Linebackers Pool Sort Of Chilly
February 13th, 2025
Will he stay or will he go?
Joe doesn’t even want to think about Bucs life without Lavonte David. Sooner or later, the end will arrive.
It could be in 2026. Joe doesn’t think it would come after the 2027 season. Or, sadly, it could come within the next few weeks.
Joe hopes David gives the Bucs a heads-up before the free agency dinner bell rings in less than a month.
Regardless, the Bucs do need an upgrade at inside linebacker next to David. It’s too bad the Bucs cannot put K.J. Britt’s heart into a body of a quicker guy.
Joe has eyes on three guys and figures one of the three will be available.
First, Joe has a hard time seeing the Chiefs let go of their tackling machine Nick Bolton. He could walk as a free agent. Joe liked the guy since he came out of Missouri. Man, to have him next to David, the Bucs would instantly have one of the best linebacker duos in the game.
In San Francisco, the 49ers have two starting linebackers who are pending free agents. That would be De’Vondre Campbell and Dre Greenlaw. Each could come relatively cheap — if they hit the market.
There’s a reason for that.
Campbell, who had 79 tackles in 12 starts, will be 32 before training camp starts. Greenlaw will be 28 but he’s coming off an Achilles injury. He tried to come back from that injury last year but couldn’t make a go of it.
In Campbell’s case, would you want to pair up a couple of linebackers who are on the wrong side of 32?
With Greenlaw, do you bank on damaged goods? Having one linebacker at 35 (David) and the other trying to return from an Achilles, that may not be so smart.
Another guy who may be a trade target is Germaine Pratt of Cincinnati. Pratt turns 29 this summer and enters the final year of his contract. He’s making noise he wants out of Cincinnati.
Pratt has missed just four games the last four years, none the past two seasons. In each of the last four seaons, Pratt has increased his tackles totals. In 2024, he had 143 tackles.
Since Pratt is in the final year of his contract, he could be had for less than face value. That is, of course, if stubborn Bengals strongman Mike Brown wants to play ball. He often prefers to play chicken with his disgruntled players.
Joe would absolutely jump at the chance to have Bolton, would waste no time if there was a chance for Pratt, would be cautious with Campbell and would have to think long and hard about Greenlaw.
No, Joe has not forgotten about SirVocea Dennis. However, Dennis — who Joe likes and thinks he can be a good player — first must prove he can stay on the field and out of the tub. Only then can Joe consider him for a starting linebacker gig.
February 13th, 2025 at 7:22 am
Draft Schwesinger in the 2nd
February 13th, 2025 at 7:27 am
I like Zack Baun the most then Bolton, but if going older and cheaper I would then go Bobby Wagner.
I actually thought he was going to be on the trade market of what I thought was going to be a bad Redskins team.
February 13th, 2025 at 7:37 am
No one with any injury history we have enough time trying to keep players on the field.
February 13th, 2025 at 8:34 am
Off topic: Love my Bucs I just have no confidence in Todd Bowles he plays to scared for me.
February 13th, 2025 at 8:38 am
Campbell pulled an Antonio Brown minus the striptease and calisthenics. Don’t think Greenlaw will be the same guy sadly. Pratt is worth a day 3 pick and I like Cody Barton from DEN – doubt Mike Green makes it to 19 so be ready to trade down, pick up a 4th and declare Jihaad lol he might be what Devin White could have been
February 13th, 2025 at 9:21 am
I also thought Dennis could be a damn good ILB but since the shoulder injury we haven’t heard squat about his progress. I don’t want to hear he won’t be totally healthy by training camp. Did he have a shoulder injury or an amputation?
February 13th, 2025 at 9:24 am
I think they will have David and Dennis and I believe they will draft another one. I think free agency should be about edge rusher. They have shown they cannot draft an edge rusher, so they need to go get a proven commodity
February 13th, 2025 at 9:30 am
Bobby Wagner is a FA. He and LVD are good friends…can you imagine not just the football skills those two would bring each day, but the level of competition between them every practice and every workout would be priceless for the rest of the team, especially the youngsters!
