The New York Giants received a bit of free agency news on Easter weekend, as they perform their final preparations for the 2026 NFL Draft.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat reporter and Tampa Bay Times insider Rick Stroud was the first to report the news that veteran defensive lineman Rakeem Nunez-Roches would be re-signing with his former team, the Bucs.
“Nacho returns to Tampa Bay after several seasons with the Giants,” Stroud noted, using Nunez-Roches’ well-known nickname.
Not long after, NFL insider Mike Garafolo confirmed the veteran departure, reporting: “The Buccaneers are finalizing a one-year deal with DT Rakeem Nunez-Roches, as [Stroud] reported. Nacho is headed back to Tampa, where he played for the Bucs from 2018-22, after three seasons with the Giants.”
Nunez-Roches appeared in 40 games for the G-Men over the past three years, starting 24 of those outings. He became close with superstar Dexter Lawrence over that span, taking on a role as an experienced voice within the NYG locker room.
Unfortunately, Nunez-Roches’ efforts didn’t result in much winning or team success. He was credited with 5.5 sacks with Big Blue, the most of his career with any one franchise, as well as 6 tackles for a loss, 11 QB hits, 4 pass deflections, and 101 combined tackles.
Having said that, his free agency exit was expected by those covering the team.
“[Nunez-Roches] was never coming back to [the] Giants after 3 years,” New York Post reporter Ryan Dunleavy commented, just after the news. “Both sides wanted to part. But [this] highlights how few accomplished veteran DTs are around Dexter Lawrence.”
Ex-Giants’ Rakeem Nunez-Roches’ Streak of Only Playing for 3 NFL Teams Continues With Buccaneers News
GettyRakeem Nunez-Roches ditches the New York Giants for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers ahead of the NFL draft.
Nunez-Roches is a flawed player at age 33 in July, but he’s extended his career in part due to his personality.
The veteran has been well-liked by teammates and coaches at every stop of his career. And that’s evident in the fact that he’s only played for three NFL franchises.
Those teams are the Kansas City Chiefs, Buccaneers, and Giants.
Although Nunez-Roches had the most personal success with Big Blue, he had the most team success in Tampa Bay, helping the 2020 team win a Super Bowl alongside Tom Brady.
Nunez-Roches also spent the bulk of his career with the Bucs, appearing in 75 total games between the regular season and playoffs combined.
Tampa Bay was “Nacho’s” second stop in the NFL. He began his career with the Chiefs as a sixth-round draft pick in 2015.
After KC, Nunez-Roches briefly signed with the Indianapolis Colts for one training camp in 2018, but failed to make the Week 1 roster. He joined the Buccaneers shortly thereafter, eventually earning a role as a starting interior presence in 2020.
Giants Must Still Add to Defensive Line in Free Agency or the NFL Draft
As Dunleavy noted, there is more work to be done on the defensive line. Nunez-Roches wasn’t necessarily the answer, but his departure amplifies that need.
Behind Lawrence, the Giants have 2025 signing Roy Robertson-Harris, 2025 draft pick Darius Alexander, ex-UDFA Elijah Chatman, and veteran pickup Marlon Tuipulotu.
They also added a veteran in NFL free agency, signing Sam Roberts earlier this spring.
Really, Big Blue is lacking a reliable No. 2 on the interior behind Lawrence. They have built up adequate depth, but none of these depth pieces should be leaned on as full-time starters.
Perhaps the Giants can find a new No. 2 to replace Nunez-Roches in the second half of free agency or the NFL draft.
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