Recent History Suggests Good Chance No. 2 Defensive Tackle Is On The Board At Pick No. 19
April 7th, 2025
Bucs GM Jason Licht.
With the Bucs sitting at No. 19 in the draft, which opens in 17 days, if Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht were inclined to draft an interior defensive lineman, he ought to get a good one.
That’s what recent history suggests. This year’s draft is deep at interior defensive line and No. 19 is a good position to get the second-best defensive tackle.
Joe looked back at the last few drafts, specifically since the Bucs drafted Vita Vea in 2018. The Bucs got him at No. 12 after trading down from No. 7 with Buffalo, who grabbed Josh Allen.
Only twice since 2018 (2019 and 2020) have there been two defensive tackles drafted before the team picking at No. 19 was on the clock.
In 2023, the Bucs got Calijah Kancey at No. 19 and he was the second interior defensive lineman chosen. He’s worked out fairly well, hasn’t he?
So the chances are good that the second-best defensive tackle is on the board when the Bucs are on the clock later this month.
While Joe is not locked in to any one player or position at No. 19 — Joe can make an argument for every position on defense in the first round — how cool would it be to have a brawler like Walter Nolen or a giant like Kenneth Grant or Alfred Collins?
Remember, Vita Vea is 30. If the Bucs make it to the Super Bowl he will be 31. His contract is up after the 2026 season. And the Eagles have demonstrated how loading up on your interior defensive line can produce quality results.
April 7th, 2025 at 12:06 am
I’m all for BPA at a position of immediate or soon to be immediate (in the next 2-3 seasons) need.
April 7th, 2025 at 12:48 am
I want IDL.
The redskins had special packages just for when Vea was out!
They gameplanned around Veas missed snaps!
I want a DT in round 1. And a DE to push Hall in round 2.
April 7th, 2025 at 1:24 am
“This year’s draft is deep at interior defensive line.”
Does this mean the Bucs can still get a good one without taking one in the 1st Round? I’m good with any good defensive player in the 1st.
April 7th, 2025 at 1:38 am
This would be my guess. DT round 1.
April 7th, 2025 at 1:44 am
Starks/Emman/Harmon….or trade down
Deone Walker 3rd, or Farmer if Starks/Emman is there and we go Higgins 2nd.
April 7th, 2025 at 2:26 am
Music to my ears Joe when you write that we’d draft a ‘giant like Kenneth Grant or Alfred Collins’. Could add Tyleik Williams to that list also I think.
Teacherman makes an excellent argument when he writes that the Redskins ‘gameplanned around Veas missed snaps!’ You know that if they did, others do also. And when Vea’s out (about 40% of the def snaps), we don’t have anyone else who commands double-teams and who brings the pressure up the middle. Adding one more ‘giant’ will help us to become more ‘consistent’ in our pass rush.
April 7th, 2025 at 2:32 am
I’m of the same hunch that tackle block has going. Lord knows DR would be in the tall cotton if we went that direction
I’ve got this strong feeling that’s the actual plan. Then again if some miracle does happen and a generational talent lucks into our lap, plan A could quickly be thrown right out the door. However it’s a more than obvious need that we also Have To address a DT sooner than later.
The possibilities are eye raising to have 3 potential All Pro’s Reeking Havoc on the same O line…. WOW! And THAT should help out the secondary immensely! It’s the old “more than one way to skin a cat”….
So like everything else at this time of year, it’s a maybe so, maybe not. But there’s something about addressing the D line that’s standing out….
April 7th, 2025 at 6:38 am
We have 3 good DTs already, and 3 question marks at EDGE.
How many DTs can we put on the field at once? Are we trying to intimidate opposing teams from the bench?
April 7th, 2025 at 6:39 am
They will go BPA. That could be a DT in the first, but also later, even after, considering the depth of this class.
It all depends on how the board falls.
April 7th, 2025 at 6:45 am
Gang, forget about Nolen, he’ll be gone by 11 to the 9ers. And as for the last note about the Iggles, big difference there in them having a REAL defensive coordinator in Fangio and good CB play on back end even by rookies. We have neither of those things, aside from the D Line. Just being real.
April 7th, 2025 at 6:51 am
Right there with ya Joe! I would not call for Jason to be fired it he went DL in the first. I like the Michigan big nasty dudes a bunch. Either one would make our line worries a thing of the past. Prefer Mason but he likely will be gone. Grant is huge! 339 lbs! A Vea clone?
Go Bucs!
April 7th, 2025 at 7:03 am
Sounds good
April 7th, 2025 at 7:12 am
Take the best player available for the D line and make your weakness a strength! Then our corners start looking better, along with the linebackers, and safeties….
April 7th, 2025 at 7:21 am
You guys mentioned that Commander’s game. Do you remember the KC game last year when they put Hunt in at the end of the game and ran power right at us. No one has done that to the Bucs in a long time. It was because VV was exhausted and we didn’t have anything behind him. It cost us at least 2 games last season. Now consider if we put a guy like Kenneth Grant in there next to VV. God bless the guard that has to go 1 on 1. 700 pounds of human that can stop the run or rush the passer.
April 7th, 2025 at 7:31 am
As injury-prone as Kancey has been thus far it would pay to have more depth
April 7th, 2025 at 7:34 am
You also might have one of the top receivers in the draft be there at #19. You do win games by scoring points. Vea is aging, so is Mike Evans. Both drafted in the first round, both working out pretty good.
April 7th, 2025 at 7:45 am
Here is an echo. I would like to see another beast like Kenneth Grant in the rotation.
