Bucs fans have been waiting for what feels like a lifetime — really it’s just been a few days — for their team to make a big splash in free agency with not much movement in the waters. However, with a little patience, Tampa Bay made their splash by coming to terms with Ravens center Ryan Jensen.
The #Bucs signed C Ryan Jensen to a four-year, $42 million deal with $22M guaranteed, source said. Big.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 17, 2018
Jensen was drafted in the sixth round of the 2013 NFL draft by the Ravens. He played his college call at CSU-Pueblo.
Jensen, who will be 27 at the start of the 2018 season, was the full-time starter for the Ravens in 2017 and started all 16 games at center.
Jensen now gives the Bucs the flexibility to move Ali Marpet back to guard, which is the plan. Though Marpet played well in his first year at center, he wasn’t as dominant as he was when he was at that right guard position in years past. Signing Jensen and being flexible with Marpet allows for the Bucs to focus on putting the best five offensive linemen they can out on the field for 2018.