The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are getting closer to signing free agent guard Davin Joseph to a lucrative long-term contract. Sources have told Pewter Report that the situation is progressing and they believe a deal will get done in the next 24 hours. 

Joseph had dinner with Bucs general manager Mark Dominik, head coach Raheem Morris, offensive coordinator Greg Olson, offensive line coach Pat Morris, quarterback Josh Freeman and right tackle Jeremy Trueblood on Wednesday night. Joseph did not receive an offer from the Bucs on Wednesday.

Joseph, 27, was a first-round pick of the Buccaneers in the 2006 NFL Draft. In his career with Tampa Bay, Joseph has played in 68 games with 67 starts at right guard. Joseph made the Pro Bowl after his 2008 season.

Last year Joseph played in 11 games before breaking a foot and missing the final five games of the season. In 2009 Joseph played in 16 games for the second time in his career. The other season that Joseph played in every game was in the 2007 season. Joseph suffered a broken leg in the 2008 preseason and missed the first four games of the year. 


The 6-foot-3, 313-pound Joseph projects to be a better fit in the blocking scheme for new offensive line coach Pat Morris. The past two seasons Joseph played in a lot of zone schemes under former offensive line coach Pete Mangurian. The first three years of his career Joseph played for offensive line coach Bill Muir.

Trueblood, 27, was a second-round pick of the Buccaneers in the 2006 NFL Draft. In his career with Tampa Bay he has played in 77 games with 68 starts.

Trueblood started 67 straight games for Tampa Bay before a knee injury knocked him out of the starting lineup after the sixth game of the 2010 season. After missing two games, Trueblood served as a backup to James Lee in seven of the remaining eight games. Trueblood started for an injured Lee in the Bucs Week 16 victory over the Seattle Seahawks.