The Return Of Will Gholston
March 23rd, 2022
Bucs DL Will Gholston
So the Bucs got back a key piece of their defensive line when Will Gholston agreed to a new contract.
Though details of the contract were not released, Gholston cut a video that his agent sent out via his firm’s Twitter account. In it, Gholston said he is “back for another year.” If Joe takes that at face value, that means Gholston signed a one-year deal.
This will be Gholston’s 10th season with the Bucs. He is a true survivor of the Lost Decade having been drafted in 2013. He is damn good against the run and surprisingly has a decent amount of quarterback pressures.
Former Bucs coach Dirk Koetter used to refer to blue collar guys like Gholston as “glue guys.” Gholston may not be a star and may not be flamboyant but good teams have guys like Gholston that come in and play solid football week in and week. Dependable. Professional.
In other words, Gholston is the backbone of the Bucs’ defensive front.
Gholston was selected by former Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik in the fourth round.
Any time a third-day draft pick lasts 10 years in the NFL, that’s a helluva accomplishment.
Gholston, a Michigan State product, has come a long way from being homeless in high school. He’s a good dude. Reserved and a pro’s pro. Joe is happy his run-stuffing ways and sneaky-good pass rushing is back on the defensive front.
“It means a lot to stay home,” Gholston said in the video published by his agent.
Joe believes Bucs fans share Gholston’s feelings.
Will Gholston aka “Too Tall” is back with the @Buccaneers for another year! @WILL_GHOLSTON2 | #TeamIFA pic.twitter.com/WN3tXDxUzb
— Team IFA (@TeamIFA) March 22, 2022
March 23rd, 2022 at 12:01 am
Great to see him back!!!
March 23rd, 2022 at 12:10 am
I think the draft changes it’s format in 2010? Maybe I’m reading wrong but I’m certain Gholston and Akeem Spence were day 3 picks , 4th round in 2013. Maybe I’m wrong.
March 23rd, 2022 at 12:10 am
Happy for him and happy for us! Love to watch him get tackles for losses. It is soul crushing for opponents.
March 23rd, 2022 at 12:19 am
Fantastic news! Great to have big Will back in the fight! Love it!
March 23rd, 2022 at 12:22 am
Great to have you back will! Huge piece to our annual number one rush defense and he is starting to get closer to the QB. Suh and Gronk and we are wide open in the draft. JPP is a warrior but only if he is willing to resign a cheaper one year deal.
March 23rd, 2022 at 12:26 am
So glad he is back as he is very important, the bill is going to come due for all of this next year and in years to come but it is so much fun right now who cares? Lol
March 23rd, 2022 at 12:37 am
Bobojango:
Had no idea the draft has been three-days that long. Wow!
March 23rd, 2022 at 12:46 am
I believe Akheem Spence was drafted the pick before Will. 😀
March 23rd, 2022 at 12:51 am
No drama with this guy. He just balls. Hope he has a great season.
March 23rd, 2022 at 12:52 am
Team is intact heading in to draft.
LFG
March 23rd, 2022 at 1:14 am
After 2018, when he wasn’t all that productive and made $6.5m, pretty much everyone had him being cut. BUT, thanks to the way they structured his deal at signing, his salary was only $3.75m in 2019, and he was a better fit as a 3-4 end as opposed to a 4-3 end, so they Bucs brought him, and sudden he was a bargain in 2020 and 2021. Whoever did that contract for him, who had that low 2019 salary, should get some sort of award, because if his salary had be like $5m or higher, they surely would have cut him.
March 23rd, 2022 at 1:19 am
Great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
March 23rd, 2022 at 1:24 am
At this point, P Matt Araiza in the draft….I mean where we are is good, but we’re at whatever now LOL…CB Alontae Taylor
March 23rd, 2022 at 1:56 am
👍
March 23rd, 2022 at 2:07 am
Man, I spent all day prepping for an 8 pm broadcast (went really well), and only just got to read all of the new stuff from today. A lot has happened!!
I like it all too.
I hop we get Suh back…and Jones. I wouldn’t mind if JPP finished his career as a Buc.
Outside of Wil, the contracts have been for 3+ years…that makes me wonder if Tom is committing to more than one year if the Bucs can show him they’ll hold onto his guys long enough?
So far as the draft…we have to go QB unless the Bucs know something we don’t. But not in the first round…that? I think we go offensive line.
