Todd Bowles Discusses Crop Of Inside Linebackers
March 5th, 2025
Talkin’ inside linebackers.
As Joe types this here post a week from the free agency dinner bell ringing, Joe has eyes on three players for the Bucs to draft at No. 19 next month.
Those three would be Alabama inside linebacker Jihaad Campbell, Marshall edge rusher Mike Green and Ohio State receiver Emeka Egbuka.
As fans know, what a team does in free agency is usually a tell for what they will do in the draft.
If you put a gun to Joe’s head force Joe to choose, Joe would likely go with Campbell. The guy just isn’t an inside linebacker. He’s a jack of all trades. He can cover. He can rush the passer. He can play the run. He’s so versatile.
Most top linebackers are outside linebackers or edge rushers. Todd Bowles was asked about the lack of top-shelf inside linebackers in the draft and he didn’t necessarily agree.
In short, Bowles said talented inside linebackers are there; you just have to find one.
“I think it’s the state of the position,” Bowles said. “There are good football players at linebacker coming out in the draft, they’re just not going as high.
“Between the quarterbacks, the tackles, the edge rushers, the cornerbacks and the [wide] receivers, they kind of make up the bulk of really the top-10 [picks] so to speak, if you will.
“There are good linebackers coming out, you’re just not getting them as high.”
So does that mean that the Bucs figure they can get good value at inside linebacker on Day 2 of the draft?
Knowing how Bowles likes to throw the kitchen sink at offenses and how Campbell has a loaded toolbox, he would be an awfully hard talent to pass up.
Campbell could become the long-term player the Bucs hoped Devin White would be.
March 5th, 2025 at 10:33 am
Diva White was (is?) intensely immature. Jihaad Campbell really projects a seasoned, mature attitude. Let’s draft this guy.
March 5th, 2025 at 10:35 am
I love Campbell for instant impact starter, rookie edge guys take more time to develop. You can always find a rookie DB in rounds 2 and 3
March 5th, 2025 at 10:42 am
All in on Campbell.
March 5th, 2025 at 10:46 am
With our Top-3 picks, I’m betting that we’ll take a ILB, a CB and a DT/NT (we’ll pick up our Edge in free agency).
The positions that we select them in will depend on who’s available when. If Campbell’s there at #19 when we pick, we’ll almost surely take him (he won’t be there when we pick in Rnd 2).
March 5th, 2025 at 10:49 am
Also I think LVD54 retires
March 5th, 2025 at 11:06 am
As far as Edge goes, James Peirce Jr.
March 5th, 2025 at 11:27 am
Don’t need a receiver at 19. DEFENSE, DEFENSE, DEFENSE
March 5th, 2025 at 12:44 pm
I’m the next draft or two, we need to draft Vita’s replacement. Would really like someone at #2 better than Gaines
March 5th, 2025 at 12:57 pm
Bowles likes to run stunts with his DLine and his linebackers. Saw Kancey stunting coming off the edge plenty. Fast MLBs should be able to stunt either edge. Draft us some fast MLBs and some fast DTs and let LaVonte spend some time mentoring while he still can. And Campbell looks like one of those hybrids with a loaded toolbox as you said Joe. Be a heck of a pick at 19.
March 5th, 2025 at 1:29 pm
Danny Stutsman runs a 4.52 and we can get him in 2nd or third round. I still think we throw the kitchen sink at Cleveland and see that brings us Garrett. With those 2 and some CB help, would be a SB favorite in my opinion
March 5th, 2025 at 2:15 pm
We can get much better value in the 2nd round with the UCLA LB or Bassa from Oregon.
March 5th, 2025 at 7:26 pm
@beej
Me too.
We must draft a huge NT.
We suffer a huge drop-off when Gaines replaces Vea.
We need to find the biggest Polynesian NT in the draft.
March 5th, 2025 at 8:00 pm
I’m down with taking Campbell. As long as we sign an Edge and go CB Rd 2 or 3
March 5th, 2025 at 8:03 pm
This Free Agency and Draft are going to be interesting. Do the Bucs sign a CB, or draft one? Do we sign an Edge, or draft one? Where do we Draft ILB? Godwin and David? Brederson? QB2?
FA will definitely shed more light on Draft.
Almost time ..
March 5th, 2025 at 10:51 pm
I’ve havnt watched Campbell but man white had all the skillz just mentally wasn’t there like Winston. If Campbell can be white but is better upstairs you gotta draft him.
March 6th, 2025 at 12:07 am
Uh no to any WR in the 1st round other than McMillan & McMillan won’t be there when they’re picking.
March 6th, 2025 at 3:53 am
Campbell is wishful thinking Joe. Unless Jason pulls a trade. I don’t see him being there for us in the second round and I don’t see us taking him at 19. In fact I do not see us going for any of the LBs at 19. Inside or Outside. It’s Revel for me and I think Jason looks for ILB in the second and brings in a FA to man the OLB spot.
We shall soon see. Just my take on it though. From my GM armchair. LOL
Go Bucs!
March 6th, 2025 at 7:04 am
Well…. the 2 super bowls the Bucs won was with a first round LB draft pick… Brooks and White.
There is something about a super stud in the middle that makes a defense stronger.
Devein White was a beast at LSU, drafted early by Tampa, was a beast for Tampa up until after the Suoer Bowl. After, he seemingly got in the dog house… and seemed to lose his fight, even on his follow on team. I always loved him and I was very confused on what happened to him at Tampa. He needs a 30 for 30 on ESPN.. lol… just for me at least.
As far as Derrick Brooks… no explanation needed about that Hall of Famer!
A stud LB in the middle would NOT hurt my feelings.