Drafting A Replacement For Ndamukong Suh
March 23rd, 2021
Some have him Bucs-bound.
Joe is just going to take a wild stab and guess that this will be the final season Ndamukong Suh plays for the Bucs.
Suh, 34, isn’t what he used to be but he’s still damn effective. He is a horse in the running game,, had 7 1/2 sacks through 20 games last season, and still has enough swag, street cred and orneriness to get in a quarterback’s head, right Aaron Rodgers?
Now where could you get a replacement for Suh? A couple of media types out there think the guy to replace Suh is working out for NFL folks today. That would be Alabama defensive lineman Christian Barmore.
Both helmet hair Mel Kiper and the PFF tribe both published articles today touting Barmore as the next man up for Suh.
Wrote Kiper, of BSPN, is his weekly mock draft:
The Bucs have spent free agency getting the band back together for another season, with wide receiver Chris Godwin, tight end Rob Gronkowski and edge rusher Shaquil Barrett among the players who have been re-signed. Barmore could be a replacement for Ndamukong Suh, who doesn’t yet have a free-agent deal. Barmore was a game-wrecker down the stretch for the Crimson Tide, with five sacks in his final five games. He would be an outstanding fit next to nose tackle Vita Vea, who has emerged as one of the most dominant defensive linemen in the NFL.
Anthony Treash of the PFF tribe had the following to type about Barmore and the Bucs.
Tampa has no glaring need on the roster. They pulled off the inevitable and brought back their marquee free agents with little cap room to speak of. The roster is not perfect, but they should be entering the 2021 NFL Draft with the idea of taking the best player available on the board (really every team should). The best-case scenario for them in the draft is Alabama interior defensive lineman Christian Barmore, as that position isn’t as strong as others on their depth chart. Barmore comes in at No. 14 on PFF’s board, but he is someone we’re higher on than others.
Barmore was the unheralded superstar of the Crimson Tide’s CFP run, feasting on two of the best offensive lines in the country on the game’s biggest stage. Against Notre Dame and Ohio State, Barmore picked up a 91.3 pass-rush grade, 12 total pressures and 10 defensive stops. With his build, flexibility and hand usage, Barmore has all the fixings to become a stud at the next level. Todd Bowles dialing up blitzes and stunts with Barmore, Vita Vea, Shaq Barrett and JPP would be a nightmare for opposing offensive lines.
Joe is of a different mind. Oh, perhaps in any other year Barmore would be a fine pick (though Joe is always skittish of Bama linemen because they never seem to dominate on the next level like they do in college).
The Bucs have made it crystal clear they are “Going for Two.” So Joe wants the Bucs — at whatever position they choose at No. 32 — to get a guy who has the best chance for an immediate impact. This is not the year to fill a valuable roster spot with a guy who needs developing. No sir.
That’s why Joe believes if running back Travis Etienne falls, the Bucs should be all over him.
March 23rd, 2021 at 12:35 pm
There are some interesting articles about Sapp’s workout with Barmore in Tampa. He absolutely hates the young man. Bad technique, doesn’t take direction (from a HOF), and his tape is underwhelming.
That said, Sapp doesn’t like a lot of people … not a lot of people like Sapp.
It is interesting that the Bucs bring in Sapp for evaluations.
March 23rd, 2021 at 12:39 pm
The only good thing about taking him in the first round is Sapp vowed to stay off of social media if any team took him in the first. Said he is 4th round talent after working him out. In Jason I shall trust.
March 23rd, 2021 at 12:40 pm
This is very interesting. At least Sapp has worked with the kid first-hand. It’s very telling.
Also remember Sapp scoffed at the Bucs drafting Vita Vea. While Sapp (so far) was correct that Vea wouldn’t be durable, Vea’s lack of complete seasons have had nothing to do with the Florida climate.
March 23rd, 2021 at 12:41 pm
Joe …if both available
You would take etienne
Over
Najee harris
March 23rd, 2021 at 12:44 pm
Sapp actually said myles garrett was not worth it
Sapp ripped vea as well.
Maybe this barrmore will be good then. 😂. Some people just are terrible talent evaluators .. joe knows what i am talking about 😂
March 23rd, 2021 at 12:45 pm
I don’t think we need to replace Suh. He waited a bit last year before re-signing. He’s doing the same this year. He’ll re-sign because it will get him another ring.
Brady is turning this team into a dynasty before he retires.
I say re-sign Suh, sign Gerald McCoy as depth on the cheap, and then use our first draft pick on a quarterback to groom.
Next year we can draft a DT to groom and replace Suh.
March 23rd, 2021 at 12:45 pm
Sapp said he’s a 3rd rounder.
