Buccaneers: Ranking the defensive line against NFC South opponents
The Buccaneers made a big splash on the defensive line in the 2017 off-season by signing former Redskins standout Chris Baker. Where do they rank in the NFC South?
As just one reason Buccaneers fans are more amped for the upcoming season than perhaps any in recent memory, Chris Baker will look to form quite the unit with All-Pro Gerald McCoy and last year’s big signing Robert Ayers Jr.
Tampa certainly looks to have a solid group on the defensive line, but is it the best in the NFC South?
Each team in the division has made some additions to their own front line of defense since we last saw them.
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Perhaps the biggest headline grabbing acquisition came by way of Atlanta when they addressed a big-time inside need through free agency.
Getting consistent penetration from within the trenches can’t ever be undervalued, and the Panthers lead all teams in this division with 47 sacks in 2016.
More than 35 of those came from guys playing with their hand in the dirt, exceeding the team totals in both New Orleans and Atlanta.
The Bucs came in second in the NFC South with 38 sacks last year, with ten of those coming from guys playing behind the defensive line.
Can the 2017 Bucs defensive line produce 30+ sacks this year? More importantly for today’s topic, where does this group look to stack up against the rest of the division?
Let’s get to it.