Fixing The Defense Through The Draft
April 10th, 2025
Challenge.
Joe has typed the following several times. And Joe will continue to type it until the 2025 draft is over.
(Yes, the draft begins two weeks from tonight. We’re getting there, folks.)
Joe can argue for the Bucs to draft any position on defense.
* Defensive tackle isn’t a need but the Bucs could use help there.
* Inside linebacker is a major need.
* Safety is a need.
* Corner is likely a need.
* Edge rush is still a need but not as acute as it was before the Bucs signed Haason Reddick.
Jeffri Chadiha of NFL.com also sees the same needs and holes and lack of depth on the Bucs defense. He wonders, in his burning question for each NFC team, can the Bucs fill all the holes on the defense in this month’s draft?
BURNING QUESTION: Can the Bucs fill enough needs to fix that defense?
There isn’t much mystery about what the Bucs must do in the draft: find help fast for a defense that was especially weak against the pass, ranking 29th in that category. Head coach Todd Bowles made clear at the Annual League Meeting that he would love to add depth in the cornerback room. Zyon McCollum is the most dependable player at that position, and Tykee Smith emerged as the starting nickel in his rookie year, but there are questions after that. Jamel Dean is the most experienced and talented corner but needs to stay healthy, while free-agent signees Bryce Hall and Kindle Vildor have made six starts between them in the last two seasons. There’s also a need at inside linebacker; while Lavonte David continues to defy his age (he’s now 35), the Bucs must find younger options. As great as Tampa has been on offense the last few years, you know Bowles wants to return to the days when his defense could impress, as well. This draft should be a big step toward getting there.
The way Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht has been nailing the draft in recent years, it’s no stretch to think Licht can fill all the defensive holes.
Besides, even if Licht can’t find a stud starter at safety or at corner, just the fact the Bucs now have an edge rush, that alone will make the secondary better.
April 10th, 2025 at 4:11 am
Starks/Emman/Harmon…or trade down, Ezeiruaku
Need WR Higgins
Shwesinger (wont be there) /Knight jr
DT Farmer/CB Nohl Williams
Jack Sawyer (if we didnt grab EZ)
DT (if we didnt grab one yet) Ty Robinson
CB BJ Adams
April 10th, 2025 at 4:15 am
Better fix it through a new coach.
April 10th, 2025 at 5:22 am
Assuming healthy, in a sensible worst case, couldn’t we economically patch the CB position with Rasul Douglas or James Bradberry as dependable but not spectacular vets, then focus draft efforts on Edge and ILB, maybe a Safety in 3rd round?
Not sure why JL and staff are leaving so many known holes on defense going into the draft. It’s not like a 5th rounder is gonna start next year.
And for any out there thinking that by doing what I suggest that somehow it would tip our hand in the the 1st and 2nd rounds, neah one can easily capitalize on a player dropping to them just the same and double up. See the brightest guy in the biz with the Iggles, he does it all the time.
April 10th, 2025 at 5:29 am
Shut up “ac Grover”
We have won with a Super Bowl with Bowles as DC.
He hasn’t lost the NFC South yet. Despite salary cap purgatory and injuries decimating our defense last year.
We have all 22 starters set in stone BEFORE the draft!
Our lockeroom is United. Our locker room loves their coach.
Our players fight for Bowles.
Did you forget how bad we were with Lovie Smith, Koetter, Schiano, and Morris?
We had no depth. We had horrible drafts. We sucked!
How can you be so illogical? And blind?
Bowles and the Bucs are a young dynasty!
Bowles was an NFL DB.
He develops DBs.
Carlton Davis and Dean were 3rd round picks!
They are both #1 CBs in the NFL.
Merriweather and Izien were UDFA. And they are solid!
MJ Stewart was just re-signed by the Texans. 2nd round pick
SMB is still balling. 2nd round pick
Winfield developed into an all pro.
Mike Edwards is back on the Chiefs. 3rd round pick!
Jordan Whitehead started a lot of games for a 4th round pick.
Zion was a 5th round pick who has Pro-Bowl potential.
You guys are crazy!!!
Bowles is a God-send for the die hard Bucs fans like myself!
I remember the “effort” under our previous coaches.
Lovie Smith wanted Altereaun Verner and Vernon Hargreaves!
Lovie had no eye for DB talent!
Bowles does!
April 10th, 2025 at 7:06 am
if you start with edge you often don’t get what you really need, according to mocks. if you start DB you usually get a good edge rusher later. feels like we’re going CB if we can’t trade down and taking either johnson barron or the swiss army safety. what if a stud DL slides ten spots, should we take him? helping inside should help outside theoretically and we can’t expect kancey and vea to last all year
April 10th, 2025 at 7:07 am
ideally, trade down and get your edge in a more appropriate slot
April 10th, 2025 at 7:15 am
Emmanwori , Ezeirauku , or Barron .