March 23rd, 2021 at 12:47 pm
If John Elway can repeat before retiring, Tom Brady can threepeat before retiring.
March 23rd, 2021 at 12:49 pm
Nick Bolton from Missouri is a Stud a hell of a player , reminds me of Shaq. Bolton is the guy a lot of guru’s have Tampa picking, it’s worth a trade up cause Packers like him too.
March 23rd, 2021 at 12:51 pm
Drafting Alabama players scares the hell out of me.
March 23rd, 2021 at 12:51 pm
I’m going with Sapp’s analysis on this one. He might not always be right when it comes to draft picks, but when he says a kid doesn’t take to instruction that is a concern to me. Pass.
March 23rd, 2021 at 12:52 pm
This draft is weak at DT but solid at other positions (3-4 OLB, WR, and OL). Take the BPA and bolster depth.
March 23rd, 2021 at 12:58 pm
What Sapp said
March 23rd, 2021 at 12:58 pm
gotbbucs … So true.
Alabama has so much talent guys can look better than they are. Take Mac Jones. Who wouldn’t put up great stats surrounded by that oline and three Heisman candidates at WR and RB. How good is he? Tough to say.
That said, Evan Neal. OMG! Wirfs v2.
March 23rd, 2021 at 1:01 pm
IMO, the Bucs have a glaring need: OLB depth. Anthony Nelson and Cam Gill aren’t good enough. Jason Licht can sign a veteran (Melvin Ingram? Carlos Dunlop? Olivier Vernon?) or draft a new guy (1st or 2nd round)
A back up SS is another position that must be addressed
And what about KR? Why not sign Cordarrelle Patterson? He’s amazing returning kicks and can be used in gimmick plays running and receiving
Interior DL must be addressed, too. An early pick in the draft is a possibility. Geno Atkins seems to be a good sign in the short term in a rotational role. GMC is another possibility but he’s injury prone at this point of his career and has a great number of haters in the fan base, so I don’t think he’s the best choice.
I think that the Bucs approach will be: wait until the draft, pick the best player available and, if there’s some remaining needs, sign the veterans that are still unsigned (and I think that there will be a lot of them)
March 23rd, 2021 at 1:09 pm
1) Bucs are not going to replace a 5x pro bowler and 2nd overall pick in the draft with the 32nd pick.
2) Carlton Davis and Jerome Whitehead will be free agents after this year – Bucs need to draft secondary among their top picks.
March 23rd, 2021 at 1:11 pm
If it comes down to AB or Suh. Sign AB and draft Suh’s replacement.
Keeping the offense on the field will keep them off the field.
March 23rd, 2021 at 1:13 pm
^ Jordan
Just dated myself
March 23rd, 2021 at 1:17 pm
Am I one of the only non idiots that realize we don’t even use our very good #1 RB??? Vaughn is an amazing pass blocking RB so theirs no need for a third down back with Bruce Arians offense. The ones calling for Najee Harris are the real dumbos. That guy is a BUST. Lack of speed, stutter steps, spin moves will not fly in the NFL compared to being with Alabama teams loaded with the best year after year. His longest TD run at four years at UA was 53 yards. Tom showed everyone he doesn’t need a receiver RB to win a history making Super Bowl.
March 23rd, 2021 at 1:18 pm
I heard a.Boston sports radio station say Bucs were looking at Lawrence Guy if Suh doesn’t sign. Not sure how credible source is.
March 23rd, 2021 at 1:18 pm
I agree Joe with drafting for immediate impact.
“taking the best player available on the board (really every team should)”… this is such a stupid myth. If you have 4 all-pro quarterbacks, would you really draft another QB if that was the best player? Nope. So why should it be different at any other position?
What that dumb jockspeak means is not to be afraid to take backups rather than starters because they often become starters down the line. But if you have young stars at a position, and considerable depth, that is just ludicrous. Trade the pick if nothing else.
March 23rd, 2021 at 1:20 pm
The draft picks will all be developmental players. All rookies have to develop to make it on the next level. That will be especially true from rounds 3 and onward. We pick the last pick in every round too. So that #32 pick is only 1 sport away from the 2nd round.
So since Joe only wants highly experienced players taking up roster spots, maybe we shouldn’t draft at all?
March 23rd, 2021 at 1:30 pm
I had to laugh when hearing Sapp’s critique of Barmore. Sapp also said he thought Levi Onwuzurike (the Washington DT some people have mocked to the Bucs in the 1st) is a 3rd Round guy, too. Take it for what it’s worth though, I don’t think Sapp likes many DT’s.
March 23rd, 2021 at 1:36 pm
Carlos Alvarez: Nick Bolton is good, but wouldn’t he be more of an ILB in the Bucs current system? I think of Bolton as more of a 4-3 OLB/ILB type at 6’0″, 232, but then again Shaq isn’t very big either.
