Priority: Outside Linebacker
March 22nd, 2024
Filling a major hole.
Let Joe be crystal clear: Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager did a fantastic job retaining all his valuable free agents. Job well done for the “Mastermind of Money.”
This doesn’t mean all of the Bucs’ ills and holes have been cured.
Joe has been losing sleep, lying awake tossing and turning trying to figure out why the Bucs won’t get a pass rusher. Currently, they have the famous perennial All-Pro “Hope,” and that’s it.
And it isn’t just Joe who thinks an edge rusher is priority No. 1 in the draft. In listing holes on the Bucs roster after free agency, Jenna Laine of ESPN cites outside linebacker first.
In a cost-cutting move, the Bucs parted ways with outside linebacker Shaquil Barrett, who signed with the Miami Dolphins. The Bucs found a starter this past year in 2023 third-round draft pick YaYa Diaby — who led the Bucs with 7.5 sacks — but who’s going to line up opposite him? Pass rush was a key differentiator as the Bucs fell just short to the Detroit Lions in the NFC divisional playoff game.
You know, Joe could argue that just “linebacker” is a top need, outside or inside. Who knows if Lavonte David can continue to clown Father Time? Besides, he’s only under a one-year deal.
K.J. Britt? He’s never started 17 games. (See above i.e. “Hope.”)
For Joe, there is simply no discussion. The second-most important player on a team and the most important player on a defense is an edge rusher. Period.
That’s why Joe is developing an ulcer with this Haason Reddick out there for the taking. No, Joe doesn’t give a damn if he can or can’t tackle, can or can’t play the run. The Bucs need a pass rusher. And Reddick sure as hell can rush the passer. Unequivocally.
(You don’t see baseball teams dumping designated hitters who belt 40 homers a year because they can’t bunt. You don’t see NHL teams dumping goalies who stand on their heads each night because they can’t skate quickly.)
Joe has no earthly idea what the hangup is unless the Eagles won’t trade him to the Bucs or Reddick is tied up in Shohei Ohtani’s Ippei Mizuhara’s underground gambling ring (allegedly). This is just driving Joe mental.
March 22nd, 2024 at 7:12 am
Joe, why do you discount Jason Licht and his staff? Have they not proven to be very adept at what they do? Do you think the importance of a pass rusher is beyond their abilities to grasp the notion? Perhaps they DO know a few things behind the scenes that you don’t. Perhaps they’re going to trade every draft pick they have to go up and get Dallas Turner. Who knows?
What we DO know is that you include “Ring of Honor” along with Jason’s name for good reason.
Don’t you think he should get a little respect for his overall strategy?
And hey, are all the rest of the NFL teams idiots too, at this point? No other team has yet to sign Reddick.
Maybe there’s something you don’t know.
So chill. Perhaps.
March 22nd, 2024 at 7:16 am
Jenna Laine…lol. This is gonna be a brutal offseason of takes aint it? C’mon July! Go Bucs!
March 22nd, 2024 at 7:17 am
There’s a couple scenarios that exist other than the Bucs sleeping at the wheel here
First, the Bucs could be targeting moving up in the draft for an edge
Second, the Eagles could be inclined to trade him out of the conference if the compensation is similar
March 22nd, 2024 at 7:20 am
Me too. I keep seeing people type about the guys we have on the practice squad. Hey People!! Those guys are there for a reason. Get on it, Licht!!
March 22nd, 2024 at 7:24 am
Reddick is near Shaq Barrets age, and wants a big raise over 15 million, has a cap hit of 21 million, may as well have gotten Danielle Hunter at that point, younger and no picks to give up. It will be addressed in the draft most likely
March 22nd, 2024 at 7:30 am
Aw yes Jenna Laine Tampa bays Nancy Drew neighborhood detective
March 22nd, 2024 at 7:35 am
And there’s a couple decent pass rushers still available without trade. Yannick Ngokue, Carl Lawson, just to name 2. They’d be dirt cheap too
March 22nd, 2024 at 7:38 am
The Bucs have zero history in developing a pass rusher in the past 35 years. Zero. JPP, Shaq, and Simeon Rice were all FA addition or trades. Their draft history is horrendous.
