The Bucs have lost a second free agent to another team, and this time it’s a loss everyone expected. Per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, offensive lineman/jumbo tight end Joe Haeg is signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers after a disappointing one-year stint in Tampa Bay.
#Steelers are signing G/T Joe Haeg, source says. Was with the #Buccaneers last season.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 20, 2021
Haeg, a 6-6, 305-pound, five-year veteran, started one game for the Bucs last season in place of an injured Ali Marpet. The result was a disastrous performance against the Saints on Sunday Night Football, a game in which Haeg allowed seven pressures and three quarterback hits. The next week Haeg returned to the bench and was resigned to a jumbo tight end role the rest of the season. Haeg was adequate in the run game, but struggled in pass protection, even in max protect situations.
Undoubtedly most remembered by Bucs fans for dropping a touchdown pass from Tom Brady in the Super Bowl (the ball was knocked out by a defender last second), Haeg has experience playing all across the offensive line, but didn’t prove himself worthy of the Bucs investment this offseason. Tampa Bay can still return their No. 3 offensive tackle in Josh Wells, who remains unsigned as a free agent. The Bucs have already brought back Aaron Stinnie on a one-year deal, who is currently slated to be the team’s No. 3 guard.
14 Bucs remain unsigned in free agency, most notably DT Ndamukong Suh, WR Antonio Brown, RB Leonard Fournette, CB Ross Cockrell and QB Blaine Gabbert.