February 13th, 2025 at 9:41 am
We can find very capable LBs in rds 2-4…..prefer cheap youth over aging vets that are expensive. DE is where we have to likely spend some money to get a proven commodity as Licht has shown no ability to draft an above average DE. He’s solid in other areas (OL, Secondary, WR) but for whatever reason he’s off on the rest. Picking up proven players worked out great with Brady, Mayfield, JPP, Shaq, Fournette, etc……sometimes it’s best to take the proven player vs keep swinging and missing. At the end of the day we need results not potential.
February 13th, 2025 at 10:09 am
Wait, I thought we were gonna trade our picks to Cleveland. Do we actually need our picks now?
February 13th, 2025 at 10:29 am
Since Todd and about half the rest of the league play a 3-4 I’m not sure what all the DE talk is about.
Perhaps it’s just terminology. Some coaches feel fine with two DT’s and NT.
Others want two DT’s and two DE’s.
OLB’s are supposed to be hybrid athletes who can rush the passer or drop into coverage..hence the LB part of their title. They are not traditonal DE’s but are still expected to provide some edge pressure.
As D.R. has pointed out it’s even more complex with Todd’s D as to who rushes and who covers.
The Bucs are ALREADY top ten in sacks! They are not bad in “hurries” either.
Since the pressure is coming primarily from the interior of the D I get that people are clamoring for an “edge” rush. What I question is if people understand that Todd does NOT play a classic 4-3. IE the OLB ARE EXPECTED to be able to cover! Agree with the strategy or not, but that’s how it is for many teams not just Todd and the Bucs.
So people are making fun with questions like can Myles Garrett cover are off base. Even when the Browns are in nickel personnel, their defensive front still utilizes 4-3 personnel and philosophy against the run. Perhaps folks just assume he’ll become a DT and be able rush from there. I certainly believe he could but that still doesn’t account for OLB’s when they are needed in coverage.
Wouldn’t the Bucs in their current defense be far better off with Jihad Campbell?
6-3 245 4.5 40. The other Bama LB Deontae Lawson is also talented! He’s more of a straight up ILB.
Campbell could be the “hybrid” the Bucs truly need. Part ILB part OLB able to rush, defend the run, and cover.
February 13th, 2025 at 10:33 am
BridleOaks
Agree 100% about Bobby Wagner. It would only be a temporary fix considering his and LVD’s ages, but who knows they might get a couple more years out of them.
Agree though Bridle those two would make a formidable pair of ILB’s with SVD hopefully getting healthy enough to create a dynamic rotation at ILB.
Still want Jihad though because he’s an ATHLETE! He could do ok at OLB or ILB or if he has the smarts, like AW45 Todd could move him back and forth.
February 13th, 2025 at 10:34 am
De’Vondre Campbell shouldn’t be offered a job (he will tho) in this league after he left his teammates high and dry on the field. Just hoping the Bucs don’t bring that bad hi junky into their locker room
February 13th, 2025 at 10:34 am
*bring that bad ju ju
February 13th, 2025 at 11:04 am
I am of the mind that ILB is our most crucial need whether LVD stays or not.
February 13th, 2025 at 11:53 am
Bucs because of cap space (still) need to draft their way out of the Brady years. Let’s hope Licht can work his magic on the defensive side of the ball. A couple of cheap free agents could be available, but you can’t count on it.
February 13th, 2025 at 11:58 am
Baun – Bolton – Pratt – Wagner for me. The SF guys … no thanks.
From what I remember Pratt was supposed to be a pretty good coverage LB coming into the league. Cincy D was awful though… and attached to the news he wanted out I saw Ledyard say that based on his tape, no one is trading for him and he’s likely to be released to save cap space for them.
So I am not sure if Pratt would be good or not.
February 13th, 2025 at 12:02 pm
No more old guys; no more injured guys. No more slow guys; no more guys who can’t play within the system. The ILB corps is the middle of our defense; 2 tough mudder ILBs set the tone for the entire defense.
