Re-Signing Bryce Hall Signals Draft Tell
March 19th, 2025
Draft strategy.
As Joe has written a few times, what a team does in free agency is often a road map to how it will draft in April.
The Bucs already signed edge rusher Haason Reddick. Also, early in free agency, the Bucs re-signed franchise stars Chris Godwin and Lavonte David. Yesterday, it was learned the Bucs brought back their No. 3 corner to start the 2024 season, Bryce Hall.
(Hall blew out a wheel in Week 1 and was lost for the season.)
So it appears the Bucs will not address starting corner or a top-shelf backup corner in free agency. So that tells Joe a cornerback is coming in the draft.
There is still a major need for another inside linebacker. Joe knows the Bucs said all the right things about SirVocea Dennis but until he proves he can stay on the field, he is a major question mark.
Joe thinks the Bucs in the first two days of the draft will yield a new inside linebacker and a new cornerback. Whether those guys are drafted in the first, second or third rounds, feel free to guess.
March 19th, 2025 at 12:51 am
I sure hope so Joe we’ve neglected the LB position way too much , like you’ve said before also We’re darn lucky to have David back. But if we can hit on a shutdown LB or a starting Shutdown corner in the Draft and only have to rush 4 makes us SB Contenders. GO BUCS!!!
March 19th, 2025 at 1:18 am
I don’t know about a tell Joe…That is for gamblers.
Jason signed a Guy for very little money who may be able to help us at corner. Maybe…
That was a no brainer to me.
Draft? We agree that we will have a new ILB and corner Joe.
Jason, as usual is all about getting the Bucs in a position for drafting BPA while giving us a shot at one of the Big Dogs though.
I would not be too surprised if we do some trading in the 1st few rounds.
Go Bucs!
March 19th, 2025 at 1:30 am
Agree to disagree. I don’t see it as a tell at all. The Bucs have addressed their depth at multiple positions where they need an injection of talent. Just as signing Reddick doesn’t mean they won’t draft an edge, as signing Anthony Walker doesn’t mean they won’t address ILB, just as resigning Sterling Shephard doesn’t mean they won’t draft a WR, this in no way means they won’t draft a CB…or even 2.
March 19th, 2025 at 1:37 am
Anxiously hoping for Jihaad Campbell then corner in the second, if Campbell is gone then draft edge Ezeroku or edge Mike Green at #19 overall
March 19th, 2025 at 1:43 am
I’m not sure there’s any more clarity about the draft based on free agency. Reason number 1: every free agent on defense signed is only for 1 year, other than Anthony Nelson. So, as draft needs are more than a one year proposition, our positions of focus haven’t changed all that much.
March 19th, 2025 at 2:14 am
I love what Jason is doing. Fill as many holes in FA as you can so you can let the draft board fall to you and take the BPA in round 1, likely a DL, ILB or CB. We need an impact player on D at one of those positions in round 1 and then address the other 2 positions on day 2.
March 19th, 2025 at 2:15 am
Joe … ‘There is still a major need — in Joe’s eyes — for another inside linebacker, the biggest need in the draft.’
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes. The biggest NEED in the draft. We’ve got a large HOLE in the middle of our defense right now, and I don’t see any starter-quality MLBs lining up to fill it. So yes, if Jihaad Campbell is there when we pick at #19, then no-brainer … grab him.
But what if Campbell’s already been drafted? (It’d be just like the Flightless Falcons to do something like that). Well, Plan B could go a LOT of different ways. Could involve trading down to get an extra pick, then grabbing Carson Schwesinger (6’2″ & 225 lbs, 4.60 sec 40) later in Rnd 1 (if trade down) or in the 2nd Rnd. After that I don’t see ANY ILBs worth drafting. This looks to be a lean year except for those 2.
However, if ILBs are off the table early, that does open up the possibility of drafting a CB, and Edge or a DT/NT in Rnd 1 or Rnd 2 (if trade down?). Within those 3 positions, it should be BPA when we pick.
