Derrick Brooks Sees Bucs Draft Focus On O-Line
April 24th, 2024
Bucs legends concur.
Count Buccaneers legend Derrick Brooks (1995-2008) among Tampa Bay fans ready to cheer emphatically if his team drafts an offensive lineman in Round 1 on Thursday night.
(And what does Brooks know and from whom is he hearing things?)
Brooks sees the Bucs as a team in a good place after getting to within a few plays of the NFC Championship game in January. That means the club won’t be forcing things in the draft and look for depth in the draft, in addition to impact rookies.
Speaking on his Brooks and Beckles podcast, Brooks identified the Bucs’ greatest need being on the interior offensive line.
“I think they need center, guard, you know, perhaps some defensive depth on the other side,” Brooks said. “But I really think they’re focusing in on the big guys.”
Brooks also offered no defense when co-host and former Bucs guard Ian Beckles railed on Joe Tryon-Shoyinka and said his No. 1 need is edge rusher.
Beckles countered saying he’s confident head coach Todd Bowles is eyeing veteran defensive role players currently on other teams’ rosters that can be had later in spring and summer. He didn’t specifically mention pass rushers but that was the implication. Per Brooks, because of how Bowles runs his defense, role players take on extra importance and are more critical to success than on other teams.
“I would be surprised if this [draft] is not all about getting depth up front on both sides of the ball,” Brooks added.
Brooks went on to note that finding a ferocious, cornerstone pass rusher at No. 26 overall, where the Bucs pick, is a more difficult and perhaps less attractive task than grabbing an interior offensive lineman that can be a successful 10-year starter.
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April 24th, 2024 at 9:12 am
Agree 100%….OL or Edge….
April 24th, 2024 at 9:17 am
If Verse is gone then C or Big LG in the first. No more small school tackles converted to guards. Hopefully the Bucs can pick up a decent veteran DL or DE.
April 24th, 2024 at 9:26 am
The Bucs lost playoff game to Lions because the trenches were beaten both sides of ball.
If J Newton is there when Bucs pick 1st round-take him. Don’t reach for another project. Otherwise, take an interior Olineman from among many quality choices.
WR, LB can be had in 3rd round. RB , CB later rounds.
April 24th, 2024 at 9:29 am
@Alan
Agree 100%. The Lions game to me showed we need upgrades in the trenches. Mainly OL but when Yaya got hurt that game it’s like the pass rush disappeared compared to what we saw vs the Eagles.
April 24th, 2024 at 9:36 am
Adding higher end talent to the OLine is the biggest need the Buccaneers have and will improve the overall team this year more than drafting for any other position group.
We need TWO better players up front – a Center and a LG.
If the right prospects are there when Licht is on the clock – I would be totally good with drafting IOL in the 1st AND 2nd rounds.
At worst – the Bucs need to spend 2 of their 4 top 100 picks on a Center and a Guard.
April 24th, 2024 at 9:55 am
I hope there are 6 QBs and at least 7 OTs taken in the first round. That is 13 draft slots filled with a position the Bucs don’t need. Hopefully this will ensure several solid players at positions of need will fall to the Bucs at #26.
I really don’t want to spend picks in order to move up in round one…
April 24th, 2024 at 10:14 am
Agree with both Pickgrin and Brooks!
April 24th, 2024 at 10:31 am
Agree with 55 completely. It is all about the trenches and the Bucs were clearly lacking there in several games.
April 24th, 2024 at 10:45 am
Sean Sullivan and Lee D have schooled me and converted me regarding positional value. No Interior lineman, RB, TE, safety or linebacker in round 1.
WR Brian Thomas if available, otherwise EDGE.
April 24th, 2024 at 10:46 am
Sounds like most everyone is on the same page — except Joe. The more T, QB and WR taken early in the draft the more likely a top 3 Edge rusher or IOL falls to the Bucs at #26.
April 24th, 2024 at 10:59 am
Joe is not that restrictive. Just no interior lineman in the first round. Probably would lean against safety in first round as well but not an absolute.
April 24th, 2024 at 11:02 am
Hope he is right. We need diesel power up front with a lower profile.
