Are Bucs Draft Needs “Crystal Clear?”
April 4th, 2025
Riffs on corners.
Joe isn’t sure if this is a smokescreen or not. It’s either a hard sell or Bucs coach Todd Bowles is crying for help.
Help at cornerback.
From the owners meetings this week at the swanky Breakers resort in Palm Beach, Bowles groused and griped enough about cornerbacks that it seems like he’s looking for perhaps two corners in the draft in three weeks.
Either that or Bowles is trying to hard sell. Joe never thought of Bowles as a salesman.
“We don’t have a lot of depth,” Bowles said of his corners. “That’s crystal clear – we don’t have a lot of depth. We hope to address that at some point in the draft, as well.
“We didn’t sign many [corners] in free agency. We signed [Kindle] Vildor and we signed Bryce [Hall] – he’s coming off an injury and we’ve got to see what Vildor can do, obviously. We’re going to address that in the draft.”
So is it only depth Bowles is looking for in the draft at corner? Is he still in Jamel Dean’s corner? Bowles has even riffed about how Dean needs to stay on the field more.
Dean turns 29 in October. Dudes who are pushing 30 generally don’t get healthier. Last year Dean missed the most games in a season in his career. So that’s not a comforting sign.
April 4th, 2025 at 4:38 am
Safety first…also thin there, Starks/Emman … if both are gone then DT Harmon.
and as much as I want WR and DT the next two, ok I’ll give in…
Aza Thomas next, Nohl Williams with our 5th.
April 4th, 2025 at 4:42 am
I’m guessing Josh Hayes and Tyrek Funderburk impress him a whole lot
April 4th, 2025 at 5:09 am
Help Wanted:
Cornerback who is willing to play a soft, fluffy zone.
Must be willing to play 10-15 yards off a receiver.
Little hitting required
Must be willing to not appear humiliated after received catches 15 straight passes in front of you. Just don’t get burned deep.
Great pay, benefits and five month vacation every year.
Must be sober.
Call Todd—888-888-BUCS
April 4th, 2025 at 5:11 am
Supposing the Bucs drafted a Safety in Rnd 1, a CB in Rnd 2 and an ILB in Rnd 3 … ALL to start because of all the ‘weaknesses’ we keep reading about. Three rookies starting in the last 3 levels of defense.
Is that REALLY in the best interests of this team? Starting 3 rookies back there in those 6 positions? Not in my mind. Starting 1-2 rookies back there, sure. We need it. But you’d be sitting Jamel Dean. You’d be sitting either Christian Izien or Tykee Smith. And I’m still not so sure how good Anthony Walker would be in this defense, but he’d be sitting too. A bunch of newbies starting; a bunch of experienced guys sitting.
That’s NOT Todd Bowles. Oh we’ll draft players for all those positions I’m convinced, but they’re gonna have to beat out some pretty experienced players to win a starting gig.
Top-4 Rounds (in BPA order (at the time we pick) …
o DT/NT
o ILB
o CB
o Safety
We’ve got 2 picks left after that: BPA.
April 4th, 2025 at 5:44 am
They’ll be two CBs drafted. Book it. Add in a defensive trench player and a safety and I’m happy. Still not sure who in the first and it might be none of the “needs” listed. Let the board come to you, Jason and Imma watching with popcorn.
This draft can position the Bucs for this year and finish a solid foundation for years of contention as the Bucs current stars fade. A great position to be in.
April 4th, 2025 at 6:11 am
Nah…Coach Bowles isn’t crying for help. It’s not in his DNA. I think the Bucs go corner early and corner again late. Corner is an obvious need. Dean on the trade block during the draft is a distinct possibility.
April 4th, 2025 at 6:12 am
I am thinking Jason may have a deal up his sleeve and will go after two corners at some point in the first two days. Think 2019 draft with Bunting, Dean and Edwards.
I don’t trust much that comes out of Bowles mouth anymore. He talks a lot of shot! LOL
Go Bucs!