Trade for a pass rusher please
March 22nd, 2024 at 7:47 am
News flash from Jenna Laine! John Gruden used to coach the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
March 22nd, 2024 at 7:53 am
There was this same kind of panic then Jason Licht shocked everyone with a trade for JPP. Relax it’s March we’re what two weeks into free agency?
Bucs aren’t the only team in the nfl with a need for edge rusher so why is it NO ONE is touching this guy.
March 22nd, 2024 at 7:56 am
Jenna’s been reading JBF!
March 22nd, 2024 at 7:56 am
He’s ranked number 48 on PFF right behind Shaq Barrett who had a better pass rushing score. Should have kept Shaq instead of paying Reddick a huge deal for an average at best rusher
March 22nd, 2024 at 7:57 am
i like the idea of jenna as nancy drew ^^^
i also like the idea of ngakoue too…i think he is currently under contract with chicago and had a real down year last season – maybe he can be had for a long snapper or sean tucker 🙂
March 22nd, 2024 at 7:59 am
Reddick was drafted by Bruce Arians. Perhaps he knows a reason not to trade for him…..
March 22nd, 2024 at 7:59 am
also costco might be a good spot to search for a pass rusher…
ie…styles g white…
he was found at best buy…but i think it’s currently slim pickings over there…
so i suggest moving on to costco
March 22nd, 2024 at 8:02 am
Sorry he’s ranked number 43 and Barrett 42
March 22nd, 2024 at 8:07 am
Didn’t Reddick go 0’fer in the two games v. the Bucs last season? Although LVD maybe clowning Father time, it appears that the old man is gently tapping Reddick on the shoulder. He’s a one year rental at best. No thanks.
March 22nd, 2024 at 8:26 am
Joe, please draft a trade proposal. What do the Bucs have that the Eagles would go for. Also, I have heard that Reddick wants an extension of heavy dollars if he were to be traded.
I think draft and maybe in June some more veterans might be available.
Laying awake worrying about this?? Man you must have a really blessed life if this is what keeps you awake
March 22nd, 2024 at 8:30 am
A Bucs Fan Says:
The Bucs have zero history in developing a pass rusher in the past 35 years.
^^^^^^
1000% Agreed! Two positions the Bucs should NEVER draft: DE and QB. Complete waste, but … when they trade for them: GOLD!
Know your history.
March 22nd, 2024 at 8:31 am
It’s rerun season…….does anyone think we need a pass rusher?
March 22nd, 2024 at 8:36 am
A Buc Fan, so you noticed too. I thought I was the only Buc fan that noticed the Bucs haven’t developed an edge rusher as of yet. All the top notch edge rusher the Bucs have had was all free agents. Barrett, Rice and JP Paul. However, I am certain Licht and Bowles have a plan. Joe keep talking free agent edge rusher. Where are the Bucs gonna get the funds from at this moment. They still have to sign the OT and Safety to long term deals. My opinion is, and opinions are like rear ends, everybody has one, Licht’s waiting on something
March 22nd, 2024 at 8:38 am
Yes JL, please find a FA Edge rusher so Joe can dedicate his focus on our horrendous running game.
Wash
Rinse
Repeat
March 22nd, 2024 at 8:40 am
If we’ve never ever developed a pass rusher, then who trained up out very first draft pick EVER? Hear he’s also a Hall of Famer…. Am I wrong?
March 22nd, 2024 at 8:42 am
If he can’t play the run, he will do more harm than good. Even if he gets 20 sacks, he will give up hundreds of yards on the ground during the course of the season
March 22nd, 2024 at 8:47 am
The Bucs have zero history in developing a pass rusher
I seem to remember a rookie leading us in sacks. Develop a pass rusher is kind of a funny statement to make. Did anyone develop Tristan or Winfield? Nope they were just good players and only had to learn the system
March 22nd, 2024 at 8:52 am
Whining and crying incessantly is not making any difference in the roster despite what you think.
