Buccaneers free agent defensive end Dewayne White signed a five-year, $29 million contract with the Detroit Lions on Saturday, according to NFL.com.

White, 26, became an unrestricted free agent on Friday morning. The Bucs, who invested a second-round draft pick in 2003, played White at a three of the four positions along the defensive line.

The 6-foot-2, 273-pound White has recorded 14 career sacks in the 60 career games he’s played in. White has started a total of 13 games during his career, and eight of those came last season when he started at right end in place of injured DE Simeon Rice.

Despite starting just eight games last season, White tied for first on the team with five tackles last season.

White has recorded 120 career tackles, four forced fumbles, seven fumble recoveries and 10 passes defensed since 2003.

The Bucs wanted to re-sign White, but they weren't confident they could, evidenced by the fact that the team signed Denver Broncos defensive end Patrick Chukwurah to a five-year contract on Friday.

Tampa Bay is in the process of trying to re-sign offensive lineman Sean Mahan.  

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