That did not take long.
Less than 24 hours after Logan Ryan was dumped by the rebuilding Giants, the veteran safety landed with a bonafide Super Bowl contender — and a reunion with his friend Tom Brady. Ryan, according to multiple reports, will sign a one-year contract to play for the Buccaneers.
This could not have worked out better for Ryan. The 31-year-old spent the past two seasons roaming the defensive backfield at free safety and leading a losing squad, which he was also a team captain of in 2021. Ryan was a favorite of head coach Joe Judge from their time together with the Patriots and played every snap in most games for defensive coordinator Patrich Graham — another former Patriots assistant coach.
Logan Ryan has found a new NFL home following his release from the Giants on Thursday, March 17, 2022 NY Post/Corey SipkinJudge lasted only two seasons, though, and it is clear the new coaching staff — head coach Brian Daboll and also defensive coordinator Wink Martindale — did not value Ryan as deeply, on the field or off the field, as the previous group. The Giants released Ryan on Thursday and it was definitely not a salary cap move, as the Giants saved only $775,000 by setting Ryan loose. They wanted to move on from the player and wanted new voices leading Daboll’s first Giants team.
The Giants are left with rising star Xavier McKinney and versatile Julian Love at the safety position. Jabrill Peppers, coming off a torn ACL, is a free agent. The Giants have the No. 5 and 7 overall picks in next month’s NFL Draft and could select Kyle Hamilton, the highly-regarded Notre Dame safety.
Ryan, who grew up in New Jersey and played his college ball at Rutgers, lives with his family in Florida and so, a move to Tampa is ideal. He won two Super Bowls with the Patriots when Brady was a member of the team. In fact, when Ryan was playing for the Titans, he actually intercepted the last pass Brady threw for the Patriots.
Logan Ryan is reportedly signing a one-year deal with the Buccaneers Charles Wenzelberg/New York PostRyan considers Brady to be a close friend and was disappointed last season that he tested positive for COVID-19 and was unable to play in the Giants’ 30-10 loss to the Buccaneers in Tampa. No doubt Brady put in a good word for Ryan, and the deal came together quickly.
The Buccaneers needed a new safety when Jordan Whitehead signed with the Jets. Ryan now moves in to try for his third Super Bowl ring while the Giants move on without a player who, in many ways, was the face of the former coaching regime’s plan.
