The New York Giants are considered one of the most well-run franchises in the NFL. However, this was not on display during the 2023 NFL season. As a result, the team has had to face many difficult decisions.
One of those decisions was whether or not they would re-sign their longest-tenured player. Today, that player has officially moved on to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Read below to find out more.
Sterling Shepard Signs With Tampa Bay Buccaneers
![BREAKING: New York Giants Lose Longest-Tenured Player to Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1 New York Giants](https://gridironheroics.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/USATSI_20792859_168400517_lowres-1024x682.jpg)
According to Mike Garafalo of the NFL Network, WR Sterling Shepard is expected to sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This deal is expected to last for just one year. As a result, it is going to put an official end to Shepard’s time with the Giants.
Shepard played with the Giants for eight years. He has 4,095 receiving yards and 23 touchdown receptions over the course of his career. In 2023, Shepard was the longest-tenured player on the Giants.
Reuniting With QB Baker Mayfield
![BREAKING: New York Giants Lose Longest-Tenured Player to Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2 Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers](https://gridironheroics.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/USATSI_22129154_168400517_lowres-e1703093378269.jpg)
Despite both Shepard and Mayfield being in the NFL for six years together, this will be the first time their paths cross on the professional level. These two players were teammates at Oklahoma before the New York Giants drafted Shepard in 2016.
It is a little surprising Mayfield never crossed paths with Shepard. That is because he has been on four different teams over the last six years. These teams are the Cleveland Browns, Carolina Panthers, Los Angeles Rams, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers respectively.
Shepard was able to put up some of his best career numbers the last time these two played together. What did he do in Oklahoma in 2015? He had 1,288 receiving yards and 11 touchdown receptions. It was by far Shepard’s best year at Oklahoma, and he still has not had 1,000 receiving yards in one season since then.
New York Giants and Tampa Bay Buccaneers Moving Forward
![BREAKING: New York Giants Lose Longest-Tenured Player to Tampa Bay Buccaneers 3 New York Giants Malik Nabers](https://gridironheroics.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/USATSI_23237295_168400517_lowres-1024x946.jpg)
These two teams had very different stories last season. The Giants are trying to rebuild in 2024 after having a very disappointing 2023 season. Now, New York seems to be getting younger at the position, with Jalin Hyatt and Malik Nabers being key wide receivers moving forward.
As for the Buccaneers, they give Baker Mayfield another familiar wide receiver to work with. After a surprisingly successful 2023 season, Tampa Bay hopes to take another step forward this season.
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