DT/NT in particular concerns me because if we lose Vea for any period of time, we’ll struggle; the rest of our DLine is light and can’t do what he does. We survived in 2020 without him because Suh, RNR & Gholston all stepped up, but they were pretty big boys and quality DLinemen. Bucs need to be able to provide CONSISTENT interior pressure, and we can’t do that IMO with our current roster. One more beastly DT/NT to rotate in with Vea (or replace him if he goes down) solves that problem.
March 19th, 2025 at 3:15 am
Agreed DR
I actually like all 3 DTs in Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant out of Michigan and Walter Nolen. They would all be great but I actually think Grant’s size is closest to Vea.
Wouldn’t be dissatisfied at all if they draft 1 of those 3 at 19.
They would probably have a greater impact year 1 than any edge rusher not named Abdul Carter.
Good news is I can come up with 19 great players and feel safe we will get a good one.
Knowing how much Licht loves RAS, Emmanwori’s perfect 10 stands out to me.
Leave Tykee in the slot and pair him with Winfield. Set at safety for 4 years.
Automatically best duo n the league.
March 19th, 2025 at 3:39 am
What about hall the wr from the dolphins who was begging to come here..I say 3rd or 4th rd pick bring him here we become top.wr group hands down..let him stretch defenses while Mike n Chris puck them.apart and McMillan rotate for them and be the secret weapon
March 19th, 2025 at 3:42 am
Typo I met Tyreek Hill from the dolphins he was begging to join us I think 3rd or 4th rd pick for him would give us a player that’s special and super fast..almost that Antonio brown x factor
March 19th, 2025 at 3:57 am
Buc king. Tyreek Hill is a great receiver. He returned a punt for a touchdown in the last minute when he played for Oklahoma State against Oklahoma to beat my Sooners. The next week he was kicked out of college for beating on his girlfriend. He wouldn’t fit in our group. Hope he can work at being a better man and that he can work on that somewhere else.
March 19th, 2025 at 5:13 am
Cheetah Hill would be just awesome if could afford to pay him. We are paying Evans and Godwin over $20+ million. The guy amazing.
March 19th, 2025 at 5:58 am
i think we go corner in the 3rd……or even a 3rd day pick…like 4th round…
unless someone is dangling there we can’t simply pass up on day one or two
March 19th, 2025 at 6:26 am
Trade Dean or release him.
March 19th, 2025 at 6:32 am
Man oh man, is it football season yet? Spring training for MLB and I’m already Jonesing. And the draft is forever away. I guess this old man will just keep on pouring concrete to stay alive until it gets here. Man cave is lonely and couch lost it’s only friend. 😢🥱🙄
March 19th, 2025 at 6:47 am
Fred, I think they’ve decided Dean playing 12 games is worth $14 million
March 19th, 2025 at 7:13 am
Wouldn’t be upset if DT, MLB, & CB were the 1st 3 picks, in no particular order.
March 19th, 2025 at 8:36 am
Hill would not break the bank for the 2025 season.
It is 2026 cap number that is 59 million or a dead cap hit of 16 million if you release him after 2025.
That is a fine deal if you are in only for the 2025 season. But it is a very, very bad deal for the team for 2026.
I respect the guys that suggest we should do it for this season — they maybe watched him more than I did last year.
But I would probably not do a 1 year rental. I would rather be more likely to wait until after the season started to decide if there were a trade deadline piece that the Bucs could pick up if they felt the team was close to Super Bowl aspirations.