April 4th, 2025 at 6:21 am
yeah…with basically going all defense, you’ve finally got to nail down a stud pass rusher in the draft…
gotta figure out a way to pull one out of the hat in this draft (no matter what)…
no more half steppin’…we need to draft an edge guy who WILL blossom
April 4th, 2025 at 6:22 am
in fact draft William Blossom the 3rd out of cal folly plop
April 4th, 2025 at 6:22 am
Barron is a plug and play nickel but I’m not down with the Bucs burning their first rounder on him. His arms are too short to flex outside in the NFL. I’d love to see the Bucs pick up a pair of press man ball hawking CBs in rounds 3 and 4 like Nohl Williams and Zy Alexander or pair one of those two with Trey Amos as their second rounder. Bowles said he didn’t have the players to play man coverage effectively. I’d love to see that dimension added to the Bucs woeful pass defense. It sure would be nice to see the pass D do this year what the run game did in 2024. That soft zone is maddening to watch. It’s seriously demoralizing like watching receivers drop ball after ball after ball or RBs who run up a guard’s arse on darn near every touch when there are holes he can drive his car through- ugh! Clean it up please and thank you. The pass D doesn’t need to be top five just decent enough so I can watch it without it making me want to throw things. Especially at the end of games and in OT.
April 4th, 2025 at 6:26 am
if we draft 2 corners……………..dean is in deep doo…
one corner and he’s okay….but 2 before the 5th, is serious stuff
April 4th, 2025 at 6:30 am
What many seem to forget is that the HIGHEST PAID Safety in the league did not even give the team rookie level production, and ythat right there is on Todd Bowles mind heavily. Were the Bucs to see the same horrid lack of production out of the HIGHEST PAID Safety in the NFL again this year, say for the first 7 games, Bowles would absolutely need to replace him with a producer instead of a non-producer. Hpefully Winfield stinker of last season is a one off, but what if he got his bag and has just checked out? Bucs need insurance at Safety..
CB is also equally high on the needs list , but there is actually a wealth of good corners in Round 2, so not as worried about CB as Safety. Bucs will Trade up into the 2nd Round for a second scoop of Ice Cream in Round 2.
Emmanwori will be the pick in Round 1 and certainly should be.
April 4th, 2025 at 6:34 am
its kind of sad the moves the bucs made in offseason and still having to think about how many holes to fill on defense .
April 4th, 2025 at 6:50 am
It’s April in the NFL.This us also known as Liar’s Season. Don’t believe half of what GMs and HCs are saying. Last month everyone said the Bucs had to get an Edge and ILB. Now they say we must go S, CB or DT.
I believe we need all 5, but I don’t think the priority has flipped.
April 4th, 2025 at 7:12 am
Bowles is on the record saying he played (even more) soft zone once the depth at CB dwindled in the season. This isn’t a smokescreen. I think Bowles wants to play more man-coverage, but didn’t feel able to based on his available talent.
The CB depth chart the day after the draft needs to look something like this at minimum. Add a 2nd late-round or FA rookie for practice squad depth too if you like:
1. McCollum
2. Dean
3. Rookie (outside-CB)
4. Izien (nickel-CB) + spot play from Tykee Smith if/when desired
5a/5b. Hall/Vildor
April 4th, 2025 at 7:20 am
@JA,….thanks for my early morning laugh…. hilarious
Bucs need an olb/dt/nt a CB a ilb and a full time defensive coordinator
Go bucs
April 4th, 2025 at 7:22 am
We played so much soft zone because there were invariably people on the field who Todd would have preferred NOT be there, whether it be third string practice squad corners, or the glacially slow K.J. Britt. Would be nice to have enough depth to avoid all that.
My big thing: Izien and Smith are two of our better secondary people, yet they really can’t be on the field at the same time, as both are relegated to nickel corner. Would LOVE to solve that
April 4th, 2025 at 7:39 am
Todd still has PTSD flaring up from re-watching Hayes get burned so often last year in crucial games – like the playoff loss!
