With their seventh-round pick, No. 223 overall, they selected Stevie Tu’ikolovatu (TOO-ee-koe-loe-VAH-too). Here are three things to note about the USC defensive tackle.
With their final pick in this year’s NFL Draft, the Buccaneers beefed up their defensive line. They traded up to do so, giving the Dolphins a seventh-rounder this year and one next year. With the pick, Tampa Bay selected Southern California defensive tackle Stevie Tu’ikolovatu. The pick gives the team some more depth with the interior of the defensive line, something it sorely needed coming into the draft.
Gerald McCoy and free agency signing Chris Baker will get the most time as the interior defensive linemen, with only Clinton McDonald, Sealver Siliga and DaVonte Lambert behind them. So if Tu’ikolovatu is able to impress and make the squad out of training camp, he will likely see some rotational work in his first year. And even if he isn’t on the initial roster, he would likely be a good candidate to keep on the practice squad.
Here, we have three things you need to know about the newest Buccaneer defensive tackle.