuniting him with the team he won a Super Bowl with in 2020. Nunez-Roches spent the last three seasons with the New York Giants, where he started 15 games in 2024 and set career highs in tackles and quarterback hits before injuries limited his availability in 2025.

Why it matters

The move to bring back Nunez-Roches aligns with the Buccaneers' goal of bolstering their defensive line with more size and physicality under head coach Todd Bowles. It also comes amid changes on the D-line, with uncertainty around the future of Greg Gaines and the departure of Logan Hall.

The details

Nunez-Roches, originally a sixth-round pick by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2015, has played in 142 regular-season games with 62 starts over his 11-year career. During his previous stint in Tampa Bay from 2018-2022, he appeared in 68 games with 22 starts and was part of the team's Super Bowl LV championship. With the Giants, he recorded 101 tackles, 5.5 sacks, six tackles for loss, and 11 quarterback hits in 40 games.

  • Nunez-Roches signed a one-year deal with the Buccaneers on April 4, 2026.
  • He spent the last three seasons (2023-2025) with the New York Giants.

The players

Rakeem Nunez-Roches

A 32-year-old defensive tackle who previously played for the Buccaneers from 2018-2022, winning a Super Bowl, before spending the last three seasons with the New York Giants.

Todd Bowles

The head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who is looking to improve the size and physicality of the team's defensive line.

Greg Gaines

A defensive lineman for the Buccaneers whose future with the team is uncertain as a free agent.

Logan Hall

A former Buccaneers defensive lineman who has departed the team.

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The takeaway

Nunez-Roches' return to the Buccaneers provides veteran experience and physicality to a defensive line that is undergoing some changes, as the team looks to maintain its strong defensive identity under Todd Bowles.