The Bucs’ New Fearsome Front
March 10th, 2025
Strong front just got stronger.
UPDATED: The Bucs quietly, almost under the radar, produced one of the best front-three group of linemen in a 34 defense the league saaw in 2024.
Calijah Kancey became one of the best defensive tackles in the NFL. That’s right. Not only did Kancey become a wrecking ball for sacks, he didn’t miss one tackle last regular season (per NextGen Stats).
Vita Vea, his reputation precedes him. He is a beast of a tackle feared throughout the league.
Logan Hall had his best season as a pro. He even got 5 1/2 sacks and became rock solid against the run. The Bucs wanted him to become the next Will Gholston and he has done that.
Now? Well, the Bucs still have high hopes for edge rusher YaYa Diaby. He can still be that-guy. He has a world of talent.
But now you have an edge rusher in Haason Reddick that, in the four seasons prior to 2024, had 50.5 sacks. Now the Bucs very easily can blow up to have an Eagles-like defensive front.
Just think how much pressure Reddick takes off Vea and Kancey on passing plays? Teams used to gang up on Vea and Kancey and pretty much know they could have a safe pocket. No more.
And now that teams will have to worry about Reddick, that likely means more single coverage on YaYa.
This is what Joe has been beating up his keyboard for months about. And with the signing of Reddick, all the cards look to be falling in place for a ferocious pass rush.
And nothing helps out a secondary like a pass rush. Nothing.
Damn, Joe cannot believe what a great day this is!
March 10th, 2025 at 12:32 pm
Take a bow Jason Licht
March 10th, 2025 at 12:32 pm
great day in tampa bay
March 10th, 2025 at 12:34 pm
The Licht House is shinging bright! Crank up Back in Black!!!!
March 10th, 2025 at 12:34 pm
In Licht we trust.
March 10th, 2025 at 12:35 pm
ALabama LB might get 25 sacks when we drat him
March 10th, 2025 at 12:36 pm
Tampa has two of the best GM’s in the game. And the Rays aren’t idiots (though they are cheap).
Godwin is still in the house too.
March 10th, 2025 at 12:37 pm
Congrats Lee! I know you’re out pounding a a beer somewhere today! I hope Reddick’s year off last year didn’t handle him too much. I have faith in Bowels, reddick did very well for him in Arizona, and he’s a stroke guy.
Godwin back as well
Now we can flood the CB and ILB positions in the draft and also grab another WR
Go Bucs !
March 10th, 2025 at 12:37 pm
If Reddick still has gas in the tank, this is what this team has needed. In 2025 NFL… almost no one can cover. The only way to get off the field is pressure in the offensive side of the 50… as most teams go for 4th -5. Great signing!
March 10th, 2025 at 12:37 pm
*Temple
March 10th, 2025 at 12:38 pm
the buce are ready for jihaad!
March 10th, 2025 at 12:38 pm
Don’t guzzle the whole bottle of champagne-have a couple and cork it up as Bucs have still more to do…………
March 10th, 2025 at 12:38 pm
bucs*
March 10th, 2025 at 12:39 pm
Settle down boys. This signing is a grade C signing. We need more than this. He’s better than JTS. That’s not saying much. He’s a rotational player. Not a starter on a championship team. I’m not sure his head is screwed on right.
March 10th, 2025 at 12:40 pm
This is Randy Gregory 2.0
March 10th, 2025 at 12:40 pm
Agree with u JOE–Damn-WHAT A GR8 GR8 Day this is SO FAR-ITS BOUND 2 get better, oh, i 4got, we re signed Merriweather 2, GO BUCS GO
March 10th, 2025 at 12:40 pm
30-1 looking good!!!!! This may sound strange but we really need a punter ,,, not sure what JLs plan is but the last time I had Bucs at 30-1 they won it all(Gruden team)
March 10th, 2025 at 12:40 pm
This honestly feels a little bit like the Suh and JPP signings.
March 10th, 2025 at 12:41 pm
Now cut soft a$$ Dean and sign a CB!
March 10th, 2025 at 12:41 pm
Bring back shaq and more beef in middle of dline for depth this year will. Be great
March 10th, 2025 at 12:42 pm
Best part is we didnt trade any draft picks away
March 10th, 2025 at 12:43 pm
This pass defense is swiss cheese – lots of holes, though today is a very good start. Lets keep things in perspective. Bucs could NOT get off field last year, produced very few turnovers, etc.
Can you imagine if Kancey ever made it through a training camp?
March 10th, 2025 at 12:43 pm
I say dont stop there, Reddick is a bargain move (compared to other pass rushers) with lots of upside but go get somebody else in case Diaby or Reddick dont live up to expectation
Love the Reddick signing, but lets be real Free agency signings are always gonna on paper, wont actually know until they step on the field.
