Tampa Bay Buccaneers have lost free agent defensive end Jimmy Wilkerson to the New Orleans Saints. Wilkerson signed a one-year deal with the defending Super Bowl champions. Wilkerson played the last two seasons in Tampa Bay. The Bucs and Wilkerson's agent had contract extension talks throughout the offseason. The St. Louis Rams had also shown interest in Wilkerson. Late in the 2009 season Wilkerson tore an ACL, and that hurt his value in free agency.
Wilkerson, 29, was the Bucs starting left defensive end in 2009. Wilkerson (6-2, 270) led all of the Bucs defensive linemen with 66 tackles. He also had three tackles for a loss, six sacks, and three forced fumbles. Wilkerson was half a sack away from tying the team leader in sacks Stylez G. White.
In 2008 Wilkerson backed up Kevin Carter and the late Gaines Adams. In his first with the Bucs, Wilkerson recorded 28 tackles, five sacks, two tackles for a loss, and one forced fumble.
Wilkerson played in Kansas City for the first five years of his career.
The Buccaneers have Kyle Moore, Tim Crowder, and Michael Bennett as replacements at left defensive end.
x close



























COMMENTS