The Jets have traded defensive tackle Steve McLendon to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a source told SNY's Ralph Vacchiano on Sunday evening.
As for the deal's terms, Gang Green sent McLendon and a seventh-round 2023 NFL Draft pick to the Bucs for a seventh-round selection in 2022, Vacchiano confirmed. His salary for the 2020 season is $1.5 million and the Bucs are set to pay him the remaining $808,000, Vacchiano added.
The Tampa Bay Times' Rick Stroud first reported the news.
McLendon, 34, joined the Jets in 2016. Now going to the Bucs, McLendon reunites with former Jets head coach Todd Bowles, who led Gang Green from 2015-18 before becoming Tampa Bay's defensive coordinator in 2019.
Entering Sunday's Week 6 game against the Miami Dolphins -- a 24-0 Jets loss -- McLendon totaled 99 tackles (28 for loss), 7 1/2 sacks (17 quarterback hits), one forced fumble (one recovery) and one pass deflection while starting 58 of 64 games.
He started his NFL career with the Pittsburgh Steelers from 2010-15. The Steelers signed him from Troy as an undrafted free agent in 2010.
