The Jaguars traded up Thursday night to select Justin Blackmon with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. Jacksonville landed the Oklahoma State wide receiver with Tampa Bay's pick. The Buccaneers acquired the No. 7 pick and a fourth-round selection (No. 101) in the deal.

The Buccaneers are very interested in Trent Richardson and may consider trying to trade up to No. 3 to get the running back, according to the Cleveland Plain-Dealer. Cleveland also appears to covet Richardson at No. 4, but they have also been linked to Justin Blackmon.

The Buccaneers are not shopping cornerback Aqib Talib, according to sources. Tampa Bay has not explored trade options for Talib, despite reports to the contrary. The Buccaneers have always been thrilled with Talib's play at cornerback, even though he has had off field issues.

The Buccaneers believe Gerald McCoy can be a "dominant force" in the NFL after injuries cost him in his first two seasons. "I'm excited to coach Gerald," coach Greg Schiano told the Tampa Bay Times. "He plays defensive tackle the way I like. He comes off the ball with a flat back, he's a penetrating guy who can change direction. We've got to get him back healthy and keep him healthy. I think he can be a dominant force if we can just get some miles underneath him, some plays."

Buccaneers cornerback Ronde Barber said Friday that his team "probably will" draft LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne with the fifth pick. "I haven't watched any film of him. I don't know how he plays or anything," Barber said. "He was actually in our [secondary] room. They did those little unofficial [predraft] visits or whatever. He's a good kid. He looks good. He looks the part. Everybody's high on him." Tampa Bay has already signed free-agent cornerback Eric Wright to help shore up its secondary.

The Buccaneers have released safety Tanard Jackson. The team said the 26-year-old failed a physical. Jackson has been recovering from a shoulder injury. Jackson started every game he ever played for the Buccaneers and has 10 career interceptions.

The Buccaneers have signed free agent defensive tackle Amobi Okoye to a one-year deal. Okoye, entering his sixth season in the NFL, played last year with the Bears and his first four with the Texans.

The Buccaneers have agreed to terms on a one-year deal with Amobi Okoye, according to a source. Bears general manager Phil Emery said during a conference call with season ticket holders earlier in the week that he expected Okoye, who spent just one season in Chicago, to sign with another team. "I think Amobi is trying to decide which direction he's going," Emery said. "We've had conversations with him. So far we haven't been able to work out a deal. I really believe that Amobi is probably going in a different direction."

The Buccaneers are looking to bolster their depth at defensive tackle. Amobi Okoye, a free agent, has emerged as one of the team's top options at the position. There is mutual interest between the Buccaneers and Okoye, who also is being pursued by the Broncos and Bengals. Derek Landri is another option at defensive tackle.

The Chargers added their third wide receiver/kick returner of free agency today, signing former Buccaneer Michael Spurlock to a one-year contract. Spurlock is in his fifth NFL season and the Chargers will be his fourth NFL team. He’s spent time with Arizona, San Francisco and Tampa Bay. Spurlock is one of only two players in Tampa Bay history with both a punt and kickoff return touchdown to his credit and he’s the first Buccaneer with two kickoff returns for touchdowns.