Another member of the 2021 Buccaneers’ roster is set to remain on the squad. The team is re-signing running back Giovani Bernard on a one-year contract, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (Twitter link). Greg Auman of the Athletic adds (on Twitter) that it is a veteran salary benefit deal valued at $1.12MM. 
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Bernard, 30, spent last year in Tampa Bay after eight seasons with the Bengals. Slotted in behind Leonard Fournette and Ronald Jones on the depth chart, he only received eight carries in 12 games. He did, on the other hand, chip in via his usage in the passing game; he made 23 catches for 123 yards and three touchdowns. In the team’s pair of playoff contests, he added 83 total yards and another score.
A second round pick in 2013, Bernard has always been known as a change-of-pace back more so than an every-down workhorse. His pass-catching ability garnered interest after he was released by the Bengals last offseason. Ultimately, he was recruited to Tampa by Tom Brady and Bruce Arians. While he played a small role in the team’s offense, he was able to win a playoff game with them for the first time in his career.
As was the case one year ago, Bernard had “multiple offers”, Pelissero notes. Instead of heading to a new NFL home for the second straight year, though, he will stay in Tampa with an offense that has remained almost entirely intact from 2021.