Buccaneers Sign S Chris Conte To A One-Year Deal

Update:

Vaughn McClure is now reporting that former Bears S Chris Conte will sign a one-year contract with the Buccaneers.

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Vaughn McClure reports that free agent S Chris Conte has lined up a visit with the Jets in the event a contract falls through with the Buccaneers.

This appears to be a leverage play on the part of Conte to try to get the Bucs to make some final concessions in their offer.

Last night, a report said that Tampa Bay was planning to release S Dashon Goldson if/when Conte was signed.

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Vaughn McClure of ESPN reports that the Buccaneers are expected to sign former Bears S Chris Conte.

• McClure notes that the parties are working on the contract now.

Conte, and possibly former teammate S Major Wright, is reuniting with former Head Coach Lovie Smith.

Conte, 26, is a former third round pick of the Bears back in 2011, so Lovie Smith is obviously very familiar with him as a player. He played out his four-year, $2,603,600 rookie contract and could end up securing a pay raise when all is said in done despite some shaky play.

In 2014, Conte appeared in 12 games and recorded 43 tackles, three interceptions, and three pass defenses for the Bears. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 63 safety out of 87 qualifying players.

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According to Pat Yasinskas of ESPN, the Buccaneers will be hosting former Bears S Chris Conte for a visit in the coming days.

Tampa Bay already has meetings lined up with center Stefen Wisniewski, linebacker Bruce Carter, defensive end Derrick Morgan, and defensive tackle Henry Melton, so it appears as though they will be very busy in the coming days.