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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed tight end O.J. Howard, the team's first-round selection in the 2017 NFL Draft. Howard, the 19th overall pick out Alabama, signed a four-year rookie contract with a fifth-year club option. Terms of the deal were not released but it is projected to be worth $11.2 million with about $6.2 million to sign, according to the Tampa Bay Times.
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Howard, 22, was the first of six players chosen by Tampa Bay in last month's draft.
The Bucs also officially announced Monday the signing of free agent quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, who agreed to a deal last Friday worth a reported $3 million that includes incentives to take the base salary higher. He is expected to serve as the backup to Jameis Winston.
The 6-foot-6, 251-pound Howard started 37 of 57 career games played at Alabama, including 28 of the final 30 in his collegiate career.
Howard, who has 4.5 speed in the 40-yard dash, recorded 114 receptions for 1,726 yards and seven touchdowns as a member of the Crimson Tide. In two College Football Playoff National Championship Games against Clemson, Howard totaled nine receptions for 314 yards and three touchdowns, winning the MVP award for his efforts in the 2015 contest.
As a senior in 2016, Howard was named an All-American and was a finalist for the John Mackey Award, given annually to the nation's best tight end.
The 6-2, 223-pound Fitzpatrick joins the Buccaneers after spending the past two seasons with the New York Jets. In his 12-year career, the 34-year old has started 116 of 127 games played, throwing for 25,888 yards and 166 touchdowns.
In 2015, Fitzpatrick recorded the second-most passing yards in Jets history (3,905), while throwing for a franchise-record 31 touchdowns -- both of which were career highs.
Fitzpatrick originally entered the league as a seventh-round pick of the then-St. Louis Rams in the 2005 draft. During his career, the Harvard product has played for the Rams, Cincinnati Bengals, Buffalo Bills, Tennessee Titans, Houston Texans and Jets. He is the only quarterback in league history to throw four touchdowns in a game with four different franchises (Buffalo, Houston, New York and Tennessee).
The Bucs also waived quarterback Sean Renfree, who joined the team this off-season, and announced defensive end Jacquies Smith signed his restricted free agent tender.
The 6-2, 260-pound Smith came to the Bucs after being claimed off waivers from the Buffalo Bills in 2014. During the past three seasons with Tampa Bay, Smith started 18 of 28 contests he has played in, totaling 39 tackles, nine tackles for loss, 13.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries (one for touchdown) and three passes defensed.
