The Tampa Bay Buccaneers traded cornerback Eric Wright to the San Francisco 49ers, according to Josina Anderson of ESPN. In return, the Buccaneers will receive a conditional late-round pick in 2014.
49ers acquire CB Eric Wright from Buccaneers for 2014 draft pick
The Buccaneers are clearing the way for Johnthan Banks to start early in his NFL career.
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The Bucs signed Wright to a five-year, $37.5 million contract in free agency last offseason. He didn’t live up to that contract, though, and was suspended for four games, forfeiting his guaranteed salary in 2013. As a result, Tampa’s secondary was again underwhelming in 2012, giving the team incentive to perform a complete overhaul on the position group this offseason.
First, Tampa signed former 49ers safety Dashon Goldson and later traded its first round pick for Darrelle Revis, proceeding to make him the highest paid defensive back in NFL history. The Bucs then used their second round pick on Mississippi State cornerback Johnthan Banks, which drew solid reviews from Dan Kadar for SB Nation's Mocking the Draft.
“Banks is a nice pickup in the second round,” Kadar said. “He has size and can excel in zone situations.”
Meanwhile, the 49ers have now added another under-performing defensive back in hopes of getting a solid return on their investment. Earlier in the offseason, San Francisco signed Nnamdi Asomugha to a low-risk deal.
Wright has a hefty contract, but the late-round pick makes it easier for the 49ers to deal with. Both sides appear to have received what they wanted as the Bucs open up playing time for Banks and the 49ers have added more depth to their secondary. The Bucs had planned to release Wright if they couldn’t find a trade partner, according to Albert Breer.
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