The Bucs made a notable move on Wednesday afternoon, bringing in a veteran cornerback who could quickly work his way into the mix. The team announced that they have signed veteran cornerback Troy Hill to the practice squad. Tampa Bay released inside linebacker Kalen Deloach from the practice squad to make room for Hill.

Troy Hill Is An Experienced CB Who Could Get Playing Time With Bucs

Bucs CB Troy Hill – Photo by: USA Today

Troy Hill adds some intriguing depth to the Bucs’ secondary. The ten-year cornerback has played in 119 career NFL games, including 60 starts. Since entering the league as an undrafted free agent with the Bengals in 2015, Hill’s playing career has spanned across four teams.

Hill would spend one year in Cincinnati before going to the Rams, where he had his longest and most productive stay in the league between two stints. His most notable season was back in 2020, when he had career highs in total tackles (77), passes defended (10), interceptions (3), and defensive touchdowns (2). He was not a part of Los Angeles’ Super Bowl-winning season in 2021 though, spending the year with the Browns.

He did re-sign with the Rams for the 2022 season and picked up where he left off. Hill is familiar with some prominent Bucs from that second stint, having spent that year lining up against offensive coordinator Liam Coen’s offense and quarterback Baker Mayfield in practice. He then moved on and into the NFC South after signing with the Panthers. In 2023, he started three games for them and had a 61-yard pick-six. Before his release by Carolina after six games this year, Hill had 32 total tackles.

Bucs CB Troy Hill – Photo by: USA Today

Troy Hill has 414 total tackles, nine interceptions, four defensive touchdowns, and three sacks in his career. Could Hill add to those numbers and become an option for a secondary needing experience and production?

With Jamel Dean still on injured reserve with a hamstring injury, the current depth chart is led by Zyon McCollum and filled with inexperienced and uninspiring options after him. Undrafted rookie Tyrek Funderburk started opposite McCollum on Sunday against the Falcons but would be benched for poor performance and replaced by Josh Hayes, the team’s sixth-round pick in 2023. The only other cornerback on the active roster after them is Keenan Isaac, who has yet to play a defensive snap this season.

Hill has the experience and pedigree to quickly earn head coach Todd Bowles’ trust, and this could be one of the changes Bowles alluded to making earlier in the week. The team should not rely on him or any outside help to fix the defensive issues the unit has had this season, but it will be interesting to see if/when he is elevated to the active roster.

Bucs Cut Former FSU Star

Bucs ILB Kalen DeLoach – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Many Bucs fans were excited to see inside linebacker Kalen DeLoach first sign with the team as an undrafted free agent back in the spring after starring with Florida State. Even Lavonte David was high on his potential during the summer. Unfortunately for the former Seminole star, he has yet to latch on and this is yet another setback.

DeLoach was cut after the preseason and signed back with the team’s practice squad earlier this month. Many thought he would quickly develop and play a versatile role in Todd Bowles’ defense, but it did not materialize. After SirVocea Dennis’ season-ending shoulder injury, he had a chance to get onto the active roster but lost that battle to former USF standout Antonio Grier Jr.

Following his latest release, DeLoach is free to find another home or wait for another phone call and opportunity from Tampa Bay.