The Bucs are bringing back another one of their own, according to Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports. According to Schultz, the team has come to terms with defensive tackle Greg Gaines on a one year, $3.5 deal.
Gaines originally joined the Bucs in 2023 and has served as a key depth piece on the defensive line over the last two years.
Greg Gaines’ Bucs Tenure
Bucs Dt Greg Gaines And 49Ers Qb Brock Purdy
Bucs DT Greg Gaines and 49ers QB Brock Purdy – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
Tampa Bay signed Gaines late in the 2023 free agency period to be a rotational backup for nose tackle Vita Vea while also providing a few snaps here and there at the 3-technique when called for. What the team probably didn’t think they would need is over 450 snaps per season from the former Washington Husky.
But that is exactly what they ended up getting from him, as 2023 first-round pick Calijah Kancey missed several games in each of the last two seasons. Gaines combined with 2022 second-round pick Logan Hall to help fill the void. And while Hall had an improved 2024, he was still below-average in Gaines’ first year with the Bucs, leading to the team looking to him to help fill the gap.
While he has not provided a ton of pass rush, generating just 22 pressures and two sacks over the past two seasons, Gaines has been tasked with fulfilling the more unheralded responsibilities of the defense. He is a strong run defender who has helped the Bucs maintain excellent run defense numbers over the past two seasons.
Tampa Bay was 4th in rushing yards per game allowed and 13th in EPA/rush allowed in 2024, giving up just 97.8 yards and -0.07 epa/rush. The year prior, those numbers were even better as the Bucs were 5th in rushing yards per game allowed (95.3) and 5th in EPA/rush allowed at -0.15.
Gaines himself had 21 defensive stops in just 362 run defense snaps over that time period while taking on constant double teams. He tallied 41 combined tackles and two tackles for a loss along while securing a fumble across 32 games.
Gaines’ Time With The Rams
Before settling in with the Bucs as a rotational run stuffer, Gaines was a do-it-all presence for the Los Angeles Rams. Over four seasons with L.A., he totaled 55 defensive stops, 122 tackles, 11 for a loss, 10.5 sacks and a fumble recovery across four seasons working alongside Aaron Donald. In 2021, when Donald missed some time due to injury, Gaines shined. That year, he set career highs in pressures with 46, sacks with 4.5 and quarterback hits with 13.
Gaines regressed the following season, dipping back to fewer than 20 pressures and the Rams opted to move on from him when he hit free agency.
The Bucs have goneyear-to-year with the veteran, and that trend continues with this deal. He will once again slot in behind Vea, Kancey and Hall into a heavy rotation that head coach Todd Bowles likes to employ up front. While Gaines has a limited upside, he will continue to provide Tampa Bay with a solid floor of play that includes strong run defense.
For his career, Gaines has 163 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks and two fumble recoveries.