The Bucs have traded inside linebacker Grant Stuard and a 2023 seventh-round pick to the Colts for a 2023 sixth-round pick, according to Ian Rapoport.

With roster cuts due by a 4:00 deadline on Tuesday, the Bucs have been busy slimming their roster to 53 players. Stuard was on the bubble to make the team as he struggled as an inside linebacker. His claim to the roster, though, would always be that he is one of the best special teams players that Tampa Bay had.

Bucs LB Grant Stuard – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Stuard, who was the Mr. Irrelevant pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, was the leader in special teams tackles for the Bucs last season. Injuries also played a factor into it as Stuard missed OTAs and mini-camp recovering from hip surgery. Then he got hurt early in the first preseason game against the Dolphins, causing him to miss several weeks and the Bucs’ second preseason game.

The news of this move bodes very well for rookie inside linebacker Olakunle Fatukasi. The undrafted free agent out of Rutgers has played very well in the preseason to fight for a roster spot. He led the Bucs with 10 tackles in their road game against the Titans while also recording 1.5 sacks. He was second in tackles for the preseason finale at the Colts, getting another five.

It’s not guaranteed that Fatukasi is going to make the team, but now it seems very likely. After Laovnte David and Devin White at inside linebacker, you have K.J. Britt as your third string. That leaves Fatukasi and J.J. Russell as options for the fourth linebacker position and Fatukasi has the better case for the job.