April 10th, 2025 at 7:16 am
We need to draft Edge round 1 unless someone falls to us. I just don’t think Chris Braswell will work out and we do not have enough depth. Otherwise, maybe we trade down and grab more bodies
April 10th, 2025 at 7:17 am
Actually, I’m falling it now. If a QB that a team needs falls to 19 I bet we trade back in the 1st. Imagine Shadeur is still on the board. I’m telling the Steelers I’ll pick him unless they want to trade up for him LOL
April 10th, 2025 at 7:21 am
There’s DT/NT ‘beef’ later in the draft, but they almost always end up being ‘space-eaters’ (decent against the run but able to take on double-teams and ‘push the pile’ like Vea can). The interior ‘giants’ like Vita are unique because they combine massive size with incredible power, strength & quickness. They are the cream of the crop IOW.
This year’s class seems to special because there are several who meet that criteria. Michigan’s Kenneth Grant (6’4″ & 331 lbs) is one of them, and he’s not even at his peak yet. Ohio State’s Tyleik Williams (6’3″ & 334 lbs) appears to be another, as is Texas’ Alfred Collins (6’6″ & 332 lbs). Yes there are several massive DT/NTs who’ll be available in the later rounds, but they all seem to have a similar MO: ‘solid gap plugger & run defender, who needs to show more pass-rush ability’. No thanks.
The quality is at the TOP of this draft (as it is in most). Spend the pick and draft quality that’ll be with us for 8-10 years.
April 10th, 2025 at 7:28 am
Realistically who will be available when the Bucs pick in the first round and then in the second round? Starks, safety from GA (even if Jiihad is available. And then Demetrius Knight, LB from S Carolina.
April 10th, 2025 at 7:38 am
Linemen who get lots of sacks nearly always come from the first round
April 10th, 2025 at 7:39 am
I’ll reiterate Munch’s post from the last few days.
The Bucs went from about 4 million of cap space to about 32 million of cap space in the last two weeks by restructuring contracts.
Looking at history — the Bucs have not done this before without it being for a recently signed or resigned player. So this is out of the normal.
Possibilities.
1. Making a play for Trey Hendrickson.
2. Making a play for Jaire Alexander.
3. An agent of a player the Bucs covet has told them that his client will be a post draft cut.
4. The move is meant to make a trade for a major talent during the season.
5. Making a play for Tyrek Hill.
April 10th, 2025 at 7:46 am
That cap space is for Otton Goedeke extensions, possibly extending Baker before he has another 40td season
April 10th, 2025 at 8:35 am
Thanks Guzzie5. I think your idea is as plausible as any of my 5 ideas, but not sure that it is a certainty either. I’d wait long and hard about extending Goedeke until you understand whether he is a concussion risk going forward or not.
So, that seems easier to do at the end of Feb 2026 before free agency then before this season.
BTW have the Bucs extended guys before they even start their 4th season?
April 10th, 2025 at 8:40 am
Defense Rules Most Years I would Agree With You.
This year, though, there are a few positions with so much talent, it’s almost overflowing. Your typical space-eating defensive tackle might end up being the best one in the draft—and he could fall to the fourth round or later. Probably not as some estimates say as many as 60 DTs could be taken in the first three rounds. That’s the rumor, though it’s worth remembering: it’s lying season in the draft world.
Take Joshua Farmer, for example. He started as a projected UDFA, but now he’s climbed into the third round in most mock drafts I’m seeing. Then there’s Thor Griffith—he hasn’t even fully developed his “man body” yet and still looks young (babyface), but he’s a workout warrior with a nonstop motor. He’s stronger and faster than Vita Vea was as a rookie and has slightly better production—more TFLs, more sacks, etc.
Or like Fadil Diggs, same height weight speed as Zadarius Smith, Chase Young, or Jadaveon Clownly hes also underrated imo. As an OLB or EDGE, he has the tools, the athleticism, and the film—but for some reason, he’s just not rated as highly as he should be.
And let’s not forget history: DK Metcalf should’ve gone higher. Same with Budda Baker, Tyrann Mathieu, Trent Cole, Elvis Dumervil, Shaq Barrett, Jared Allen, Geno Atkins, Richard Sherman—and of course, the obvious one: **TOM FREAKING BRADY!**
All those guys went in the third round or later— some went undrafted entirely.
The draft is a crapshoot, and this year is no different. But if you believe the evaluators and trust the measurables and film, there are *a lot* of 6’2″+ DTs this year who can move. The league is cyclical. Colleges have been trying to stop the read-option for years and years. Big, space-eating DTs who can move? They have proven to be the answer to that.
