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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have agreed to terms with veteran wide receiver Sterling Shepard on a one-year deal, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.
Sterling Shepard has played eight seasons in the NFL, all of them with the New York Giants, and although he has dealt with injuries in recent seasons, he has been productive over the course of his career. Shepard went to Oklahoma, of course, and was a teammate and go-to target of Baker Mayfield in his time there.
Shepard figures to be a depth receiver. He did not get much playing time for the Giants in 2023, as the team prioritized younger receivers like Jalin Hyatt and Wan'Dale Robinson getting reps in a losing season. Now, Shepard joins a wide receiver room that features Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. While Mike Evans and Chris Godwin will undoubtedly be the main options for Baker Mayfield as pass catchers, Shepard will battle Trey Palmer, Jalen McMillan, and Rakim Jarrett for playing time.
Shepard has missed a lot of time over the last couple of seasons, dealing with season-ending injuries in 2021 and 2022. He was an important leader for the Giants in a run to the playoffs in 2022, despite tearing his Achilles in Week 3 of that season. He re-signed with the team for 2023, but as noted before, did not get much playing time.
Sterling Shepard's career going back to Oklahoma
Shepard's college career is a great story, as he followed in his father's footsteps and played for the Oklahoma Sooners, and wore the same number. He was a productive receiver for four seasons. He recorded over 600 receiving yards in each of his first two years, according to Sports Reference, with seven touchdowns coming in his second year in 2013.
In 2014, Shepard saw a leap in production, recording 970 receiving yards and five touchdowns, while averaching 19 yards per reception, which was the most in any season he had in college. Then, in 2015, Shepard had his most successful season, going for 1,288 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. That was the one year in which Shepard caught passes from Mayfield. The two had a great connection, and that led to Shepard being selected in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the New York Giants. He then caught passes from Eli Manning in his early days before Daniel Jones became the quarterback, and eventually finished his Giants career with the fifth most receptions in franchise history.
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How Sterling Shepard ended up with the Buccaneers
Shepard and Mayfield have a relationship going back to their days at Oklahoma, and still talk today. That is how the process of Shepard ending up with the Buccaneers, according to Josina Anderson, who texted with the wide receiver.
“It' shard not to smile right now. I wasn't expecting this,” Shepard said, via Anderson. “Three days ago Baker texted me asking ‘how does your body feel?' I said, ‘I feel great. How's the baby?' Baker said, ‘The baby is good.' Then Baker asked me, ‘man, you think you got one more in you?' I said, ‘it just has to be right with everything I've got going on with my family because I've already turned down other opportunities. But I've been kind of thinking about it when I run outside everyday and lift. Plus, when I fold with Saquon (Barkley) he's been telling me I need to quit playing around because I still got it' Then Baker said, ‘well have your agent reach out because I know they threw your name out around here the other day.'”
Shepard then outlined the process of his agent reaching out to the Buccaneers and him working out to secure a deal with the team.
“so my agent hit them up. The Bucs wanted me to fly out the next day,” Shepard said, via Anderson. “So, I strapped my cleats on and hit that workout like I've been running routes all my life. The rest is history. I'm so happy right now. I get to be with my brother again. Before this, I was in full daddy mode, but we got the contract done and now I'll get back in Tampa Sunday for mandatory camp on Monday; but me and OBJ are going to get together and train for a couple days too. … this is so crazy man, my whole mode just changed 180.”
Shepard seemed content not playing and being there for his children, but the opportunity to join the Buccaneers and reunite with Mayfield was too good to pass up. It will be interesting to see how much he is utilized this season.
