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Buccaneers: 2018 NFL Draft Needs

By Zach Sauers

TAMPA, FL - DECEMBER 18: A Tampa Bay Buccaneers fan dressed as the Grinch watches from the stands during the third quarter of an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons on December 18, 2017 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - DECEMBER 18: A Tampa Bay Buccaneers fan dressed as the Grinch watches from the stands during the third quarter of an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons on December 18, 2017 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images) /
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NEW ORLEANS, LA – NOVEMBER 05: William Gholston #92 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is carted off the field after an injury during the second half of a game against the New Orleans Saints at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on November 5, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – NOVEMBER 05: William Gholston #92 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is carted off the field after an injury during the second half of a game against the New Orleans Saints at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on November 5, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

Defensive End

A fact is a fact. The Buccaneers edge rush this season has been invisible and with the NFL low of 18 sacks this entire season something WILL be done this off-season to address an issue that has plagued this team for years. Oh by the way that is 33 sacks less than the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Robert Ayers Jr. has looked like a shell of his former self.

Noah Spence has been on Injured Reserve and has a shoulder injury that will nag him throughout his NFL career.

Must Read: Game Changers for Week 16

William Gholston will not get you sacks. Period.

Ryan Russell, Will Clarke, Pat O’Connor… none of these guys are going to be able to grab you a 10-sack season.

If there is one fault that General Manager Jason Licht has had, it has been how much he has abused the defensive end position since he was hired 2014.

A bust in Michael Johnson and the hope of injured players such as Jacquies Smith to return to their former glory has stuck a knife in the heart of both Lovie Smith and Mike Smith.

I for one have called for Mike Smith’s job to be terminated since three weeks into the season, but one has to imagine what his defense could’ve looked like with an above average defensive end.

Players to keep an eye on: Bradley Chubb, Arden Key, Marcus Davenport

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