National Football League

Bucs to lock up key cog to offense

Published Jul. 28, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

Alex Marvez

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have agreed to terms with guard Davin Joseph on a seven-year, $52.5 million contract with $19.5 million guaranteed, a source told FOXSports.com.

Joseph was atop Tampa Bay’s priority list of pending free agents that it wanted to re-sign. Considered one of the league’s top interior linemen, the 27-year-old Joseph has started 67 games for the Bucs over the past five seasons.

Joseph’s mega-deal will help fill some of the ample salary-cap space (roughly $45 million to $50 million) that Tampa Bay had available earlier this week entering the offseason signing period.

The Bucs also have agreed to terms on a new contract with right tackle Jeremy Trueblood, according to WDAE-AM and ESPN.com.