The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have used this offseason to rebuild a defensive backfield that let down the team time and again in 2012. The reclamation project, highlighted by a monster trade for cornerback Darrelle Revis, continued last month with the drafting of Johnthan Banks.
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The Buccaneers announced Thursday that Banks had signed a four-year deal with the team. Bucs officials picked the former Mississippi State corner in the second round after trading their first-rounder to the Jets for the rights to Revis.
Banks either will start opposite Revis or see time in the slot while Eric Wright mans the outside. The rookie furnishes the Bucs with a tall playmaker, but Banks' slow 40 time at the NFL Scouting Combine did cause concern.
The Buccaneers aren't worried about his speed. Along with Mark Barron and new addition Dashon Goldson at safety, Banks and his fellow corners should help the Bucs turn around their NFL-worst pass defense from a season ago.
Follow Marc Sessler on Twitter @MarcSesslerNFL.
