The Bucs announced on Wednesday that they have re-signed offensive lineman Aaron Stinnie, shortly before the beginning of the new league year. The Bucs already have all five of their expected starting offensive linemen under contract for 2021 and now they’ll officially bring back one of their most crucial depth pieces.
Welcome back, @LIL_STINNIE.#GoBucs
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) March 17, 2021
Initially signed as an undrafted free agent with Tennessee out of James Madison University in 2018 before landing with Tampa Bay as a waiver claim in 2019. During that season Stinnie saw action in just two games while inactive for five.
In 2020 Stinnie remained largely inactive for much of the season, playing in just six games with a career-high 25 offensive snaps in the Bucs’ blowout win over the Detroit Lions in Week 16. But when starting right guard Alex Cappa went down with a fractured ankle in the Bucs’ Wild Card round victory over Washington, Stinnie got a chance to start in Tampa Bay’s most crucial moments of the year. Stinnie would then step in to start at right guard for the remainder of the Bucs’ Super Bowl-winning playoff run, making his first three career starts on a run in which Tampa Bay claimed wins over the Saints, Packers and eventually the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV.
As a restricted free agent, the Bucs had until 4 p.m. on March 17 to extend a qualifying offer before Stinnie hit free agency. But with a new deal done, Stinnie will now officially remain with Tampa Bay heading into the 2021 season.
