By With the NFL draft just days away, I’m sure the Buccaneers have a pretty good idea what side of the ball they are going to focus on in the draft.
To most of us, who watched the defense collapse game after game down the stretch last season, there should be no debate about what area to draft.
Defense. Defense. Defense.
The Buccaneers are coming off a season in which they missed the playoffs for the first time in five seasons, finishing 8-9.
Sacks numbers are down, and there is a lack of speed and athleticism at linebacker.
There is also no edge rusher on the roster that opposing offenses have to game-plan for or strikes fear in the heart of the opponent.
Jason Licht and the front office know that the defense is the big area of concern on this team.
The Buccaneers need an edge rusher and also need to find a replacement for Lavonte David. The secondary is another area that could use some depth.
But will Jason Licht draft for defensive help? Will he draft for need, or will he be seduced by a sexy offensive player such as a wide receiver, running back, or tight end?
Twice, Licht has drafted an edge rusher/linebacker. In 2015, the Buccaneers drafted LB Kwon Alexander out of LSU, and in 2019, LSU LB Devin White.
Sometimes I get the feeling Licht can’t help himself. He will, at times, draft the best available player on the board, while bypassing the team’s most pressing needs.
The front office has not done a good job of drafting edge rushers overall.
Outside of Yaya Diaby, who has made an impact as an edge rusher year after year?
Chris Braswell, Noah Spence, anyone?
The Bucs only had 37 sacks last season, their lowest total since Todd Bowles took over as defensive coordinator in 2019.
Jason Licht stated the obvious at an offseason press conference when discussing the upcoming draft.
“It’s obvious the NFL is a pressure game. And you need to get pressure on the quarterback. We were in a lot of close, tight games. But in order to take the next step from where we were previously to 2025, I think we need to get more pressure on the quarterback.”
Thus, the importance of defense early in the upcoming draft is.
Licht also admits there have been some big misses when it comes to focusing on defense early in the draft.
“I don’t want to say it’s about taking chances and rolling the dice. You try to be as scientific as possible. Not all of them work out, and I’m not naming anybody in particular. But yes, we have taken a look at that, and we need to get better. We always need to get better. I need to do a better job of identifying the traits of players that have worked out versus the traits that haven’t.”
It’s disappointing when the most pressing needs are on defense, and the team drafts offense first, as they have the last two years in wide receiver Emeka Egbuka and center Graham Barton.
You can bet that Atlanta, New Orleans, and Carolina are hoping that Licht fumbles this pick and the defense continues to be a problem
The Bucs pick at number sixteen in the first round, and there should be plenty of A-grade defensive talent available when the Buccaneers pick.
LB CJ Allen of Georgia is one name that keeps popping up as a good fit for Tampa.
Sonny Styles of Ohio State, Rueben Bain Jr. of Miami, and David Bailey of Texas Tech, the top edge rusher in this draft, will be off the board by the time the Buccaneers pick at number 15.
However, there should be a quality edge rusher available when the Buccaneers are on the clock.
Besides Allen, Jaocob Rodriguez of Texas Tech, Akeeem Mesidor of Miami, Kedrick Faulk of Auburn, Cashious Howell from Texas A@M, and TJ Parker of Clemson should be sitting there when the Buccaneers make their selection.
Let’s hope the Buccaneers look to fill their defensive needs in the draft rather than take the best player on the board.
The Bucs did not do enough in free agency to adequately address the defense’s needs.
This draft addresses the Buccaneers’ needs. Will they take advantage of it? is the question.
