Bucs Sign External Free Agent To Practice Squad

Jack Henderson's College Career

Jack Henderson is an undrafted free agent out of Minnesota where he spent 2023 and 2024. Prior to that he played at Southeastern Louisiana from 2020-2022 where he recorded 163 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, two sacks, 13 pass breakups, six interceptions, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. In Minnesota he added another 103 tackles, seven sacks, and three interceptions.

2024 was Henderson's most productive season as he tallied 44 tackles, nine tackles for loss, six sacks, an interception and a forced fumble for the Gophers. The Bucs have had previous success with a rookie safety out of Minnesota. In 2020, the team drafted Antoine Winfield Jr. in the second round. He has since helped the team win a Super Bowl, had one of the best defensive seasons in team history and became the highest paid defensive back in NFL history for a time.

A Surprise Signing And A Surprise Cut

The Panthers gave Jack Henderson a $300,000 guarantee when they signed him over the summer, which is a significant investment as undrafted free agents go. To provide context, the Bucs gave the same guarantees to both safety J.J. Roberts and offensive tackle Ben Chukwuma because they were high on both players who would eventually make the team's final roster (Roberts went on season-ending injured reserve but would have made the roster outright had he not been injured).

The investment was a bit of a surprise as Henderson was not well recruited in the pre-draft process.

Henderson played in all three of Carolina's preseason games, tallying 51 snaps on defense and another 35 on special teams. Per Pro Football Focus, he totaled three tackles while allowing one catch for three yards and earning a 64.6 overall grade from the site. He did not miss any of his tackle attempts.

With the Bucs dealing with injuries in their defensive backfield it makes sense they would look to round out their practice squad with young versatile players. Henderson has experience at both safety and in the slot and scored well in pre-draft measurables.

Reports on Henderson is that he is a high-character, smart football player with good size. It will take him some time to learn the Bucs' defensive playbook, but until then, he has the athleticism to give the offense strong looks as a scout team player covering Tampa Bay's wide receivers in practice.