This summer, Shepard inked a one-year contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. On Thursday, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo revealed the following on X:
A source reports that the #Buccaneers and veteran wide receiver Sterling Shepard have reached an agreement on a one-year contract.
With the #Giants, who selected him in the second round of the 2016 draft, Shepard spent eight seasons as their quarterback until rejoining Baker Mayfield in Tampa.
After being selected by the Giants in the 2016 draft as a foundational player, Shepard became disengaged from the team’s way of doing things.
The former No. 40 overall pick communicated throughout the 2023 season, knowing that his time in New York was almost over. Fans were able to commemorate his eight-year stay in New York, as the Giants even offered him a send-off against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 18.
He recorded 57 receiving yards on 10 receptions in 15 games in 2023, including two that he began the previous campaign. Over the previous three seasons, Shepard suffered a number of ailments that limited his effectiveness.
Shepard is now a part of the Bucs’ group that features quarterback Baker Mayfield, wide receiver Mike Evans, who was just named to the Second Team All-Pro, and Chris Godwin, a fellow 1,000-yard receiver, who is also back in the discussion. Shepard’s comeback might put him in a position to fight to be used as a WR3 in Tampa Bay in 2024, but he’ll have his job cut out for him while facing Trey Palmer, who amassed 385 REC yards the previous season.
On November 24, when the Buccaneers meet the Giants, Shepard will play against them for the first time.
