One trade each NFL team must make before the deadline

HOUSTON, TX - DECEMBER 25: Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell (26) warms up before the football game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Houston Texans on December 25, 2017 at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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Mandatory Credit: Roy K. Miller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images /

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Noah Spence to Raiders for 4th Round pick

After adding 35 pounds during the offseason, Spence has not played since the season opener (heading into Tampa Bay’s Week 5 bye) and he only played four snaps in that game. A lingering shoulder issue limited him to six games last year, after he played all 16 games through the injury as a rookie in 2016 and had 5.5 sacks.

Off-the-field issues took Spence from Ohio State to Eastern Kentucy as a college player. But he has had no known issues thus far in his NFL career, and Buccaneers head coach Dirk Koetter was quick to say the team is not down on Spence after he was a healthy scratch in Week 2.

But Tampa Bay has too many shortcomings defensively to not put the best talent on the field however and whenever possible. So Spence is either injured and he’s not saying anything (or letting on that he is limited), or he’s in the dog house for another reason. The fact he played a lot in the final preseason game was a significant sign he was down the pecking order for snaps.

The Raiders are of course desperate for pass rushers after trading Khalil Mack. Based on potential alone Spence may get Jon Gruden’s attention, and that would give Buccaneers’ general manager Jason Licht a chance to fleece a team for one of his missed draft picks.

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