Devonte Wyatt And The Bucs
April 27th, 2022
Offers advice.
Anyone who follows prickly Pete Prisco of CBS Sports on social media or watches his videos knows he is very firm in his beliefs and is never afraid to share them or even tangle with coaches in person.
So Prisco decided to do an anti-mock draft. It’s a draft where he selects the players and positions based only on what he thinks the team should do.
And with the Bucs, Prisco believes their pick is Georgia defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt.
There are some character concerns for Wyatt, but he is a force inside and they need help next to Vita Vea. Wyatt would give them a nice power player on the inside who can push the pocket.
Look, Joe is not opposed to drafting a defensive tackle but believes that’s like a third or fourth priority (provided Ndamukong Suh returns).
When exactly did Will Gholston get bad? Is Rakeem Nuñez-Roches “Nacho” suddenly miserable? The Bucs won 29 games the past two years with Vea, Gholston, Suh and Nacho playing defensive tackle. Where exactly is the hole here? Where is the need? Joe cannot see it.
It’s not like the Bucs are banking on guitar-strumming, gun-totin’ Da’Quan Bowers or kneeling Akeem Spence. What next, the Bucs have a hole at right tackle?
Are the defensive tackles getting old? Sure, but that’s about the future. The Bucs are in a win-now mode. The Bucs need a guy making plays this year.
If it wasn’t Super Bowl-or-bust in 2022, Joe could understand why so many are begging for a defensive tackle. Instead, it is very much Super Bowl-or-bust and the Bucs have an excellent tackle rotation.
Now if Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht knows Suh won’t be back, that changes the picture entirely.
April 27th, 2022 at 4:02 am
They need help with the pass rush.
The overwhelming majority of us want a pass rushing dt.
Per your own poll.
April 27th, 2022 at 4:25 am
OMG stop with the FAKE NEWS!
Gholston, Vita and Suh are not all defensive tackles! Vita is a DT, Gholston and Suh, in this defense, are DE’s!
It’s madness this attempt to change the meaning of words.
Just because a DE identifies as a DT, doesn’t make him a DT, he’s just a DE with a mental disorder.
April 27th, 2022 at 4:57 am
With that logic, where is the need anywhere? Assuming Gronk comes back there is no need at TE. We won 29 games over the past 2 years with this group of CBs so that isn’t a need. Maybe S to replace Whitehead but we’ve added there too. Maybe LG as its weaker, but RG is stronger. Genuinely interested to know what you think the priorities are.
Also worth noting DT/DE is one of the few positions where players are rotated so a rookie will see significant playing time. At OL, CB, LB, RB etc. they will only contribute if they win a starting job or due to injury.
April 27th, 2022 at 5:11 am
‘Provided Ndamukong Suh returns’. That’s the key to the DT puzzle. At this point Suh’s not on our roster that I can see. IF we don’t draft a DT high, we’d be betting our whole season on Suh returning. Besides that, his defensive snaps have been going down steadily every year; no reason to believe they’ll magically go way back up.
2018: 888 def snaps … 92.5% of total def plays (960)
2019: 874 def snaps … 81.5% of total def plays (1073)
2020: 786 def snaps … 76.8% of total def plays (1023)
2021: 717 def snaps … 65.6% of total def plays (1093)
Reality seems to be that Suh wasn’t nearly as good in 2021 as he was in 2020, despite playing in all the games both years. Father Time is still undefeated, and eventually catches up with everyone. Still, would love to have him (and especially his leadership) anchoring our DLine this year. But not at an exorbitant price and assuming that we draft a starter-capable DT to rotate in with him and learn from him.
April 27th, 2022 at 5:23 am
Suh and Mclendon are not on this roster today. Assuming Suh is coming back is still a bold assumption, and if he does you know it will be a 1 year deal.
Why is the same logic for arguing about the future at safety and CB not being applied to the DT position, where there is presently an open roster spot unlike the secondary? Double standard!
