The Buccaneers have continued to makeover their roster for training camp. The Bucs have signed defensive tackle Dre Moore to a contract. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Moore was Tampa Bay's fourth-round pick in the 2008 NFL Draft.

Going into training camp, the Buccaneers have to trim their roster to 80 players due to a new roster limit imposed by the NFL. The new rule is not popular with Bucs head coach Jon Gruden. After Tampa Bay finished its offseason training program with this weeks mandatory mini-camp, the roster cuts started.

At this point seven players have been released: defensive end Patrick Chukwurah, defensive end Marquis Gunn, tight end Keith Heinrich, wide receiver Charles Spiller, wide receiver Amarri Jackson, linebacker Leon Joe, and fullback Carl Stewart. Further roster cuts will have to be made for the Buccaneers to get down to the 80-man limit.

Moore was a late-bloomer in college, but had a breakout senior season. In 13 starts he had six sacks, 8.5 tackles for a loss, and recorded 63 tackles. The 6-foot-4, 305-pound Moore also intercepted a pass from the third overall pick, quarterback Matt Ryan of the Atlanta Falcons. Moore graduated from Maryland in December with a degree in family studies.

Chukwurah, 29, was the first player that the team signed in free agency in 2007. He signed a five-year contract worth $5.5 million. He received a signing bonus of $300,000. His 2008 salary was scheduled to be the same as his 2007 salary of $700,000. The 6-foot-1, 250-pounder played in nine games for the Bucs last season. He had 16 tackles, one sack, one fumble recovery, and 10 special teams tackles.

Joe was on the Bucs roster last September but did not stay on the team as the season progressed. The Buccaneers re-signed Joe on Mar. 24.

The Alcorn State product Spiller, signed with the team in January. The Buccaneers signed Stewart immediately after he went undrafted. He played his college career at Auburn, and was one of five undrafted free agents Tampa Bay signed after the draft concluded. Jackson tried out with the Bucs and put in a strong performance in the rookie mini-camp in May. That led to the Buccaneers signing Jackson to a contract.

Moore is the second Bucs draft pick to sign. Previously, Tampa Bay signed seventh-round pick Cory Boyd, a running back from South Carolina. The Buccaneers will have further cuts to make as they sign their draft picks, and get their roster down to the league mandated 80-man roster limit.

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