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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted at 1:13 p.m., Tuesday, May 1, 2007

Chiefs first-round pick in 2002 traded to Bucs

Associated Press

TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers aren't finished seeking help for an aging defense.

Determined to get younger and better in 2007, the Bucs used seven of 10 picks in last weekend draft to select defensive players. Today, they acquired defensive tackle Ryan Sims, the sixth overall pick in 2002, who was a huge disappointment in five seasons with Kansas City.

The Chiefs received an undisclosed future draft pick.

The 6-foot-4, 315-pound Sims was often overweight and injured in Kansas City. He appeared in 59 games with 36 starts. Over that span, he had 149 tackles — 79 unassisted — with five sacks, one interception, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

He played in 17 games last season, including the Chiefs' first-round playoff loss at Indianapolis. His best season was 2003, when made a career-high 16 starts and had three sacks, one interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

With the Bucs, Sims will compete for a job on a line expected to be bolstered by first-round draft pick Gaines Adams. Chris Hovan and Ellis Wyms are the incumbent starters at tackle, and the Bucs signed free agent end Kevin Carter with intentions of taking a look at him at tackle, too.

The Bucs slipped to 17th in total defense in 2006 after ranking in the Top 10 for 10 consecutive seasons.