Go Bucs!!
April 7th, 2025 at 8:18 am
Same age argument with the WR position can be used too…
LB3 @19
April 7th, 2025 at 8:52 am
I don’t see any unique talent at DL, DE, WR, TE, ILB, CB or Safety slipping to the Bucs.
So it makes it pretty easy this year to go for what Licht and Bowles see as a need position.
To me though, Licht has only reached on DE as a position of need and failed pretty badly.
Of the defensive positions, I think the Bucs would have to pick a DE or CB in the 1st round or by the time they get to their second — the pickings at those positions might be much, much slimmer.
Contrary to that, I think on the defense that they can get an interior DL or ILB in the 2nd round.
April 7th, 2025 at 10:16 am
It’s nice that I feel pretty relaxed because I just trust the GM at this point.
Roberto Aguayo had me shaky for a few years, but we are good I think now lol.
I’m intrigued by the 6’3 safety that runs a 4.38 and projected in R1. If we want to add a S in this draft that seems to be the guy to get from a potential blue chip talent perspective.
There seems to be great value on DE/DT in R2-R3 if we do not get one in R1. In general i will be upset if we don’t get a DT from what seems like one of the deepest DT drafts in a long time.
April 7th, 2025 at 10:50 am
Jason will make the right move, but I have an erection for beef.
April 7th, 2025 at 11:22 am
Just don’t draft another JTS! And, if someone falls into that fate- -cut him!!! Don’t keep him for years- -like JTS.
April 7th, 2025 at 12:04 pm
I remember watching Bellichek play with 2 LBs, or 5 LBs at times. One year he was short at DB so he used WRTroy Brown there. Get great players and figure it out. I look at the Giants reaching for OL and DE players in first round last couple of years and coming up short. Last year they went for WR cause he was BPA.
I trust Licht at this point to do good things with our pick and wouldn’t even rule out a trade. Gonna be a fun to watch!
April 7th, 2025 at 12:26 pm
Kenneth Grant seems like he would be a great pick up if VV50 needs that break get him a year in the nfl weight room not that he’s small but nfl will bulk you up
April 7th, 2025 at 12:28 pm
Grant and Nolan are players and have been for a couple of years. Nolan dropped a bit due to poor senior bowl. But that helps us. VV is not a young player anymore. No way is Collins a first rounder.
April 7th, 2025 at 12:36 pm
geno711, I think there’s a good chance at least one top talent will be there for the Bucs. QBs always go higher then expected. Teams with young QBs need O lineman to protect them. A top ten talent, maybe even two of the top 15 might fall to 19. At that number, anything can happen. Should be a fun draft.
April 7th, 2025 at 12:55 pm
Between Vea getting rests and Kancey missing games and Hall nearing free agency getting a top talent on DL is critical for teams long term success! Two more guys and Bucs would have dominant OL, dominant DL, and a top rate QB for the foreseeable future. CBs in third and fourth round, DL in first and second. Got to do it!
April 7th, 2025 at 1:21 pm
Do it!
April 7th, 2025 at 2:52 pm
The perception of Fangio as “REAL” began to change after World War II, coinciding with the increasing popularity and romanticization of Italian culture in American pop culture.
For those who couldn’t understand what Bushy was saying.
April 7th, 2025 at 4:16 pm
Haven’t heard anyone talking about Joshua Farmer, Omarr Norman Lott, Darius Alexander, Elijah Robert’s, CJ West, anyone of these beast please Mr Jason L
April 7th, 2025 at 7:55 pm
If he’s still on the board, Walter Nolen is absolutely the pick.
April 7th, 2025 at 8:18 pm
I’ve seen a few that look pretty good on paper here lately. Sounds good, the guys up front doing their thing can make a secondary look great right.. I just hope one of them is worth the money. Wherever they play on the field, hope they are worth it.. Licht is trusted here, Best five year run for them ever. Love IT myself I know about people losing nice TV’s because I don’t know what highschool seniors have been out there at times in this life. I was still 7 but I remember the old sombrero, I would get caught by my sister watching X rated movies with the binoculars lol…
April 7th, 2025 at 9:12 pm
While getting Vita Vae was obviously a fantastic pick. Wouldn’t you like to see what Josh Allen could have done with Mike Evans and Godwin. I have no idea why the Buc’s stayed with the turnover machine Jameis “I need me some Snow Crab” Winston. Josh Allen under center with Evans and Godwin back then… Yes please. I love that the Buc’s and Mayfield are where they are now. But back then?
April 8th, 2025 at 9:13 am
“Bucc my life Says:
April 7th, 2025 at 6:38 am
We have 3 good DTs already, and 3 question marks at EDGE.
How many DTs can we put on the field at once? Are we trying to intimidate opposing teams from the bench?”
You also don’t reach for need. If all of the remaining edge players aren’t high on your draft board (either because of talent or character), and you can’t trade down, you go BPA, regardless of position. The Bucs have needs everywhere within the next 2-3 years. Obvious exceptions – QB, K, P although if a 1st round graded QB somehow dropped to 19, I’d have to believe a trade down is highly possible.
April 8th, 2025 at 9:16 am
“While getting Vita Vae was obviously a fantastic pick. Wouldn’t you like to see what Josh Allen could have done with Mike Evans and Godwin. ”
Josh Allen – at that time – was a pretty big question mark. No telling if he would have developed in Tampa. According to some folks here, the Bucs can’t develop a QB. Not my take, mind you – I think the Bucs just draft sorry QBs.