Finding A Pass Rusher In The Draft
March 4th, 2024
Bucs GM Jason Licht.
Joe is glad the combine is over.
“This Joe” is a huge fan of the combine, but not a fan of the “Combine: The TV Show.” Joe is a football fan and all the TV show does is demonstrate a player’s indoor track skills or how he plays catch in the backyard. It’s not football.
(“Combine: The TV Show” has become Joe’s third-most dreaded weekend of the calendar year. The first comes later this month on the Monday after Selection Sunday when schools whine and cry and stomp their feet because they believe they got screwed not making the 68-team tournament. Win more games! It’s simple! The second is the day after the MLB All-Star Game rosters are announced where sports radio is full of people kvetching so-and-so got screwed by being left off the roster. Whah! On the weekend of “Combine: The TV Show,” Twitter is littered with track practice numbers that don’t mean squat in football. Enough!)
At least when the combine ends, free agency is around the corner and then the draft. And legal tampering begins a week from today and new contracts will be announced that afternoon!
Now last week when the Bucs announced they cut former Bucs sacks king Shaq Barrett, it became obvious to Joe the Bucs will hunt for an edge rusher. Joe guesses it will be by trade or free agency.
Why?
Do the Bucs really want to bank on an edge rush from a second-year player (YaYa Diaby) and a rookie? That’s a big risk for a team that doesn’t appear interested in rebuilding.
Joe sees five decent edge rushers in the draft. In no particular order, they are Laiatu Latu, Jared Verse, Dallas Turner, Chop Robinson and Darius Robinson.
Could the Bucs land the third-best of that lot at No. 26? Recent history suggests the Bucs would be in simple trade-range to grab the third-best edge rusher.
In the last six years, the third edge rusher off the NFL Draft board was gone between Nos. 5-46 — typical would be about No. 23. Again the Bucs pick at No. 26.
However, the third edge rusher off the board isn’t often a good player. In the past six drafts, only two have been decent. Brian Burns in 2019 and Kayvon Thibodeaux in 2022.
Third pass rusher taken in recent drafts
2018: Breeland Speaks (46th), Kansas City (USFL)
2019: Brian Burns (16th), Carolina (free agent)
2020: Yetur Gross-Matos (38th), Carolina (free agent)
2021: Odafe Oweh (31st), Baltimore
2022: Kayvon Thibodeaux (fifth), New York Giants
2023: Will McDonald IV (15th), New York Jets
March 4th, 2024 at 9:15 am
MIKE IS BAAAAACK!!!!!!!!!
March 4th, 2024 at 9:18 am
The hardest part is separating the players who love the game and the one’s who just love the money. Of course talent is involved, but you can’t replace passion for being the best.
March 4th, 2024 at 9:19 am
BOOM!!!!!
March 4th, 2024 at 9:21 am
LFG!!!!!!!!!!
\ME13 Foerever!!!!!!!!!!
March 4th, 2024 at 9:22 am
Good job Licht. Should hear from baker this week as well
March 4th, 2024 at 9:26 am
Sounds like a good deal both ways. Very interested now to see what Mayfield is offered or signs for.
March 4th, 2024 at 9:29 am
cmon joe this is the biggest offseason news since brady… wheres the article??
March 4th, 2024 at 9:30 am
Joe is too busy scratching his ass and drinking bromosas
March 4th, 2024 at 9:30 am
M1K3
March 4th, 2024 at 9:32 am
bucnjim Says:
March 4th, 2024 at 9:26 am
Sounds like a good deal both ways. Very interested now to see what Mayfield is offered or signs for.
Given how all signs were pointing to Evan wanting to test free agency I smell some coordination between Baker and Evans.
March 4th, 2024 at 9:44 am
Hopefully they have learned something between JTS and Yaya… Find the guy who has decent numbers, but is hungry with a nonstop motor.
1st RD – Jackson Powers-Johnson C Oregon
This kid has played LG, RG, & C. He looks like he’s going to be a center for the next 12 years. He is a beast at run and pass blocking and athletic to pull and get to LBs.
March 4th, 2024 at 9:45 am
Free agency or a trade makes more sense. Same story as TE.
I’d expect a guard or a wide receiver in round one.
March 4th, 2024 at 9:46 am
Joe great work looking at 3rd edge drafted. Those picks don’t look great. The Bucs have been hit(Kancey) and miss ( JTS, Hall) along the DL lately. I’m not sure we have enough cap to bring in a proven pass rusher. For me pass rush is our biggest need.
March 4th, 2024 at 9:53 am
just sign Brian Burns and you know exactly what you are getting-a great edge with intimate knowledge of your division opponents.
March 4th, 2024 at 9:59 am
I expect the Panthers to tag and trade Burns.
Saw an article yesterday where contract talks had been killed between the 2.
Would love to have him for the Bucs. He’s young and he’s an already proven pass rusher.
Wonder how much he’s expecting on a contract though?
March 4th, 2024 at 10:01 am
I would rather draft a QB in the first. How much success have the Bucs had in the past drafting a DE with their top pic? Terrible they have been wasted pics.
March 4th, 2024 at 10:20 am
Well Mike apparently WONT play with a rookie so I guess that is out. They can do whatever they want know though. Seems like ot should be Baker. That means Burns is OUT.
March 4th, 2024 at 10:30 am
The easy answer is to sign a Free agent.
But Pass rushers are outrageously expensive. Almost QB money.
FA Guards and Centers are cheaper.
Even though weve SUCKED at drafting Dline men, probably still wanna draft one first round.
Then, we can draft A center and Guard, or sign good Free agents.
If we sign guys, Jason Licht can work his magic on drafting small school, later round studs for the Oline.
We are GREAT at drafting OLinemen.
Having Mike back means Wr isnt a priority now. A need- but not as desperate as Pass rush, guard and Center.
And please move Hainsy back to guard. He can be a backup this year.
Lets see him at his true position. He showed talent before the move to Center.
March 4th, 2024 at 10:45 am
Braden Fiske DL Florida State!
March 4th, 2024 at 11:31 am
LATU will be long gone by our pick. My guess is Chop Robinson out of Penn State.
March 4th, 2024 at 11:43 am
Draft best OL, preferably a center in first round. WR second round.
Deep WR draft, not so much for edge.
March 4th, 2024 at 11:45 am
Poach Brian Burns
March 4th, 2024 at 2:18 pm
Please please please edge and trench edge and trench edge and trench
March 4th, 2024 at 3:49 pm
Jalyx Hunt. Remember that name. With that being said, interior OL is top priority. Hopefully Licht can land Jackson Powers-Johnson at C, and then Cooper Beebe for LG.
March 4th, 2024 at 4:05 pm
NYBUCSFAN
They are not drafting a QB first round. Baker is re-signing.
Round 1: Jackson Powers-Johnson C Oregon
Kid is a beast in run and pass and, like Wirfs, kind of freakishly athletic for his size.
March 4th, 2024 at 6:45 pm
I hope we draft Chop Robinson. I have no idea if he’s any good, but I like the idea of an edge rusher named Chop Robinson.
March 5th, 2024 at 5:25 am
OLB Payton Wilson NC State standout and showed well at combine…. This guy all day and Sunday over Devin White, the dude is fast and plays hard and knows how to sniff out the ball…. I would love to get him and the Bucs would have a heck of a player he’s very good at roaming as well off ball then closes the gap with his speed check out his stats…