March 19th, 2025 at 9:01 am
I do hope the Bucs draft an ILB and at least one CB in the draft but trust the Bucs not to reach to fill those roster deficits. I’d be thrilled to see the Bucs use a day one or two pick on a CB but both the crop of LBs available in this draft and the relative positional value of ILBs have me hoping the Bucs wait until round four to add an ILB. Cal’s Teddye Buchanan is the best coverage LB in this draft and should be there in the fourth. He is a former QB and proper ball hawk with 8 career INTs. He had none last year but his film from UC Davis is absolutely electric. Even through it is against lesser competition his elite processing and read/react talents are undeniable and he had a pair of one-hand INTs that demonstrate his WR-like ball skills. His Cal film from 2024 is rock solid too. It shows his ability to be an asset against the run and his natural instincts as a blitzer (33% pressure rate!) He isn’t a track star and is undersized but plays within himself and lets his exceptional awareness and processing make up it. He is not LVD Jr. He is the ILB that this roster needs now and he has the vision and range to close the abyss in the middle of the Bucs third down defense. I am feeling great with LVD and Dennis starting with Deion Jones and JJ Russell behind them. I’m actually excited to have ball hawking Deion Jones as a contributor but Buchanan can contribute as a 3rd down specialist from day one. No other ILB in this draft can hold a candle to him when it comes to coverage skills. The best paid and PFF rated ILBs are almost all late round, undersized guys. I’d be happy if Campbell and his 40 time are there at 19 but I don’t think he will be and I honestly see Buchanan as the missing piece in the middle and the ILB I’m pining for the Bucs to pick but not earlier than pick 84.
March 19th, 2025 at 9:01 am
i guess the idea of restructuring jamel dean down to a more team friendly deal and adding veteran depth isnt an option
March 19th, 2025 at 9:50 am
I dont get the idea that we neglected the LB position. People forget we drafted one who started as an all-pro and lost his edge. He was supposed to be here for a decade. We drafted several guys like Britt and Davis to add depth and support David and White. They didnt expect a White flame out, and thought Britt would be the answer after playing we in White’s place. They were wrong, so this is the first off season we have had any issues at LB. It hasnt been neglected. White, and then Britt, didnt pan out as planned.
March 19th, 2025 at 10:10 am
Good points, Cassie. Nevertheless, Jihaad Campbell at #19.
March 19th, 2025 at 10:57 am
We need a young corner to bring up Dean gone next year and Zyon contract coming up so will see. Morrison, Porter or Revel in the 2nd would be nice.
March 19th, 2025 at 11:48 am
I like Danny Stutsman from OU! I think he may be outside Campbell, the best ILB in this draft and has great value where he is predicted to be drafted(round 3/4). Even if I get Campbell at #19, I wouldn’t pass Stutsman up in round 3 or later.
March 19th, 2025 at 11:56 am
BUCS ARE ABOUT TO SHOCK YOU THEN…
Bucs will make a move and end up drafting…
TYLER WARREN, TE, PENN STATE.
You Heard It Here First.
March 19th, 2025 at 12:03 pm
Actually, I think the opposite is true. With two backup corners nabbed in free agency, it tells me they will continue with Dean as the starter. If they were to unload Dean, then yes, corner would be their top pick. This has all the signs of a middle linebacker, safely or pass rusher with the first pick to me, whichever is the highest on their board at #19.
March 19th, 2025 at 12:17 pm
JL has learned to not put himself in a forced position of need in the draft. As it should be. It’s always best to be in position to take the best available prospect. I’ve got total confidence in these guys to do just that.
March 19th, 2025 at 1:49 pm
ILB will be first pick
I forgot about Bryce! If healthy, great depth. Between him and Dean, someone will be healthy hopefully!
March 19th, 2025 at 4:33 pm
No disrespect to anyone…any additions on defense is welcomed and not a draft tell…we need help at all levels!
Go Bucs!
March 19th, 2025 at 4:53 pm
I think they will too Joe (drafting a ILB and CB).
There are some positions that you basically want to draft every year at some point, IMO: OL, DL, WR and CB.
March 19th, 2025 at 7:09 pm
Bucs need to get the hungriest, nastiest, inside linebacker they can find…..who can tackle and cover. They also do need another big boy along the defensive line to sub Vea in and out when he gets gassed/injured. A real nice defensive back that can TACKLE and cover would be nice too.
Any thoughts of going offense in this draft before round four seems crazy considering how much the defense struggled, and the Bucs really didn’t have trouble scoring for the most part.
Don’t care really what order they draft these as long as these guys love the game of football and wanna put the work in. Less likely of getting a bust that way.