The Bucs’ search for linebacker help has led them to Kevin Minter, as Greg Auman of The Athletic tweets. Minter will audition for the team on Tuesday, and a deal could soon follow. 
Bucs GM Jason Licht was in Arizona when Minter was drafted in 2013, so he’s familiar with what the veteran offers. Minter is still only 27 years old (28 in December) and had 81 tackles with 3.5 sacks for the Cardinals in 2016. Unfortunately, he was unable to offer a reprise of that performance last year with the Bengals. Minter played on fewer than 20% of the Bengals’ defensive snaps, seeing less action than sixth-round rookie Jordan Evans and barely playing ahead of undrafted free agent Hardy Nickerson. His season ended prematurely when a hamstring injury landed him on IR.
Minter was cut by the Jets in late August and did not land deals with the Giants or Texans despite working out for both teams in September. After losing ‘backers Kwon Alexander and Jack Cichy to IR, Minter may get an opportunity to play with the Bucs.