March 23rd, 2022 at 2:44 am
Gholston had 4.5 sacks in 2021, 3 sacks in 2020. Not impressive. Good guy, solid, yes. But could they have upgraded with a replacement instead?
JPP only had 2.5 sacks in 2021, 9.5 sacks in 2020. He was injured but how much does he have left at this late stage?
If this team wants to field a defense that scares the hell out of opponents, it needs more and better pass rushers.
Are we going to see more missed opportunities because they bring back guys we like, even though they underperformed and THERE ARE BETTER ON THE MARKET?
March 23rd, 2022 at 3:39 am
Right on, well deserved Will, glad to have you back!
March 23rd, 2022 at 5:29 am
Class move by the Bucs to bring back Will who brings his best effort when he steps the field.
March 23rd, 2022 at 5:48 am
Left Guard, Defensive Tackle, Middle Linebacker and Cornerback. First four rounds.
March 23rd, 2022 at 5:48 am
He lasted way longer than his cousin Vernon and I believe he was a 1st round pick. Then again Vernon played for the Jets and we know what they do to careers… Good luck Whitehead
March 23rd, 2022 at 5:57 am
DT’s don’t get too many sacks in a 3/4. I love this guy, hope he’s around a few more years. Jones, OTOH, hope he DOESN’T come back. His mind is messed up here, a new team (that ISN’T 65/35 pass/run) and he could beat Derrick Henry. He had untapped talent here, hope he had a better lot elsewhere
March 23rd, 2022 at 6:44 am
You can’t hold anything together without glue.
March 23rd, 2022 at 6:56 am
Madmax
I am pushing for same guy. Heck i would use both 7 round picks to move up into 6 just to be sure
I think the guy had three 70 yard punts in one game
Hits 80 yards every once in a while
And will run down field to tackle the guy
March 23rd, 2022 at 7:43 am
One of the best things to happen to Will was Todd Bowles 3-4 defense. Kudos to Will because he was not playing well beforehand in a 4-3.
It took a while, but good to see him back!
March 23rd, 2022 at 7:50 am
Love Will!!! Not only the 3-4, but I think he benefited from Suh. Suh and the 3-4 came at the same time.
March 23rd, 2022 at 7:58 am
A real NFL Pro !
March 23rd, 2022 at 8:05 am
Bonzai … ‘Outside of Wil, the contracts have been for 3+ years…that makes me wonder if Tom is committing to more than one year if the Bucs can show him they’ll hold onto his guys long enough?’
OR … Maybe it’s the Bucs’ way of trying to entice Tom Brady to go another year? Personally think that TB12 makes the retirement decision at the end of each year, even though his contract (to help the team) may extend for several years. At (soon-to-be) age 45 as a starting NFL QB, probably doesn’t pay to plan too far ahead. Hoping that we get 2022 AND 2023 out of him though.
March 23rd, 2022 at 8:52 am
Why do people on this site hate on Bradley Pinion?
He has been a good punter for us except when he had a right hip injury.
Seems like a right hip injury would make ever right leg punter less effective.
March 23rd, 2022 at 8:59 am
I can answer that for you geno711. He kicked to kickoffs out of bounds in a playoff game we lost by a field goal.
March 23rd, 2022 at 9:52 am
Welcome Home, Big Will!!
March 23rd, 2022 at 10:32 am
Geno711…I feel you. Every time I see him punt I’m like what the hell are these people talking about? That was terribly, hideously ugly kicks out of bounds, but he’s usually guaranteed boot out of the end zone.
March 23rd, 2022 at 10:51 am
one of my favorite signings, because I would hate to see him go elsewhere when he has been here as long as he has and he is still solid (he should retire a Buccaneer)
March 23rd, 2022 at 11:14 am
Bucsfanman … Interesting take on Will Gholston’ play improving in Bowles 3-4 defense. The stats for these past 3 years speak for themselves & reinforce your assessment, but it MIGHT go even deeper than that. Will’s always been great at defending the run, and Bowles defense puts a premium on that.
Also, these last 3 years he’s had Suh & Vea also on the DLine AND Shaq & JPP just outside. Will’s proven to be an extremely valuable part of that Front (especially since beefing up), but he’s been in very good company too.
March 23rd, 2022 at 12:54 pm
Defense Rules- Great point about his fellow DL It certainly helped him to elevate his game.
March 23rd, 2022 at 4:50 pm
Love Will Gholston, he is a Buc for life no matter what happens after this season. Wish we had a bunch more guys who puts out the kind of effort that Gholston does on every play.