Maybe it’s a self care thing. In that case, cry your eyes out if it soothes your feefees.
March 22nd, 2024 at 8:55 am
If only we had coin……we might have an OL,edge rushers a stud LB, RB and new #1 draft pick WR
March 22nd, 2024 at 9:11 am
Couldn’t help but notice you called Jenna’s employer ESPN instead of BSPN like your normally do when referencing them. Classy subtle nod of respect.
March 22nd, 2024 at 9:16 am
Big Meh
March 22nd, 2024 at 9:19 am
Rumors flying that possibly the Falcons are interested in Reddick. If it is to be done, JL would need to do it now. Maybe JL has his eye on someone in the draft? Hoping it’s one or the other.
March 22nd, 2024 at 9:25 am
If you watched last ears games we were horrendous with the pass rush unless Bowles called a blitz. Opposing QB’s always left the game with very clean uniforms. Pass rush is our no 1 priority. Stevie Wonder can see that….
March 22nd, 2024 at 9:25 am
I agree with Edge being one of the most critical positions BUT I am not losing my mind about not getting Reddick . The eagles are either asking too much OR Reddick wants a new deal that is significantly more than we are willing to give. We also might want to see how the draft shakes out. We should trust Licht on this he got JPP in here for peanuts. Reddick is over 30 so he falls into your hope category NFL players that reach 30 usually start to decline see Shaq… Imagine getting Reddick at 29 paying him an extension and he busts out? Well be on the hook for Shaq & Reddick which would be a huge detriment long term.
March 22nd, 2024 at 9:28 am
Obvious, absolutely right. And since there’s been a toot load of coaching staffs and two owners, I don’t think you can accurately state the team can’t develop a particular position. The Arians/Bowles era has been the most stability this team has had since the Chucky years.
March 22nd, 2024 at 9:45 am
Need to trade not much in the draft
March 22nd, 2024 at 9:47 am
In the Eagles last 7 games (excluding the final regular season game vs Giants when he did not play) of 2023 season, here is Reddick’s stats:
15 total tackles
8 QB hits
2.5 sacks
Eagles were 10-1 and finished 11-7 after losing to Bucs in playoffs
So Joe wants Bucs to pay $15 million + per year for 2 tackles, 1 QB hit and a sack every 3rd game.
March 22nd, 2024 at 9:52 am
Are BOTH the Joes, TOTALLY OBSESSING over Hasson Reddick????? Haven’t seen obsession like this since they thought Johnny Football should have been drafted by the Bucs……….
March 22nd, 2024 at 9:53 am
‘Joe has no earthly idea what the hangup is unless the Eagles won’t trade him to the Bucs or Reddick is tied up in Shohei Ohtani’s Ippei Mizuhara’s underground gambling ring (allegedly). This is just driving Joe mental.’
Huh? Tell me you’re making this stuff up Joe, or just grasping at straws while you’re tossing & turning in bed unable to sleep. Eagles don’t NEED to trade Reddick, and certainly wouldn’t WANT to trade him to a conference rival who just beat them in the playoffs. Not to mention the notion that he’s not really a good fit for Todd Bowles’ defense.
Bucs’ defense is unquestionably a concern RIGHT NOW (OLBs, ILBs, DT as well as depth), but we’ve still got a loooong time to go until Game 1. Bucs currently have $10.0 mil of salary CAP space available, but we’ve yet to account for what we’ll have to pay to Ben Bredeson, LVD, Bryce Hall, Iosua Opeta, Justin Skule, John Wolford and Tavierre Thomas. That’s 6 more mouths right there that still need to be fed, PLUS signing our draft class, PLUS any additional depth FAs we sign. And right now the only contracts worth restructuring are Godwin, Vea & Dean. Got a hunch that JL has Mike Greenberg pulling out his hair trying to figure out how to make the numbers work.
