Bucs to Re-Sign CB Ryan Smith

Tampa Bay is bringing back a key special-teamer for the 2020 season.

Special teams sometime get the short end of the stick when it comes to free agent acquisitions, but even small moves can have a big impact. 

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are making a vital move to shore up their kick coverage and cornerback depth by bringing back CB Ryan Smith, per multiple reports:

The Bucs nearing a deal to bring back special teams ace and DB Ryan Smith, a source tells me.

— RIP Terez A. Paylor (@TerezPaylor) March 27, 2020

Bucs have completed a deal to bring cornerback and special-teams ace Ryan Smith back on a one-year contract worth $1.75 million. $1m is guaranteed, with a chance to earn another $500,000 in incentives as well. Big part of Bucs' kick coverage unit last four years.

— Greg Auman (@gregauman) March 27, 2020

The Bucs drafted Smith in the fourth round of the 2016 draft. He is now the only player Tampa Bay drafted that year who is still on the roster.

Known less for his skills as a corner than his value as a special teams gunner, Smith played over half the Bucs' special teams snaps in 2019 despite missing the first four games of the season on suspension. 

His return following his suspension saw marked improvement in the Bucs' kickoff and punt coverage, which should persist now that Tampa has locked him in.