April 27th, 2022 at 5:46 am
Joe always says you can’t have enough pass rushers. Wyatt would be a pash rusher who can rotate in and play from the start. He can help this year. DT, TE then CB on days 1 and 2.
April 27th, 2022 at 5:53 am
Very interesting DR,
Who would of thought that the our defense in 2021 would be on the field for 133 more snaps than the 2018 previous regime.
Hope we can get our defense off the field more in 2022.
Also think that when a big play was absolutely essential it was Suh who found the inner strength to deliver.
April 27th, 2022 at 6:29 am
Bob in Valrico … Those 2018 stats for Suh are when he was with the Rams (they lost in the SB that year). That must’ve been a fascinating defense though. Their defense ranked #20 that year (offense ranked #2), and gave up 24 PPG. Not exactly sterling.
Yet they only allowed opponents 960 plays on the season (only 60 plays/game). It didn’t make any sense until looking at 2 stats: (1) they forced 30 turnovers that year; and (2) they only allowed opponents to convert on 3rd down on 37.2% of their opportunities. Awesome stats in those 2 categories.
Interestingly, the Rams’ defense had 41 sacks that season. Aaron Donald had 20.5 of those … exactly half. Gee it’s nice to have a pass rush.
April 27th, 2022 at 6:29 am
Curious joe do you think if suh doesn’t come back then we should draft a DT ? You can never go wrong with fortifying the trenches. I tho would like a DB or pass rusher. Dean n smb need to be pushed with better competition n if they get hurt we lack depth. Also when saq goes MIA n JTS still developing we need to get pressure to help out our DBs. In todays NFL you can’t have to many pass rushers or DBs
April 27th, 2022 at 6:52 am
I was on board with Devonte Wyatt until I read that he has had FIVE domestic violence incidents. That sounds like a very unstable individual (read: Antoni Brown). He’s also extremely talented, and could help immediately in our rotation, but what about the next time he gets popped for another domestic or something else. 2nd round pick? Sure. Not at 27.
April 27th, 2022 at 6:56 am
DR,
MY bad , you are still the professor of stats ,IMO.
April 27th, 2022 at 7:13 am
Joe runs multiple polls where DT is overwhelming voted by fans as the pick they want, then proceeds to make articles practically mocking them to get clicks. Well done my man, no hate its just business right.
Unless some crazy player falls to us (which there aren’t many of), they really feel the need to go G with one of the 2 top ones (if they are there), or we get a very nice deal to trade down. If Wyatt is there I 100% believe he should be the pick as well. He can help now AND is a future pick.
April 27th, 2022 at 7:13 am
Completely disagree Joe. I think the film shows that one of our weaknesses is not consistently generating pass rush pressure up the middle. That’s why Bowles is always doing his dumb safety blitzes, to make up for the inconsistency.
They keep Vita on a snap count. Gholston and Nacho are run stuffers. We need a successor to GMC.
I’d like to add, our record against the Saints since Gerald Mccoy left is miserable. And how did you beat Drew Brees? Pressure in his face.
Pass rushers and weapons!
April 27th, 2022 at 7:13 am
Unless by some miracle Jordan Davis is there for us at 27, defensive tackle can wait until the second or third round. From what I’ve read on the nfl’s site and a few other places, there just isn’t a massive difference between the other tackles expected to go late in round one or sometime in round three.
Our corners outside of Davis are not good and we should be hell bent on getting at least two more potential starters either in this draft or a trade. Also, every single one of our at least decent corners has proven beyond a shadow of any doubt that they are injury prone. Please fix our mess at corner Mr. Licht so that we don’t have to suffer through the same nonesense that we did with them last year.
April 27th, 2022 at 7:22 am
Devonte Wyatt is the Warren Sapp of this draft. If he’s there at 27, take him.
April 27th, 2022 at 7:34 am
The one true need that needs to be addressed is at guard. So many of are fans seem perfectly content going into the season four good players on the offensive. You are fine replacing a pro bowler with a guy who wasn’t even drafted and is a career backup. As the saying goes a chain is only as strong as it’s weakest link. You trot Stinnie out there for an entire season there is a good chance Brady gets hurt at some point. If that happens all of this talk about running it back is pointless.