Give me jpj or Frazier at C and mahogany or Haynes at guard.
April 24th, 2024 at 11:16 am
Screw the positional value chatter…
You stick JPJ in the middle of this OLine and the 2024 Buccaneers team immediately gets a LOT better. Not a little – a LOT.
I personally hope like hell that we get to see that happen.
April 24th, 2024 at 11:17 am
I think if you get a chance to get verse or latu you take them. Otherwise you trade back and go bed available o-line.
April 24th, 2024 at 11:19 am
I think there are plenty of players in play at 26.
Almost a guarantee that either Barton, Frazier, or JPJ will be there.
How much better are they than Beebe or Van Pran?
That is the question.
There is a pretty clear drop off after the top 3 edge guys.
What guys and where would the Bucs trade UP?
It would only cost a 3rd rounder to trade to 15 for Brock Bowers.
It would be a 4th rounder to trade to 20 for Brian Thomas or any of the 3 edge guys.
Outside of those 5 guys I wouldn’t trade up.
I agree that we probably won’t see a S, RB, LB or TE other than Bowers.
Maybe Junior Colson or Payton Wilson.
Please just get a guy who will definitely start and produce right away.
April 24th, 2024 at 11:24 am
Amen, Mr Grin.
April 24th, 2024 at 11:36 am
We need more of brooks and his views. He probably should do a better job of monetizing himself.
April 24th, 2024 at 11:51 am
Pickgrin … ‘You stick JPJ in the middle of this OLine and the 2024 Buccaneers team immediately gets a LOT better.’
Nice to see that at least someone gets it Pickgrin. The MIDDLE of the offense (QB & Center) and the defense (NT & MLB) are critical IMO because 1 depends on the other so much. Right now the Bucs NEED a Center more than any other position, followed closely by NEEDING a MLB to replace White (Britt isn’t the answer as a starter in Bowles’ defense) and obviously an Edge to replace Shaq. Throw in a beastly RB to complement Rachaad and you’ve got your Top 4 picks (Rnds 1-3).
April 24th, 2024 at 12:00 pm
O line needs emphasis unless Latu is still available at 26. If not, Licht will know what to do. CENTER and 2 guards make sense. Not sold on Mauch unless he has hit weight room hard in offseason.
April 24th, 2024 at 12:01 pm
I think all the decent edge rushers will be gone by 26.
So I’d be happy with a trade down or one of the top centers at 26.
April 24th, 2024 at 12:02 pm
I agree completely with Mr Brooks.
April 24th, 2024 at 12:23 pm
A lot of people keep saying O-lineman in the 1st rd if you can get a stud at a diff position then do it only because jason has a good track record for drafting O-lineman in the 2nd rd and later. Jason and his team have a good read on O-lineman. I would even say great. Smith marpet cappa wirfs goedgke mauch just to name a few and wirfs is the only 1st rd pick. If Jason picks a O-lineman in the 1st rd he will prob be a baller like wirfs so no reason to cry about it but a lot of his big uglies come in yhe 2nd and later rds. 1st rd should be a immediate impact player not like JTS or HALL. Lol I deff trust Jason. I’m always up for building the trenches. Lions eagles and 9iners are dominate up front and Bucs need to follow in building the trenches that way
April 24th, 2024 at 12:27 pm
You have a second, and two third rounders to fortify both lines. Get your next #1 receiver now with #26.
April 24th, 2024 at 1:01 pm
The draft takes way too long. If I wanted to watch 32 pics in 3 hours we could just resign Jameis
April 24th, 2024 at 1:13 pm
DB55 knows a little about the game of football. What he says is music to my sore ears and battered liver.
I trust Jason. And if he ends up drafting Schlop Robinsong or Gatorade the zone CB, that’s because they were the best options at the time.
One bourbon.
One scotch.
One beer.
April 24th, 2024 at 1:41 pm
Beeej Says:
good one Beej lol
April 24th, 2024 at 1:43 pm
Bucs should only draft an interior OL in round 1 if they think that player has future all pro potential.
Anything less than that and it is a waste of a first rounder. A first rounder is about hitting a home run not bunting on the first pitch to play it safe.