April 10th, 2025 at 8:49 am
Re on Geno… all scenarios seem plausible except for the last one, #5. Hill doesn’t fit our locker room. The Police were called out to his house just a few days ago due to a domestic disturbance where the wife dropped charges but said she was fearful of his behavior for her daughter’s safety.
?????!!!!! AB 2.0
I don’t care how fast and hard to cover he is, just not the guy for Licht/Bowles. Now Hendrickson or Alexander would be pretty cool!! Just don’t jack up our cap/contract situation over the next 5 years.
April 10th, 2025 at 8:52 am
Watched Hendrickson highlight tapes yesterday and he is terrific. Not sure what Bucs would have to give up in trade but it would probably be substantial. Not going to find an EDGE with his talent in this draft but he is 31 and will be very expensive. If Cincinnati would take a 2 and 3 in 2025 and if Hendrickson would sign a 3 year deal, then go for it. Bucs need to win now given age of ME and CG.
April 10th, 2025 at 9:05 am
I don’t care too much about positional approach. Just go get some defensive ballers.
R1 if a blue chip talent falls take him regardless. I’d be OK with Campbell if that’s the guy they really want and think he can transform the defense even if he isn’t doing that week 1. I trust in LIcht in the end.
It’s been a long long time since we drafted slow DBs or a kicker. I think he’s realized you need elite athletes still on top of ‘bucs guys’ or whatever character assessments they are making.
April 10th, 2025 at 10:15 am
It’s not a space eating DT, it’s another penetrator besides Vita up the middle that would make the season bright.
April 10th, 2025 at 10:19 am
Fill a couple spots with quality starters, add other depth players, and I think they’re set. If they can draft a CB who can start over Dean and lock down that position, that alone will go a long way.
April 10th, 2025 at 10:27 am
Josh … ‘The draft is a crapshoot, and this year is no different.’
You & I totally agree on that one. Who Bucs will actually draft is anyone’s guess at this point. Yes there are a bunch of big-body DT/NTs available, but throughout NFL history relatively few have truly dominated. Vea is dominant (most of the time). Wilfork was dominant (most of the time). Most HOF DTs though have been more in the 300-320 lb range, although every position seems to get ‘beefier’ over time.
I just believe that there are 3 giant DT/NTs in this year’s draft that will stand out over time, although I’m sure many others will be good as ‘space-eaters’ against the run. I want the guy who can take on the double-team and push it backwards into the QB’s face, and do it in a split second.
April 10th, 2025 at 10:34 am
No we won’t have studs at every position, that’s just not realistic and no team does. The only one I see as an absolute need is ILB. We actually have depth at corner now, could use a bit at safety. I’d rather go bpa but would like an ilb fairly early. It’s ok to have one or two average starters and take that pro bowler at a position that’s not necessarily a weakness
April 10th, 2025 at 11:18 am
Just saw a cool stat about our draft picks.
Since 2014, the Bucs have the most snaps taken and most games started by their own draft picks out of any team in the league. Perhaps there’s a bit of homerism is that, but seemed pretty cool to me. We like our homegrown guys, for better or worse.
April 10th, 2025 at 11:27 am
As much as I love Vita Vea, he’s never really presented himself as anything more than a massive presence in the middle who’s tough to move, with a strong pocket push.
I’m not downplaying his importance or vitality to the team.
He’s one of my all-time favorite Buccaneers. I’ve nicknamed him ‘Maui,’ and I play the *You’re Welcome* song from Disney’s *Moana* every time he makes a big play at home. I have his jersey, and I absolutely love the guy! One of my all-time favorite Buccaneers, right next to Chris Godwin, Lavonte David, and Mike Evans, amongst this generation of Bucs. But let’s be real—he’s no Reggie White, Aaron Donald, or Warren Sapp, which is fine. They all play different techniques and serve different purposes. He’s more like a Haloti Ngata or Tony Siragusa-type player.
Would it be AWESOME to have another DT who’s that good, a.k.a. Warren Sapp? ABSOFREAKINLUTELY! If one of the defensive tackles available at 19 is that guy, everyone who drafts in front of you should have taken him, unless they got a franchise QB. If theres a guy with that talent there you have to take him…
April 10th, 2025 at 6:34 pm
First round picks are 50 – 50 at best. Piocking DL there probably less risky than some other positions at least for a complete bust unless you’re after Booker Reese. I think we can get some corners in rounds 2 through four, mix in a BPA another big DL, late safety and your good. ILB is the wild card. Total crap shoot in FA and the draft. We have to get lucky there. The jags we have may be better than last year’s but it would be nice to snag a diamond in the rough. And. Oh yeah, trade back at least once.
April 10th, 2025 at 6:35 pm
Picking