Jason Pierre-Paul (90) has reportedly been traded to Tampa Bay. Photo Credit: Danielle Parhizkaran/Northjersey.com via USA TODAY NETWORK
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will acquire defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul and a 2018 fourth-round pick from the New York Giants in exchange for a third- and fourth-round selection in the same draft, multiple media outlets reported on Thursday.
Pierre-Paul, who is a two-time Pro Bowl selection, recorded 68 tackles, eight sacks and two forced fumbles for the Giants last season. He played in all 16 games despite nursing hand, shoulder and knee injuries.
The 29-year-old Pierre-Paul is one season removed from signing a four-year contract worth $62 million. The trade clears $2.5 million off the salary cap this season and leaves $15 million in dead money on New York’s cap, per Spotrac.
The Giants own the second overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft and could be in line to select pass rusher Bradley Chubb, a defensive end out of North Carolina State.
The addition of Pierre-Paul is the latest for the Buccaneers, who also secured the services of Vinny Curry and tackle Beau Allen from the Philadelphia Eagles. Tampa Bay, which also attempted to acquire Robert Quinn from the Los Angeles Rams this offseason, recorded a league-low 22 sacks in 2017.
Pierre-Paul lost his right index finger and badly damaged the rest of his right hand in a Fourth of July fireworks accident in 2015. He was limited to eight games that season and finished with one sack and 26 tackles.
The 6-foot-5, 278-pound Pierre-Paul was given the franchise tag in 2015 before the fireworks accident. He played the 2016 season on a one-year deal worth just under $10 million.
Pierre-Paul bounced back with a strong 2016 season, registering 7.0 sacks in his first 11 games before he was hurt against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 13. He underwent hernia surgery and was lost for the rest of the season.
Pierre-Paul has collected 433 tackles and 58 sacks and 13 forced fumbles in 111 career games since being selected by the Giants with the 15th overall pick of the 2010 NFL Draft.