March 23rd, 2021 at 1:45 pm
What happens if Shaq or JPP go down for the year? We are screwed. I’m throwing at least 3 darts at edge rushers in this year’s draft if we can’t pick up someone like Justin Houston on the cheap.
March 23rd, 2021 at 1:52 pm
Bird, check out what Najee Harris did in the last 24 hours; the bucs would be lucky if they could draft him
March 23rd, 2021 at 2:08 pm
SOEbuc: It might be a little early to call Najee Harris an NFL bust.
March 23rd, 2021 at 2:15 pm
If Suh is signed, I’d rather use the pick on an edge rusher……draft seems deeper at that position and I agree that we need rotational players there….
March 23rd, 2021 at 2:23 pm
It’s interesting to hear Sapp say anything about a draft pick considering that when he had a chance to be the number one pick overall but decided to get high instead — at a time when marijuana was the death knell for any draft pick.
March 23rd, 2021 at 2:23 pm
this is one of the weakest interior defensive lineman classes in 15 years. I would draft edge.
March 23rd, 2021 at 2:31 pm
Don’t sell yourself short there SOEbuc!
We don’t know a whole lot about Vaughn, though I would like to see more before making assumptions. RB is not a “need”. Frankly, Etienne is the only back I would consider anyways. He’s truly an “all-purpose back”!
March 23rd, 2021 at 2:36 pm
Yep
If Etienne and Harris is gone Javonne Williams.
March 23rd, 2021 at 2:43 pm
Probably. Etienne is more of a complete back. As for just running between those two? Flip a coin.
March 23rd, 2021 at 2:45 pm
That should be addressed later in free agency when only the cheap guys are available. Rarely do rookie pass rushers make an impact. Can’t say never, but Joe is not one to bank on an outlier.
March 23rd, 2021 at 2:47 pm
ModHairKen: I think the Sapp rumor was about cocaine, and it wouldn’t surprise me if the Bucs themselves started the rumors to manipulate the draft. If so, it worked.
March 23rd, 2021 at 2:52 pm
After OJ Howard and Mark Barron- no Alabama players.
In first 3 rounds- I hope they draft an efge rusher, a DT, and an O
March 23rd, 2021 at 2:55 pm
. . . OT, in any order
March 23rd, 2021 at 2:58 pm
Joe, I would normally disagree and not want to pass up a chance for future depth…but I agree that the goal is always to win another SB. After sucking for so many years, the future is now!
March 23rd, 2021 at 3:25 pm
Yes, never mind that a guy from Alabama lead the NFL in rushing. All those guys are bad. 🙄
March 23rd, 2021 at 3:49 pm
Licht has shown to be very effective finding quality players in the draft, so I trust him and the scouts to get it right.
March 23rd, 2021 at 3:54 pm
Gotta agree with Sapp. Not seeing a lot of speed, not seeing a lot of moves. And if *Sapp* thinks you’re an a**, what the hell. And Sapp’s only beef with Vea was his size in this heat…but also Sapp is still thinking DTs need to be 4-3 Dungy players, and the Bucs don’t do that anymore.
March 23rd, 2021 at 3:57 pm
Joe, can’t agree with you comment that it must be they “take a guy that will have immediate impact”. First off, they’ve resigned most all of their SB winning roster, those guys ooze immediate impact. Second, Licht has done an incredible job bringing in impactful rookies at the positions with the most need for several years now.
Therefore, Licht SHOULD look beyond immediate needs, and instead consider where the the depth is thin, prioritize them, and then draft accordingly.
If that were the topic here today, while TB is in-house, I would be one fan who says NOW is the time to draft the QB of the future. Let’s bring in a smart, thirsty to learn QB who been slighted by those “experts” who don’t see them as a top-self QB. Great motivation to learn from a former 6th round pick who’s the GOAT!
Maybe it’s FL’s Task, or Texas’ Ehlinger, but let’s not wait until the Bucs have earned at top-10 pick again, okay?
March 23rd, 2021 at 4:15 pm
Bucs should look hard at Azeez Olujari because he is a faster version of Shaq with a more polished tool kit than Shaq did coming out of college.
Secondly I would look into Patrick Jones II. A really impressive athlete, great quickness and pursuit; he always seems to be around the football. Additionally, he has an impressive bull rush/swim move but needs to further develop his set of pass rush moves to be considered elite.
March 23rd, 2021 at 4:38 pm
If we go DT in the 1st, Daviyon Nixon please.
But I think we can still land Darius Stills in the 3rd.
