Though the Bucs have spent some of their free agency budget already on their defensive line, mainly on the interior, that won’t stop them from going full circle and examining some edge rushers, too. PewterReport.com has learned that former Cardinals and Saints defensive end Alex Okafor will be visiting the Buccaneers on Thursday.

Okafor (27) was drafted in the fourth round of the 2013 NFL Draft — he was drafted by now Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht. He was also coached by now Buccaneers defensive line coach Brentson Buckner, where he recorded his career best eight sacks in 2014. Okafor has 18 sacks in his five years in the NFL.

Okafor is coming off an Achilles tear in 2017, his only year with the Saints. In the 10 games he played last season, he recorded 4.5 sacks and had already recorded a career single-season high 43 tackles. The Bucs are bringing him in to check on his rehab and see if he could be a match in this free agency class.

Okafor is 6-foot-4, 260 pounds, and would likely play the edge role in a 4-3 formation, but certainly could stay versatile as he often did under Buckner’s coaching in Arizona, if he ends up in Tampa Bay.