Continuing our preview of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers roster, today we’re looking at the linebackers.
The Buccaneers’ linebacker group has been so well developed and performed so well that their position coach was hired away from Tampa.
Good for him, not so much for the Bucs who now have to replace two position coaches from the same side of the ball.
Still, there’s talent at the linebacker position, and plenty of it to absorb the impact of bringing in a new coach. Who knows, maybe they’ll get better.
Here, we’re going to look at the group itself and identify some possible moves this franchise could be making prior to the 2018 NFL Season.
Linebackers under contract for 2018
Inside:
Jeff Knox
Outside:
Eric Nzeocha
Some of these names will jump right off the screen. Some of them will leave you scratching your head. This pretty much sums up the status of the Bucs’ linebacker group as of right now.
Stars up top, with little depth to speak of.
It’s the depth areas the team will need to focus on for the future. Draft picks and free-agents can supplement this area, depending on who is available and what kind of value the team sees in them.
Every starter from 2017 is returning, which is crucial as Jason Licht looks to reinforce the defensive line and secondary positions.
Having continuity at linebacker is a great asset for the Buccaneers moving into the next season.
Still, there are some new names we might see.