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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers tendered exclusive rights to free agent defensive end Jacquies Smith on Wednesday. The Buccaneers also extended qualifying offers to two restricted free agents, safety Bradley McDougald and wide receiver Russell Shepard, and tendered exclusive rights to two other free agents, long snapper Andrew DePaola and linebacker Jeremiah George.
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The 6-foot-2, 260-pound Smith came to the Bucs after being claimed off waivers from the Buffalo Bills in 2014. During the past two seasons with Tampa Bay, Smith has started 18 of 27 games, totaling 39 tackles, nine tackles for loss, 13.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries (one for touchdown) and three passes defensed. Smith's 7.0 sacks last season ranked second on the team.
The 6-1, 209-pound McDougald was acquired by Tampa Bay off waivers from the Kansas City Chiefs in 2013. Since joining the Bucs, he has played in 34 games, with 20 starts, totaling 133 tackles, 11 passes defensed and three interceptions. Last season, McDougald recorded 87 tackles, the third-most on the team.
The 6-1, 195-pound Shepard has played in 43 games for the Buccaneers since joining the team off waivers from the Philadelphia Eagles in 2013. In his three seasons with Tampa Bay, Shepard has caught seven passes for 91 yards and one touchdown, while leading the Bucs' special teams. Tampa Bay's special teams captain in 2015, Shepard has 30 career special teams tackles and his 29 solo special teams tackles are tied for the sixth-most in the NFL since 2013. He also has one career forced fumble.
The 6-2, 230-pound DePaola has spent the last two seasons with Tampa Bay, playing in all 32 games with eight special teams tackles.
The 5-11, 234-pound George joined Tampa Bay last season after spending his rookie year with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2014. In his career, he has played in 14 games, recording four tackles, one tackle for loss and nine special teams tackles.
