After allowing defensive tackle Roy Miller to get away in free agency, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have found his potential replacement in Derek Landri.
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NFL.com's Michelle Beisner reported Saturday that the Bucs agreed to a two-year, $3.25 million contract with Landri, citing a source close to the situation. The contract pays Landri $1.25 million guaranteed in 2013 and $2 million in 2014.
Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun first reported the news.
According to Beisner, Landri also considered the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions, but opted for the Buccaneers.
Landri made seven starts at defensive tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles last season and figures to see snaps in Tampa's 4-3 scheme alongside Gerald McCoy.
Landri made a career-high 16 starts with the Carolina Panthers in 2010, but has spent most of his six-year run as rotational player. His bread and butter is the one-gap interior lineman role and that fills a need for the Bucs, who were light on tackles after Miller departed for the Jacksonville Jaguars in free agency. Tampa also has Gary Gibson, Corvey Irvin and Pep Levingston at the position.
With Da'Quan Bowers and a healthy Adrian Clayborn on the edge, the Bucs hope to duplicate last year's top-ranked rushing defense in 2013.
Follow Marc Sessler on Twitter @MarcSesslerNFL.