Dean can’t be counted on. He’s pretty good when healthy – but how many games per year was Dean fully healthy the last couple years???
Draft a CB in the 2nd round – find the right guy Jason…..
April 4th, 2025 at 8:07 am
Pickgrin … ‘Dean can’t be counted on. He’s pretty good when healthy – but how many games per year was Dean fully healthy the last couple years???’
Don’t disagree with you at all, but if Jamel is fully 100% healthy, he’s a pretty danged good corner. Better at playing man-to-man than zone from what I’ve seen, but the problem is … he’s not 100% all that often.
I think Todd will keep him however, and that, assuming he’s healthy, that he’ll start with McCollum. Bucs will draft 1 rookie (maybe 2), and if Dean falters that rook MIGHT get his chance to start (I’m still high on Bryce Hall, IF he’s healthy). I’m convinced Pickgrin that we’ll keep 5 CBs. Just not sure who the 5 will end up being (McCollum, Dean, Hall +2).
April 4th, 2025 at 8:21 am
Hopefully, the first 18 picks in the draft are filled with QB’s, WR’s, and other offensive players. This will allow the Bucs to take the best available defensive player. At #19 you just don’t know how the draft will shake out!
April 4th, 2025 at 8:35 am
JA – love it! Keep up the good work.
April 4th, 2025 at 8:48 am
DefenseRules,
Don’t agree with you at all. Bucs have had nearly the worst pass defense in the NFL for the last couple of years. That kind of “experience” we don’t need. The players you mentioned are all terrific except they don’t cover, tackle, or intercept passes. I would be happy starting 3 rookies in the secondary who can do the aforementioned.
April 4th, 2025 at 10:29 am
As long as we get a CB in round one or two, I’ll be happy.
To me it’s the biggest need that was fully exposed.
The sooner the better though. We need a legit turn key DB at minimum.
And the fact we are openly going all in on defense tells me that Bowles seat isn’t as comfy as some may think.
If the powers that be get the right horses to get the job done, the excuse train will come to a screeching halt.
In the end, TB zero will do what he does. Fold like a cheap suit in a big meaningful game.
28-27
April 4th, 2025 at 10:29 am
Gipper DR says we need ILB 3rd round. They say Danny Stutsman from OU may not make it out of the second round. He’s big and fast and tough. Man he’s an old fashioned middle linebacker who would be a great addition. But Billy Bowman may be the best baller out of OU this year. Guru’s are saying he reminds of Winfield but I will personally vouch for this guy being one of the best overall football players I’ve seen at OU the last decade. And DR I think we’ve got to see at least a couple new faces starting on the defense this year. We’re drafting for depth but Gipper is right. 2 or 3 new faces starting on this defense is a part of the shakeup we’re going to need.
April 4th, 2025 at 10:49 am
Trying to think back, have we ever drafted a corner in the first round? Maybe Vernon hargraves? Inside linebackers don’t often go in the first round, which makes me think DT
April 4th, 2025 at 1:44 pm
Man after seeing all the safety’s sign elsewhere it’s got me thinking we might just need a plug and play safety hybrid like emaworri from SC.
April 4th, 2025 at 3:08 pm
we can all agree with JAs job decription for a cb. Whats sad is even if we invest high draft picks in the secondary, nothing may change until we generate more pass rush with front 7. we definitlely need an impact edge player and I feel an upgrade over hall . you need quality rotation. I would be fine with drafting an edge, a 1,3,5 tech def lineman, and a 5 tech def lineman. Yes 3 players at the front 7 . Mike greene, joshua farmer, and ethan downs or elijah williams 7th round
April 4th, 2025 at 3:32 pm
Rod “KO” Jones was drafted 25th in the 1st round of the 1986 draft by your Tampa bay Buccaneers. His “KO’ moniker in college was supposedly because of how hard he hit, but unfortunately I guess the Bucs forgot to check and see if he could cover anyone. Jones new nickname after his 1st year wit Tampa was “Toast” due to how many times he got burned by receivers.