And oh ya, we’ve already kicked the can down the road … A LOOONG WAYS … in just making this year work. Looks to me like the Bucs already have $60 mil in Void contract years on the books for 2025. That doesn’t include any Dead CAP yet (that’ll be considerable).
March 22nd, 2024 at 10:02 am
Reddick will never be a Buc. He is way too spendy. He’s not a FA, so the team has to give up value AND a big salary number.
March 22nd, 2024 at 10:09 am
So Joe, you are willing to trade a 2nd round pick to sign a 30-yr old pass rush specialist for $20M?
Darius Robinson might be in play at pick #26. He blew up the Senior Bowl (something Licht puts a lot of weight in), he’s a power rusher (the antithesis of JTS), and Daniel Jeremiah mocked him to us in his latest draft (he creates his mocks based on what he’s hearing).
March 22nd, 2024 at 10:31 am
@Hearty Dickerson
Yeah I gave them Darius Robinson right now, too!
March 22nd, 2024 at 10:52 am
JOE you’re not alone. I love defense. It’s deff one of the most important positions on the entire roster. Hell if even say just as important as QB. People will say that’s dumb but great defenses have won SB with game mangers and not so great QBs it’s deff more of a challenge but if an offense can’t score boom that’s game. 2002 Bucs are a great example. Our defense is what won us another in 2020. We did have Brady tho. The great bears defense the ravens defense. Just to name a few. Get it done Jason. Edge rusher please please please
March 22nd, 2024 at 11:02 am
It’s possible the first 2 picks are D Line. Then Joe is gonna have pleasant dreams with wet willies and all.
March 22nd, 2024 at 11:11 am
Joe is absolutely right.
We need to find a pass rusher. And you cant count on rookies. They suck their first year, until they’ve spent a season in an NFL weight room.
Find a Pass rusher and good guard.
Draft in any order- DE pass rushing LBer, Center Guard.
Thats all we need to be a serious Superbowl contender.
Get busy Mr.Licht. No parade until we replace SHaq, JPP, Ryan Jensen, and Stennie with STARTERS, not backups and bubblegum
March 22nd, 2024 at 11:14 am
Not much value to be had at OLB/DE this year in RD1. My guess is the Bucs go G/C in Round 1, especially if Graham Barton is available at no. 26, the OLB in rd. 2. Whoever we draft for OLB is only going to have, at most, the same impact YaYa had on the DL last year.
March 22nd, 2024 at 12:24 pm
Obvious, good call but, they need a drafted DE to develop as a all pro rusher more than once every 48 years. Most people on this site were not around back then. We need a “even a blind squirrel finds a nut sometimes ” moment sooner or later.
March 22nd, 2024 at 12:34 pm
BillyBucco Says:
March 22nd, 2024 at 11:02 am
It’s possible the first 2 picks are D Line. Then Joe is gonna have pleasant dreams with wet willies and all.
What a waste of picks. This is a bad year for edge. I can’t believe that the best player
available at #26 will be an edge. Or linebacker. Or WR.
Take the best player, hopefully it is a center. If you don’t like them, trade down.
Grab best WR in the 2nd round. Its a deep draft and quality should be there.
Leave the defense projects for the later rounds.
March 22nd, 2024 at 12:38 pm
I do not disagree with Joe that getting an edge rusher is a top priority.
But it’s not THE top priority. To perhaps parse words too carefully but what the Bucs need is actually a lot more QB pressures. It really does not matter where that pressure comes from. I absolutely agree with Joe that typically the edge rush contributes bigly…but perhaps not totally.
I agree with Joe about HOPE being the Bucs answer so far. But AGAIN..
“Remember, Red, hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.
― The Shawshank Redemption
I guess I look at it as insurance and depth. I think with YaYa and Calijah along with two safeties capable of blitzing at any time and some other contributions the Bucs can figure a way to get QB’s off their spot.
March 22nd, 2024 at 12:40 pm
BTW YES we need a much better rush but imagine how much fun it’s going to be watching targets run through the Buc’s secondary with their heads on swivels.
Where will the next big blast come from…Winfield…Whitehead…McCollum?