April 27th, 2022 at 7:34 am
Our not are
April 27th, 2022 at 7:35 am
Wake up Suh is 35!!!!!!! It doesn’t make any difference if he comes back or not. He only played 60% of the snaps last year. He will be lucky to play 50% this year. Gholston wrong side of thirty and average player.
April 27th, 2022 at 7:36 am
George Karllaftis no brainer.
April 27th, 2022 at 7:52 am
Munch, I see what you did there…lol
April 27th, 2022 at 8:04 am
Im ok with Wyatt, dont care about the off field stuff. Probably wont be there though at 27.
And this is assuming Suh doesnt return (i think he will, him and Gronk both, thats why Brady restructured)
But lets get WR first then work on Hall or Karlaftis 2nd…
April 27th, 2022 at 8:11 am
If you remember there were concerns about a guy named Warren Sapp out of Miami….How did that work out for the Bucs? Don’t need an Angel playing DT. A lot of NFL folks claimed Suh was a dirty player…looks like he has had a great career so far. I say if he is there take him. He is a stud D-Lineman and you can never have enough of those. A strong pass rush makes the secondary better. Again Offense sells tickets Defence wins Games!
April 27th, 2022 at 8:19 am
Max we just gave $10M to gage. I’m sure the plan is to have him be the number two if Godwin needs more time at the start of the season. They absolutely should not use a first rounder on a WR that will be a #4 on this roster. Oh sure he may be a #3 for a few games but that would be a massive waste of a pick that doesn’t address a true need and an instant impact player.
April 27th, 2022 at 8:19 am
I’m willing to be open minded with our first pick as far as position…..I really think it will depend on the available player……it could be a DT, DE, CB, S, ILB, OG
Licht should take the highest player on his board at 27 & we don’t know who that will be until the pick.
I suspect the Brady restructure to bring in Gronk & the D. Smith restructure to bring in Suh.
April 27th, 2022 at 8:29 am
Joe a first round DT will have more and impact than a second round DT. You still find a impact DB in the second round AKA Winfield JR.
April 27th, 2022 at 8:31 am
Wyatt is a player. He helps now and helps locks up the future DT position. I believe he can also take snaps at end.
April 27th, 2022 at 8:36 am
@Bunch, it IS a true need. What if Godwin is out the first 6 games, or doesnt return the same, or gets hurt again? This will also serve as a cheap future option for some years when we need to direct funds elsewhere. You dont get it…thats ok.
April 27th, 2022 at 8:38 am
Much rock on; and the bucs desperately need quality NFL corners, because Dean and SMB are just meh, but at the same token the bucs desperately need a clog in the middle. The bucs also need a stud WR due to CG not being serviceable for the first half of the season
April 27th, 2022 at 8:42 am
We can grab this guy when he’s a free agent in two years. See Isaiah Wilson
April 27th, 2022 at 8:53 am
The one true need that needs to be addressed is at guard. So many of are fans seem perfectly content going into the season four good players on the offensive. You are fine replacing a pro bowler with a guy who wasn’t even drafted and is a career backup. As the saying goes a chain is only as strong as it’s weakest link. You trot Stinnie out there for an entire season there is a good chance Brady gets hurt at some point. If that happens all of this talk about running it back is pointless.
TOTALLY AGREE
GO BUCS!!!!!
April 27th, 2022 at 8:56 am
Totally Agree- BradyBunch, did not put your Name on your comment I copied and pasted
again Totally Agree
GO BUCS!!!!!
April 27th, 2022 at 9:01 am
If the Bucs plan to bring Sue back, I think the Bucs will draft a CB like Hill or Elam in the first round. Think Hill would be ideal as he can play CB and Safety. At any rate Bucs also need a DT, Edge, and OG out of this draft.
