The Tampa Bay Buccaneers announced today that the team has signed defensive end William Gholston to a five-year contract extension prior to the start of free agency, which is scheduled to begin on Thursday, March 9 at 4:00 p.m. ET.
Gholston (6-6, 281) was selected in the fourth round (126th overall) out of Michigan State by Tampa Bay in the 2013 NFL Draft. In his four-year career, the Detroit native has played in 57 games, with 36 starts, totaling 188 tackles (29 for loss), 10.0 sacks, eight passes defensed, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. In 2016, Gholston led all Buccaneers defensive linemen in tackles (49), tackles for loss (nine) and run stuffs (5.5), in 14 starts, prior to missing the final two games of the season with an elbow injury.
Since 2013, Stats, Inc. credits Gholston with 21.5 run stuffs, the ninth-most in the NFL among defensive linemen during that time. His 188 tackles during that span are also the ninth-most among defensive linemen in the NFL, while his 29 tackles for loss are fourth-best among defensive linemen from the 2013 NFL Draft class.
Article provided by Tampa Bay buccaneers Media Relations Department.