It took four days since the tampering period opened on Monday, March 15, but the Bucs have finally lost one of their 24 free agents to another team. No. 4 safety and special teamer Andrew Adams is expected to sign with the Philadelphia Eagles soon.

Adams, 28 years old, has spent three seasons with the Bucs and was a key part of the team’s secondary during the 2019 season. Adams started 15 games over his first two seasons in Tampa Bay, including 11 during the team’s 7-9 campaign two seasons ago. He had one interception in 2019 as an almost full-time starter, but recorded four picks the season prior, despite starting just four games.

Opportunistic and heady at the safety position, Adams’ defensive role was basically eliminated in 2020, as the Bucs upgraded into a top three grouping of rookie Antoine Winfield Jr., Jordan Whitehead and Mike Edwards. Adams was relegated to just 23 defensive snaps all regular season, finishing with two tackles on the year. But when injuries mounted in the playoffs, forcing Whitehead from the NFC Championship game with Winfield already inactive, Adams stepped up on 36 defensive snaps, notching five tackles and a clutch pass breakup at the goal line on a pass from Aaron Rodgers late in the game.

A reliable special teamer, Adams will head to Philadelphia, where he could actually compete for a starting job given the roster’s current construction. The Bucs return one of the best safety trios in the league in Winfield, Whitehead and Edwards, while undrafted second year player Javon Hagan, who stuck around on the practice squad all last season, will get the first opportunity to replace Edwards on special teams. Hagan didn’t see the field on defense all year as a rookie, but stepped up with 10 special teams snaps against the Packers in the NFC Championship Game.