April 27th, 2022 at 9:25 am
You need two DT and 3 defensive ends minimum in our 3-4 defense. We have the 2 dts in vea and nacho, but even if Suh comes back that third guy will be sharing a significant amount of time rotating in with him/Gholston. That and Suh is slowing down. Would be foolish to go into the season with nobody to rotate in and god forbid an injury
April 27th, 2022 at 9:32 am
Great talent but hes already 24 and has issues. I can see the bucs passing on ihm if hes there.
April 27th, 2022 at 9:34 am
@ Rod
“Just because a DE identifies as a DT, doesn’t make him a DT, he’s just a DE with a mental disorder.”
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
Most under appreciated comment of the day! Hilarious…
April 27th, 2022 at 9:56 am
Why do you call them character issues instead of a bunch of domestic violence charges?
April 27th, 2022 at 10:23 am
They specifically mention pass rush up the middle as an area of concern so seems pretty obvious that the coaching staff is not content with what they had and you shouldn’t be as a team you should always strive to be better if Wyatt is there he would impact the team this season and that’s what a first round pick should do.
April 27th, 2022 at 10:40 am
Are we also forgetting about the Rams? Joe has specifically called out the fact that you die by the blitz against them so shouldn’t we be trying become a bit more capable of not always having to blitz?
April 27th, 2022 at 10:53 am
J03 can’t see the need because he doesn’t understand logic. And he has a blind spot… and because he’s ignoring the fact that Suh (if he returns) and Gholston are on one year deals… and because he mistakenly believes that being all-in means you don’t look beyond this year… and he forgets that we need more pass rush from the front 3… and he’s fixated on doing stupid shyte like picking a WR in round 1… or because he thinks that only 4 out of 5 starters set on the O-line means we’re desperate for a guard. And J03 seems to have forgotten that great defenses start with a deep defensive line. Right now, if one of our DL starters goes down, we are officially phouecked.
3rd or 4th priority? Most people can see it’s the #1 priority. Why not J03?
April 27th, 2022 at 10:54 am
Max they currently have ME, CG, Gage, Perriman who played very well in their absence a couple years ago, Tyler Johnson, Grayson, and even Scotty Miller. Thank god you are one of the very few that want to waste a first rounder on that position. I’m quite sure Licht is in agreement with the majority and will try to match his board ranking with need and fortify the trenches. I’m hoping it’s a guard but defensive line maybe if they can draft a good one in the second.
April 27th, 2022 at 11:02 am
He won’t be here at 27. He or Davis would be wonderful here, but not likely. CB, IOL, or Safety.
April 27th, 2022 at 11:10 am
Win now and win later. We still need to be building towards the future. I’m not with this just disregard we need players to also groom for next year who still may get playing time this year also. If Wyatt can help now and next year, I don’t see the problem.
April 27th, 2022 at 11:58 am
Suh is 35.
Get it?
April 27th, 2022 at 12:39 pm
I still want a Guard with the first pick.
Protect Brady at all costs.
Go Bucs!!!
April 27th, 2022 at 1:18 pm
My fear is that Suh won’t be back, not to mention that he’s slowing down. I wouldn’t mind a DT in the first round, and in fact, I think given those two factors, it is a priority. The big question is whether a DT will be first-round worthy when Licht makes the pick. In my book it’s Jordan Davis will be gone by then. If that’s the case, take a look at CB and OG, and trade back to the second round if the value isn’t there.
April 27th, 2022 at 2:14 pm
If the Bucs had 2 more good young DL on rookie contracts, they could avoid paying Suh 8 million and pushing more dead cap into the future.
April 27th, 2022 at 2:27 pm
Passing Thru … Sometimes folks are so focused on one thing (in this case: ‘value’) that they miss the obvious (we’ve currently got a gaping hole in our DLine). BOTH Suh and McLendon are un-signed from last season. That’s a combined 970 defensive snaps. And that doesn’t count the fact that we used a lot of 2 instead of 3 DT formations last year in our 3-4 defense because we didn’t have the big bodies at times.