April 24th, 2024 at 1:50 pm
The Godfather has spoken. So it is written, so shall it be done.
April 24th, 2024 at 2:05 pm
Two bourbons,
Two scotches.
Two beers.
April 24th, 2024 at 2:12 pm
Can’t fix everything at once.
I’d be fine with spending this year focusing on the offense, getting pieces in place for the future.
April 24th, 2024 at 2:32 pm
Always a pleasure hearing from Mr. Brooks.
Yup. Interior O linemen, edge rushers.
De,Guard,Center, Lber.
Ive been saying that for a very long time.
Glad to see that I am seeing the team needs, the same way the Buc legend sees them.
At this point, there seems to be alot of us who know this draft needs to be about the bigguns.
Of course, not (ahem) everyone.
Some still dont seem to realize that the team cant run or pass, if the defense has knocked them on their butts as soon as the ball is snapped.
We cant block. We cant knock their offense on its butt. Bother sides of that equation are a huge problem we need to address
“ Its a game of BLOCKING and Tackling” Vince Lombardi
April 24th, 2024 at 2:49 pm
Hodad,
Hy would we we draft a WR we will need in the future, when we have starters in those positions now.
We dont have anyone on this team, who started at left guard last year.
We have NO LEFT GUARD.
Hainsey is a backup. Jensen retired.
We have NO STARTING CENTER.
We cut Shaq and White.
WE DO NOT HAVE OUR PRIMARY PASS RUSHER AT DE OR LBER.
Seems like we have some IMMEDIATE NEEDS. We have two fantastic Wrs playing Right now.
I agree we need to add some depth. Behind our 3 starting WRs, but we can sign those guys after the draft. Cheap.
Lets address the positions that Need STARTERS RIGHT NOW FIRST.
April 24th, 2024 at 2:53 pm
He got it right.
April 24th, 2024 at 2:54 pm
2 Wirfs are bettah than 1 Wirf
April 24th, 2024 at 4:17 pm
Three beers are better than two beers.
April 24th, 2024 at 5:20 pm
Oh, by the way
Center has by far the highest “hit rate” in the first round.
92% of all Centers drafted in the first round become long term starters, and sign a second contract . More than any other position.
Just showed that chart on BSPN.
So, if you need one, statistically you’d have to be crazy NOT to draft one in the first round.
April 24th, 2024 at 5:22 pm
Been saying it all offseason long:
Build the trenches. On both sides of the ball.
April 24th, 2024 at 6:44 pm
I would be stoked if we landed JPJ or traded up in the second to land Frazier
April 24th, 2024 at 7:02 pm
Seems like Brooks who must know 1000% more about football than I is reiterating what I’ve been screaming since our final loss of the season. Your QB cannot face 37 pressures all in under 2 seconds and expect him to be successful! (Baker still almost pulled it off though. 😄) Give Baker time and give White some holes!!!
April 24th, 2024 at 7:06 pm
“White should trust the call and hit the hole hard.” I played corner most of the time because of my size and wrestling/ tackling ability. I did, however, tote the ball two seasons. It’s hard to “hit the hole” when there’s 3 giants plugging said hole. I’m not kidding!!!
April 24th, 2024 at 7:14 pm
Having said that, our Dbacks need help too! You can’t cover forever. You need your D-line to pressure… If they can’t do it, Bowles has to blitz on every passing down which gives up holes… I’m glad I’m not Licht right now. 🤣
April 24th, 2024 at 9:27 pm
Can Logan Hall play Center or Left Guard? Or linebacker? Or somewhere???
April 24th, 2024 at 11:22 pm
Toad Bowels,
Lmao! Thanks!
The answer is no, he cant. But your question certainly sums it up!
Anywhere? Long snapper?
April 25th, 2024 at 6:06 am
I think there is a huge misrepresentation here.
When Shane suggests that Baker faced 37 pressures, he is wrong.
A time to throw stat measures something totally different then pressures given up during a game.
Comprehension matters.
April 25th, 2024 at 4:12 pm
The Buc need three starters, not depth. They need to package all of their draft picks together to achieve that purpose/