March 22nd, 2024 at 12:40 pm
No, you haven’t (lost sleep). This has now reached the point of absurdity. Losing SLEEP!? PuhhhLEASE. Can’t figure it out!? Just Ridiculous. YOU’VE ALREADY BEEN TOLDDDD, JOE. There is LITERALLY, NOTHING ELSE that could be said about THIS that hadn’t ALREADY been said. Period. I mean, if it’s cause YOU to “lose sleep,” then WHY NOT go and just ASK JL HIMSELF, or someone else, who’s actually, in the FO!? Other than, just sitting here and regurgitating THIS over and over every dang day. It’s just stupid and boring now!!!!
March 22nd, 2024 at 1:03 pm
No, Joe has not. If Joe was told why, he’d have wrote about it.
If you hate this subject so much, why did you comment on it much less read it?
March 22nd, 2024 at 1:21 pm
Well, you make a really good point there, Joe. But, all I was saying was that we’ve already hashed this out a million times, with every opinion imaginable. So, I don’t believe there will be anything ‘new’ here, that could possibly be mentioned, at this point. And, if it was REALLY causing you to lose sleep over, then why not just ask ‘someone’ who may be much more attuned to the actual, real decision makers… Since I’m assuming that you personally, must know SEVERAL of ‘those types’ of people, who are in-charge!!!! Idk!?
March 22nd, 2024 at 1:36 pm
What depth chart is worse, ILB or OLB?
It’s close.
You got David and Yaya, those are the only two guys who should be starting – after them your best player is JTS.
Thankfully you can draft and play ILB’s early – but OLB/EDGE are a total crap shoot. If Licht can get another starter in the 3rd round like he did with Yaya, that alone should win him GM of the year.
March 22nd, 2024 at 1:42 pm
You need to let Jason do his job big guy.
He isn’t oblivious to the fact that tampa needs more pass rush help. Tampa, I believe, is going to make a move to get Chop Robinson. He is worth trading up for if he falls past 15. I am not worried. Trading for Riddick sounds great, but its not happening unless Tampa is planning on giving him a long term deal, which also wont happen because long term deals need to go to wirfs and winfield, first.
I trust Licht. He will get it figured out. You’re a fan Joe and naturally you want to see to problem resolved now. Just sit back and let Jason work. He knows what hes doing.
March 22nd, 2024 at 1:43 pm
Jason isn’t oblivious to the fact that tampa needs more pass rush help. Tampa, I believe, is going to make a move to get Chop Robinson. He is worth trading up for if he falls past 15. I am not worried. Trading for Riddick sounds great, but its not happening unless Tampa is planning on giving him a long term deal, which also wont happen because long term deals need to go to wirfs and winfield, first.
I trust Licht. He will get it figured out. You’re a fan Joe and naturally you want to see to problem resolved now. Just sit back and let Jason work. He knows what hes doing.
March 22nd, 2024 at 4:44 pm
Joe, anybody out there available other than Reddick? You seem to be hung up on this guy. Yes I would like a perennial double digit sack guy too but why get rid of an expensive older edge rusher just to pick up another expensive older edge rusher?
I want Verse. If he’s within 5 or 6 picks I say we get after him.
March 22nd, 2024 at 4:59 pm
Joe still hasn’t grasped that there are several reasons why the the Bucs are not interested in Reddick and that it just isn’t happening. Save yourself the ulcers, let it go, it’s not happening. There’s 4 months until training camp. Be patient, and they’ll bolster the position without tossing out draft picks for a guy who’s already 30 and wants a decent chunk of money. Get a grip, take a pill, settle down.
March 22nd, 2024 at 5:12 pm
MelvinJunior speaks truth.
March 22nd, 2024 at 9:44 pm
Like he said should of never let go Shaq Barrett he was a good one have to say
March 22nd, 2024 at 11:08 pm
Thanks Joe! I feel the pain, but have Hope it will be ok : )
March 23rd, 2024 at 12:28 am
Can’t just sign a pass rusher, finding a bargain like JPP is rare.