BUCS EYEING NEW PLAYERS

With a pre-free agency total of $44 million in 2008 cap dollars to spend and a minimum expenditure of $28 million in order to comply with the salary floor, the Buccaneers are looking hard for new players.

Our friends at Pewter Report report that the Bucs are interested in Seahawks receiver D.J. Hackett, Seahawks linebacker Niko Koutouvides, Saints running back Aaron Stecker, and Bears tight end John Gilmore.

Visits are being arranged for Stecker and Gilmore.

Also, a league source tells us that Chiefs defensive end Jimmy Wilkerson is heading to Tampa on Friday for a visit with the Bucs. Pewter Report reports that the Bucs are not pursuing Bengals defensive end Justin Smith.