March 10th, 2025 at 12:44 pm
Lightning Vinny … they signed a record setting CFL punter. Might not mean anything, CFL is child’s play but they made a move that could be good and he will have competition.
March 10th, 2025 at 12:46 pm
speaking of dean. would the bucs have cut him by now? maybe waiting how draft and rest of free agency plays out? feel like we draft a corner and keep dean with reddick addition bucs looking good
March 10th, 2025 at 12:47 pm
JL just keeps on winning…
March 10th, 2025 at 12:48 pm
I think we all assume he’s going to be motivated to play well in order to get a multi year deal somewhere. At least that’s what we can hope. Also assuming that his unhappiness from last year won’t be an issue again.
March 10th, 2025 at 12:49 pm
I have no doubt Reddick will be a better version this year. He got greedy and spent too much time away.
Jets were a joke. Reddick prolly didn’t know who his coach was over half way through the season. Rodgers circus…
I am still not opposed to drafting Green or Ezeriraku at 19 if they are there but a front 7 of …
Kancey – Vea – Hall
Reddick – David – Campbell – Diaby
Looks pretty good.
March 10th, 2025 at 12:51 pm
whaow……!!
i’m amped up rn
the front line just got worlds better with reddick…this is insanely good news…
what did we give up for him???
i gotta tune into some news outlets for more info
with yaya becoming more of a vet…and reddick…the line is solidifying…
what a solid bucs day people………!!
March 10th, 2025 at 12:53 pm
licht seems to have done it again…
everyone was talking hendrickson, crosby, garrett etc…
and seems like reddick went below the radar or something…
and the big dog snatches him up somehow, someway…
whaow…!!
March 10th, 2025 at 12:55 pm
JC – Exactly, and Bucs can do this because they’ve proven over the past couple offseasons “if you are good, we will take care of you and the team will remain strong. If you are all pro, we are going to pay you like the top position in the league.”
My guess is his unhappiness came from traded out of Philadelphia and going to the Jets. Hopefully he is smart and thought, “I am not going to put my body through a season of pro football with that team like that”
March 10th, 2025 at 1:01 pm
Is JTS gone yet?
March 10th, 2025 at 1:05 pm
Do a great defensive draft and we should have no BS rankings of us at the bottom in preseason. More importantly we should have no excuses why we can’t do a deep playoff run if not win outright.
March 10th, 2025 at 1:14 pm
Now go get a corner and draft a LB, a DT, and a safety/nickel
March 10th, 2025 at 1:19 pm
He will play OLB right?
March 10th, 2025 at 1:27 pm
Now sign Isaiah Rodgers afterall he was just given the key to the city of Tampa by Jane.
March 10th, 2025 at 1:31 pm
So PUMPED!! Use the draft for ILB and CB
AND GODWIN IS BACK!!!
March 10th, 2025 at 1:43 pm
Don’t get comfortable. Get another one and hope Shaq can produce. Great job Jason Licht.
March 10th, 2025 at 1:46 pm
The guy Joe wanted the Bucs to badly trade for last season signs this year on a prove it deal. Reddick reminds me of White. Both put money ahead of all else. White ironically got his prove it deal with the Eagles, and it never panned out. Let’s hope Reddick embraces what might be his last chance, and balls out. Good low risk, high reward signing by Licht.
March 10th, 2025 at 1:52 pm
Debbie? Nancy? How are your petunias smelling now?
March 10th, 2025 at 2:03 pm
Yes. In this defense that’s the new secondary and on rare occasion, the surprise pass rushers. Because surprise is important.
March 10th, 2025 at 3:37 pm
Let him rush the passer always and never play coverage. Haasan CHOP!
March 10th, 2025 at 3:48 pm
I consider reluctance to play for the Jets a sign of intelligence, not insolence.
March 10th, 2025 at 3:59 pm
GM of the Year, just nail another fantastic draft
March 10th, 2025 at 4:15 pm
Diaby is going to be very good, and Braswell is very solid and even ideal as our 3rd Edge rn. But we needed to infuse a proven beast that can put their QB on their arse. And we got one. Nice work JL
March 10th, 2025 at 4:16 pm
Perfect article
March 10th, 2025 at 4:32 pm
Need to switch to a 4/3 defense and drop actual linebackers into coverage instead of defensive ends. Let your sack masters do what they’re good at. We have a good enough defensive line now to get pressure on the quarterback with just the front four.
March 10th, 2025 at 5:07 pm
Who they gonna double now, good luck with that.
Our trenches are Loaded
March 10th, 2025 at 5:08 pm
The signing is just OK with me. We shall see. Go get another top DE in the draft.
March 10th, 2025 at 6:14 pm
I swear I was prepared to watch every outside linebacker edge rusher free agent sign one by one without us getting not one. But I think we did the right move got young got hungry and got a good deal. Can’t wait it’s going to be a long way to the season