My board is still :
Zaven Collins
Najee Harris
Frieremuth
Etienne
or find a trade down partner with their top 5-7 of the 2nd and still might be able to grab one of the above, but if they’re gone, OT/G Jackson Carman. Then trade down our original 2nd rd pick for a top 5-7 of the 3rd for Stills.
Then we can fill some quality depth with our last 3rd rd pick and the remaining picks….
Im telling you, this Collins kid and Frieremuth are going to be needed when JPP and Gronk are gone. Might as well get it done now.
March 23rd, 2021 at 5:10 pm
What, is this story a joke? Sign Suh and quit wasting everyone’s time.
March 23rd, 2021 at 5:10 pm
What, is this story a joke? Sign Suh and quit wasting everyone’s time.
March 23rd, 2021 at 5:41 pm
Suh’s coming back. The kid would be the future, and good depth. I would love Travis Etty in the first round. I think he’d help our defense more then a defender who needs to develop. He’d help our D by making our O scary good. A back that can run, and take a Brady check down to the house would be something to add.
March 23rd, 2021 at 5:56 pm
There’s no reason why Suh should not return. In fact, he owes it to himself to have his best season ever. Just sayin…
March 23rd, 2021 at 6:05 pm
Vaughn had PFF highest rating for RB pass blocking. His lone TD was a nice grab bulldozing two guys to the pile on against the Chargers.
I wanna trade 32 and build more picks cus the DT is not looking strong in the draft and Licht knows how to pick em after one.
March 23rd, 2021 at 6:20 pm
Arians doesn’t need a receiving back, but Brady’s always used one, from Kevin Faulk to Dion Lewis to James White, whose 14 catches won SB 50.
Ke’Shawn Vaughn dropped 30% balls thrown to him last season.
March 23rd, 2021 at 6:46 pm
Bucky Brooks came out with a mock that had the Bucs taking Mac Jones at 32. I mean, really? Dude gets paid, at least TRY to make an effort to make a mock some what believable. What an eeeeeeediot, what a joke!
March 23rd, 2021 at 7:24 pm
Agree with Joe about Etienne if he’s there and about the underwhelming recent history of Bama D-linemen in the NFL. And we are already being short-changed by one Bama 1st-rounder, too, let’s not forget. Re-sign Suh, sign Dunlap for a year with incentives, draft interior D line next year.
March 23rd, 2021 at 7:47 pm
I’d be happy with either Harris or Etienne. Both can be game wreckers
March 23rd, 2021 at 9:23 pm
Suh is a true ‘once-in-a-generation’ player. GMC may have been picked right after him, but they were light years apart in terms of talent IMO.
Same goes for this year though. There’s no DT in the draft who even comes close to matching Suh’s talent. And Lord only knows what’d be left by the time our #32 pick rolls around. Even the decent FAs have already been signed.
Bucs best bet IMO is to re-sign Suh to a 2-year contract & draft a pass rusher with our 1st or 2nd pick, then focus on drafting a DT high next year to replace Suh the following year. At least that way he’d get to learn from the best for 1 year prior to jumping in to the starting rotation.
March 23rd, 2021 at 9:24 pm
Lambchop … I’d take Mac Jones in a heartbeat if he fell to #32. He won’t. Every mock draft has him now going in the 1st round, and often in the Top-10.
March 23rd, 2021 at 9:25 pm
BigMacAttack … I’d also be happy with either Harris or Etienne.
March 23rd, 2021 at 9:45 pm
@Defense Rules,
Yea, he’s a no-brainer at 32, but that ain’t happening. He’s not going to fall to 32.
March 23rd, 2021 at 11:24 pm
Rbs can be dime a dozen but Joe gotta say watching Etiennes highlights the glaring thing that sticks out about him to me is he gets to top speed almost instantly. Dude is impressive!
March 23rd, 2021 at 11:24 pm
And what about kahlil davis
March 23rd, 2021 at 11:39 pm
Harris and Etienne both will probably be there. Teams need O line and QB’s and wideouts and CB’s. Why…because us. We’re too much for them.
We’re probably going to lose Lenny, so Harris would be a great replacement with his size. I just know we’re going to run into this conundrum….Zaven, Harris, Etienne and Frieremuth will be there at 32 and im gonna be like you have to be fn kidding me! Kid in a candy store with a 5 dollar bill and only allowed to spend 1 on one piece, lol….i see it.
March 24th, 2021 at 1:02 am
I like Levi Onwuzurike for a DT at 32. Very long and fast off the snap. Very good against the run. Keep the best run defense you put him next to his Husky brother. If this entire LV team is returning these are guys that might have starter potential but sit year one. There’s still a lot of time left in FA and the draft, but I believe DT,C,OT,CB need to be addressed. We really need depth at CB.
March 24th, 2021 at 4:26 pm
Trade down and pick up an extra pick.