Bucs Gameday

Buccaneers lose veteran defensive lineman to the New York Giants

The Giants have found themselves high-energy, rotational defensive lineman with a Super Bowl pedigree.

Collin Haalboom

Buccaneers lose veteran defensive lineman to the New York Giants
Buccaneers lose veteran defensive lineman to the New York Giants /
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9-year NFL veteran defensive tackle, and Super Bowl champion with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Rakeem Nunez-Roches, has signed with the New York Giants.

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Nunez-Roches, or 'Nacho' as he's most often referred to, was a valuable depth piece for the Bucs over the course of his five years in Tampa. Nacho was an important contributor to a group that formed one of the most stout run defenses in the league during his time. 

In 2022, Nunez-Roches had 33 combined tackles, and two sacks for the Buccaneers.

Just as important as his contributions on the field, Nunez-Roches was a valuable locker room presence. Notorious for being a trash-talker on the field, and a big personality off it, there's no question that his presence will be missed at One Buccaneer Place. 

That said, it's no surprise that Tampa Bay wasn't able to keep Nacho around. With a vast list of free agents, and very limited cap space, fans in Tampa have been preparing for a mass exodus. 

Nunez-Roches will likely occupy a role in New York that is similar to the one he had in Tampa. He'll be a rotational defensive lineman who will be effective against the run and provide a ton of energy. 

As fans in Tampa Bay already know, adding valuable depth pieces, especially in the trenches, is essential for achieving success in this league. Rakeem Nunez-Roches will provide the Giants with exactly that.

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Collin Haalboom
COLLIN HAALBOOM

Prior to joining BucsGameday and Sports Illustrated, Collin's written content was provided through Bucs Banter, and NFL Draft Lounge. He is also the creator and host of the Bucs Banter Podcast. He is a graduate of the Communication Studies program at McMaster University, where he was also a varsity basketball player, and later an advanced scout. He lives with his wife and two children in Hamilton, ON. You can follow Collin on YouTube and Twitter.