Bucs Re-Sign High-Energy Veteran Defensive Tackle

The Bucs have brought back a familiar face to help the team’s defensive line. Pewter Report is reporting that Tampa Bay is re-signing defensive tackle Rakeem Nunez-Roches to a one-year deal.

Nunez-Roches was a reserve defensive tackle with the Buccaneers from 2019-2022, helping the team win Super Bowl LV in 2020. Nicknamed “Nacho” by his teammates, Nunez-Roches returns to Tampa Bay to replace Greg Gaines as the team’s backup nose tackle behind starter Vita Vea.

Rakeem Nunez-Roches Returns To Help The Bucs Defense

After spending his first three seasons in the NFL in Kansas City, Rakeem Nunez-Roches signed with Tampa Bay in 2018 as a free agent and played a valuable role as a reserve defensive tackle during his five years with the Buccaneers. Nunez-Roches started 11 games at defensive tackle in place of the injured Vita Vea during the team’s Super Bowl run in 2020.

The Southern Miss product played in 68 games with 22 starts in Tampa Bay. Nunez-Roches recorded 81 tackles and nine tackles for loss with the Buccaneers, including his first two NFL sacks, four pass breakups with a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

Bucs DT Rakeem Nunez-Roches – Photo by: USA Today

In 2023, Nunez-Roches left the Buccaneers for a lucrative, three-year deal with the New York Giants worth $12 million, featuring $7.465 million in total guarantees and a $4.3 million signing bonus. He didn’t find the same level of success in New York, recording just 51 tackles, five tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks while starting 16 of the 34 games he played in with the Giants.

The 6-foot-3, 305-pound Nunez-Roches was re-signed because the Buccaneers missed the energy that he brought, not only to gamedays, but also to practice on a regular basis. Nunez-Roches, 32, is one of the glue guys in the locker room and well liked by his teammates. He’s also one of the biggest trash talkers in practice, in addition to being a physical defensive tackle.

This year’s defensive tackle class in the 2026 NFL Draft lacks top end talent and depth. Signing Nunez-Roches does not preclude the team from drafting a defensive tackle this year, but it also does mean that Tampa Bay will be forced to select one as the team is currently well stocked at the position.

Vea, Calijah Kancey and new addition A’Shawn Robinson are the starters in Todd Bowles’ 3-4 defense. Nunez-Roches and Elijah Roberts will be the primary backups with Jayson Jones, Elijah Simmons and Nash Hutmacher battling for the final defensive tackle spot on the depth chart, as Tampa Bay typically keeps six defensive tackles on the 53-man roster.