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Buccaneers Round Table: Defensive Keep, Trade, Release

By David Harrison

GLENDALE, AZ - OCTOBER 15: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers stand for the national anthem during the first half of the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium on October 15, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ - OCTOBER 15: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers stand for the national anthem during the first half of the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium on October 15, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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BEVERLY HILLS, CA – JULY 11: NBA player Kobe Bryant (L) and NFL player Gerald McCoy attend The Players’ Tribune Hosts Players’ Night Out 2017 at The Beverly Hills Hotel on July 11, 2017 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images for The Players’ Tribune )
BEVERLY HILLS, CA – JULY 11: NBA player Kobe Bryant (L) and NFL player Gerald McCoy attend The Players’ Tribune Hosts Players’ Night Out 2017 at The Beverly Hills Hotel on July 11, 2017 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images for The Players’ Tribune ) /

Brian Defeo

Keep

There is one guy this Buccaneers defense is centered around is and that is Gerald McCoy. This is why Gerald McCoy is that is the one you can’t get rid of. He’s been the best defensive lineman for the Buccaneers since Warren Sapp. He is an All-Pro tackle right alongside Aaron Donald for best in the league. He has the most sacks as a defensive tackle since 2013, and is the only pass rushing threat for the team currently.

McCoy might not have the attitude of a leader but all he needs it to leave the leading to Winston and put up big numbers when they matter.

Must Read: Week 7 Fantasy Advice

Trade

The best guy to trade out of these three is Lavonte David.

David has missed time due to injury recently and his replacement filled in admirably. The Buccaneers could still get a massive return for the Pro-Bowl outside linebacker. At only 27-years old he is in the middle of his prime and is very productive. The only reason why I would trade him is the Buccaneers actually have depth at linebacker.

Kwon Alexander and Kendall Beckwith are both younger and developing each day. I don’t want to trade him, but in this scenario, he’d bring more return than Grimes and McCoy plays at a higher needed position. The Bucs can probably get two first round picks for him too.

Release

Brent Grimes is the odd man out in this scenario. While he is the best cornerback on this roster by far, the Buccaneers don’t have much of a future with him.

As a 34-year-old he is the oldest starting cornerback in the NFL right now. I don’t doubt that he can play at a high level for the remainder of this year, but how much longer after that?

He’s been considering retirement according to sources – Miko Grimes – but he is still playing really well. The Bucs defense would be much worse without him, just look at the Vikings game, but they will need to develop new corners sooner than later.

Vernon Hargreaves has taken a step back in his second-year and the Buccaneers secondary would need work if Grimes was off the team, but they are going to have to get a corner in the off-season any ways.

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