The New England Patriots have sent guard Logan Mankins to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in exchange for tight end Tim Wright and a draft pick, FOX Sports’ Jay Glazer reported Tuesday.
The deal is not yet finalized, but the terms have been agreed upon by both teams.
Breaking: the Patriots have agreed to parameters of a trade to send Pro Bowl guard Logan Mankins to the Bucs for a pick and TE Tim Wright
— Jay Glazer (@JayGlazer) August 26, 2014
The deal is not yet finalized but the players have been informed and terms agreed upon. Still some things to work out. Mankins 6x Pro Bowler
— Jay Glazer (@JayGlazer) August 26, 2014
The Bucs were in desperate need at the left guard position after Carl Nicks was released following lingering toe injuries. Nicks started only nine games in Tampa Bay after the team handed him a big-time deal to lure him away from the New Orleans Saints.
The Bucs were reportedly in talks with free-agent guard Richie Incognito about filling the void left by Nicks. Incognito was cleared to return to the NFL for “full activity and regular-season game participation” Monday night after being suspended indefinitely last season for conduct detrimental to the Miami Dolphins.
Mankins, 32, has earned six trips to the Pro Bowl and was a First-Team All-Pro back in 2010 for New England. He’s started 130 games in his nine seasons with the team, including all 16 a season ago.
Mankins will still count $4 million against the Patriots’ salary cap for the 2014 season, and another $4 million next year.
Wright will now join the Pats, who have been struggling at the tight end position since Rob Gronkowski has been unable to stay healthy and Aaron Hernandez ran into trouble with the law.
The second-year tight end started eight games for Tampa Bay last season, registering 54 receptions for 571 yards and five touchdowns. He should immediately ascend to the No. 2 tight end spot behind Gronk and ahead of Michael Hoomanwanui and Steve Maneri.
It remains unknown what draft pick compensation is included in the deal.
