Grading the signing: Buccaneers use inside connection to snag two-time Pro Bowler
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ special teams unit was an unmitigated disaster last season, which promptly led to the firing of Thomas McGaughey after the end of the regular season. Todd Bowles then went out and found longtime veteran special teams coordinator, Danny Smith, who had previously been with the Pittsburgh Steelers for more than a […]
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ special teams unit was an unmitigated disaster last season, which promptly led to the firing of Thomas McGaughey after the end of the regular season.
Todd Bowles then went out and found longtime veteran special teams coordinator, Danny Smith, who had previously been with the Pittsburgh Steelers for more than a decade. Smith brings an energetic, hard-nose coaching style and a scheme that helped the Steelers field one of the league’s better units for years.
As soon as Smith was hired, it became clear the Buccaneers had the inside track to Miles Killebrew, a Steeler special teams captain who was recovering from a torn ACL he suffered in Week 6.
Sure enough, the Bucs added Killebrew to the roster on Thursday by signing him to a one-year, $1.80 million deal.
Killebrew can help turn the Buccaneers special teams unit around
Killebrew played the last five seasons with the Steelers. He earned back-to-back Pro Bowls in 2023 and 2024, along with a First-Team All-Pro nod in 2023, with Smith leading the way. As mentioned earlier, a knee injury killed his chances at earning a third consecutive Pro Bowl.
That is easily the biggest, and only, question/concern with the signing. Just when will Killebrew be ready to go? He also turns 33 years old in a couple of months, so it’s more than fair to wonder just how much his age affects the recovery process, as well as his level of play afterward.
At the same time, his contract is barely over the veteran minimum and he’ll likely qualify for a veteran salary benefit, which reduces the cap hit while paying the player more money. It’s a no-risk, all-reward deal that can pay off if it works out.
If he’s not ready by the time offseason activities roll around then he can help mentor the young ones by teaching them Smith’s system and whatnot. Overall, there’s plenty of reason to really like this signing and the only thing that should keep it from working out is Killebrew’s recovery and post-surgery level of play.
Grade: A
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