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Buccaneers Round Table: Biggest need in the 2018 off-season

By David Harrison

TAMPA, FL - DECEMBER 10: Football fans watch from the stands as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers take on the Detroit Lions during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game on December 10, 2017 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - DECEMBER 10: Football fans watch from the stands as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers take on the Detroit Lions during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game on December 10, 2017 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images) /
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GLENDALE, AZ – SEPTEMBER 18: Defensive end Noah Spence #57 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium on September 18, 2016 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals defeated the Buccaneers 40-7. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ – SEPTEMBER 18: Defensive end Noah Spence #57 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium on September 18, 2016 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals defeated the Buccaneers 40-7. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Michael Horan

The biggest need for the Buccaneers this off-season is pass rush. Pass rush also happens to be their second and third biggest need as well.

That’s how desperate things are for the Bucs defense. They can go add cornerbacks and safeties, but it won’t make enough of a difference unless they add three difference-making defensive ends. Once Noah Spence went down with his shoulder injury, any hope of getting after the quarterback was lost. Though there was hope that things might get better this year, this has been the state of the Buccaneers since they lost Simeon Rice, and to a lesser degree, Michael Bennett.

The Bucs should use one of, or both of, their first two draft picks on defensive ends, and find a late project to develop as well. In free agency, Jason Licht should pursue at least one starting caliber end, and a rotational player as well.

This team needs to remake their defensive end group entirely, save Spence and Gholston, and they can do that with a high draft pick and lots of cash to spend.

Prospects such as Arden Key, Bradley Chubb, and Harold Landry could be options with the Bucs likely top ten pick, and veterans Ezekial Ansah and DeMarcus Lawrence could be high priced targets to chase in free agency. A lack of pass rush has plagued Jason Licht’s teams for his entire tenure here, so I expect him to attack it early and often this off-season.

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