Even if we re-sign Suh, and he gives us 50-55% def snaps (say 600-650), we’d still be well short of what we need to execute an effective pass rush. Drafting a DT late in the 3rd or 4th Rnd, or even 2nd Rnd, sounds nice, but this is already a weak class; we’d be getting very unsatisfying leftovers & that wouldn’t help us one bit.
April 27th, 2022 at 2:59 pm
JOE…..YOU HAVE A MAJOR, MAJOR BLIND SPOT WHEN IT COMES TO DT. IT IS DEFINITELY OUR BIGGEST NEED BY FAR BUT SOMEHOW YOU JUST CAN’T SEE IT. IT WOULD BE AN EARLY CHRISTMAS PRESENT IF DEVONTE WYATT FELL TO US AT 27. IF HE DOES JASON LICHT WILL TRIP OVER HIMSELF TRYING TO RUN THE CARD UP. IF HE’S GONE THEY WOULD HAVE TO GO ANOTHER DIRECTION IN THE 1ST ROUND BECAUSE THERE AREN’T ANY OTHER 1ST ROUND WORTHY DT’s. EVEN THOUGH SUH WANTS TO RETURN, THE BUCS ARE WAITING UNTIL THE DRAFT TO SEE IF THEY CAN REPLACE HIM WITH A YOUNGER, CHEAPER, BETTER OPTION. IF THEY DON’T FIND THAT PLAYER IN THE DRAFT THEY WILL SIGN SUH SOON AFTER THE DRAFT ENDS.
April 27th, 2022 at 3:10 pm
How? Bucs were third-best in the NFL in rushing yards allowed. That doesn’t happen when the three down linemen in a 34 are so awful the front-three are “by far” a team’s biggest need.
Joe has a “blind spot” on the defensive line? If that’s the case then that means you are hallucinating from dropping shrooms if you think the defensive front is “by far” the biggest need.
What next, the offensive line sucks?
April 27th, 2022 at 4:09 pm
We need to trade the pick for a Vet in thei draft. Of course we dont know how drafts really turn out until years after. But this is a weak class and we are drafting late as heck. Mind as well use it to snag a Vet who wants to win a ship or use 27 to trade back and get couple value guys in 2nd round cause JL is decent at that round. This draft is just so dull in my opinion in like almost all positions IMO.
April 27th, 2022 at 4:12 pm
I push for DT because there are no edge rushers worth taking that will have an impact this year that late in the first round. A DT will have impact. A really good DT will improve the entire defense when lined up along side VEA for the next several years.
I also think Gronk is way more important and can’t imagine how they can resign SUH when he wants 5,000,000+.
April 27th, 2022 at 5:38 pm
Excellent tackle rotation?!?!! Are ya kidding me Joe? I wouldn’t say nacho and McClendon are excellent rotation pieces, and Steve is gon’. I would say VV is a stud as well as Suh. VV plays only part time and Suh is what 34? They have said from the beginning that we need better inside pressure which means DT, right? Ghoulston is great but who else do we have other than old a** Suh and a one year deal with willie will? And we don’t even have Suh under contract! I don’t see how you can’t see the immediate need? Pass rush rotation is exactly that a rotation. Why not add to that rotation with a first rounder?
April 27th, 2022 at 6:04 pm
Joe I think this is a troll article. Are you getting paid per comment or what?
April 27th, 2022 at 8:15 pm
There are many DTs in this draft from rds 1-5. Wyatt is primarily a nose tackle with only 2.5 sacks last season. He also has a rap sheet for domestic violence.
Both Wyatt and DE Sam Williams have off-field issues that will drop them down the board.
April 28th, 2022 at 6:43 am
@Bunch, they have an aging Evans (who can still get it done though) they dont have Godwin back yet, so just scratch that name for now until we see him out there doing CG things, please. Gage is untested in our system…nothing against the guy.
Who are those other guys you mentioned? Yeah, Miller and Perriman/Grayson had one, excuse me, ONE big play and then dropped off. Why?
We have 1 year left with the GOAT! He needs a supreme WR option not named Mike Evans or Chris Godwin….