LVD has certainly been one of those, but his time is coming to an end. Time to prepare for that NOW, not next year. Get his replacement in here NOW, PLUS the replacement for Devin White/KJ Britt. Let Britt, Dennis & Russell be their backups. Then move on to fixing the Secondary.
February 13th, 2025 at 12:07 pm
MadMax Says:
February 13th, 2025 at 7:22 am
Draft Schwesinger in the 2nd
^^^^^^^
The Combine will probably decide what round this guy goes in.
February 13th, 2025 at 12:47 pm
One FA and one drafted ILB. I’ll trust Licht to decide which FA. I like Barrett Carter from Clemson in the 2nd round for the drafted ILB.
February 13th, 2025 at 1:25 pm
I’d rather go with Dennis and a third rounder, assuming LVD is back. If LVD does not return, Baun or Bolton.
February 13th, 2025 at 1:30 pm
Amen DR. 2 proven guys is preferable. Draft a couple more too. And no more dumb guys, no more head cases.
February 13th, 2025 at 2:03 pm
Commanders have a ton of cap space @ 75 millions so Wagner is not going anywhere. Philly is a little strapped on Cap and Baun was grossly underpaid but they will get him a decent deal and I don’t think he has to go looking for a team to contend for a Lombardi.
Pratt must think that he is worth a lot more than he is. Bucs had one of those guys already. That guy got paid 3.5 Million to sit for a few games, got released and signed with the Texans for just over a million last season. In 7 games he made 19 tackles. $4million/19 tackles @ $210,526 and 32 cents per tackle or $4 million /7 games @ $571,428 per game. Wow
February 13th, 2025 at 9:15 pm
D.R.
“No more old guys;”
Ouch! I can’t believe that came from another “old guy” LMAO
I get your point but I feel there are exceptions. I think we agree that the Bucs should be building for a SB run every year ala the KC Chiefs and not this “window” theory of SB opportunity.
Looking at it that way I see the no old men, no injury rehabs etc. But along the way if it requires a “patch” due to the number of holes to be filled, sometimes an exception might be appropriate.
I think both LVD and Bobby Wagner are exceptional players, both perhaps battling each other for HOF honors. Mix in SVD and you get a nice rotation for next year at least which buys some time. And if either or both turn out to be like London Fletcher you get 3-4 more years out of them. Draft Campbell and he’s got 2 superstars to mentor him and teach him how to get the most out of his impressive physical skills.
But I’m talking about just one year, next year in a perhaps move of desperation. Imagine what Bucs fans could see next year. REAL greatness. Two ILB’s, both great, both HOF “candidates” playing along side of each other.
Then the greatness that is ME13 and Tristan Wirfs. Next season could showcase some truly great athletes, perhaps 4 HOFers on the field at the same time, kind of like the first SB defense.
February 14th, 2025 at 2:03 am
Nailed it Joe! We need at least one can’t miss ILB. Maybe two…
Draft as always is hit and miss. FAs aint cheap if they are young and productive.
We could be in big trouble at ILB if LVD retires and we can’t get a viable FA.
Jason?
Go Bucs!
February 14th, 2025 at 5:16 pm
Lots of talk about going after Greenlaw. Why go after Dennis 2.0, giy cant stay on the field. We need another iron man. Of the guys mentioned, Pratt would be decent, or Baun who for some reason was not mentioned. Pratt would likely need to be a trade, possibly a mid round pick. Would be incredible if they pulled off a trade for Hendrickson and Pratt but unlikely. One thing is for sure, we probably wouldnt be looking for a LB unless David retires if Dennis was able to stay healthy. He just cant stay on the field so it will be important to find a durable replacement
February 14th, 2025 at 6:57 pm
Baun will likely be tagged by Philly, don’t see them letting him test.
February 14th, 2025 at 7:01 pm
the free agent fron AZ…forgetting his name right now…get him…
draft a guy high…
dennis will hopefully return…
LVD hopefully back…
deon jones from atlanta…….bring back…
and if needed, secure something before the trade deadline next year…
forget these somewhat high profile guys and dropping big bank on them…
those are my thoughts jason
February 14th, 2025 at 7:02 pm
keep russell in the fold as well