January 19, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; New England Patriots guard Logan Mankins (70) against the Denver Broncos in the 2013 AFC Championship football game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ search for a starting guard has concluded.
The Buccaneers have acquired six-time Pro Bowler Logan Mankins from the New England Patriots for a fourth-round draft pick and tight end Tim Wright.
In Mankins, the Bucs acquire a five time All-Pro who will fill the void left by Carl Nicks’ retirement.
The #Bucs have acquired G Logan Mankins from the @Patriots: http://t.co/kJoHFHvHN8 pic.twitter.com/xPjfmmMw9W
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) August 26, 2014
The guard position has been the team’s biggest question mark this offseason but the acquisition of Mankins will conclude that now.
The 32-year-old has played his entire pro career with the New England Patriots after being drafted 32nd overall in the 2005 draft. He has started every one of his 130 regular season appearances.
New Bucs guard Logan Mankins is due to make $20 million over next three years. Signed six-year, $51 million deal with Patriots in 2011.
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) August 26, 2014
He will make $6.25 this season and then $7 million in both 2015 and 2016.
He’s also played in two Super Bowls, losing both times to the New York Giants. Additionally, he is very durable as over the course of nine seasons Mankins has missed just 13 games. However seven of those games came in 2010 due to Mankins holding out.
Mankins will now slot in at left guard and play between left tackle Anthony Collins and center Evan Dietrich-Smith on what is a very strong left side of the offensive line.
Wright was expendable due to the Bucs great nucleus of tight ends.
Last season as an undrafted rookie Wright caught 54 passes for 571 yards and five touchdowns.
However, he hasn’t featured much in the Bucs’ first three preseason games and with Brandon Myers, Austin Seferian-Jenkins and Luke Stocker on the roster Wright was expendable.