Bucs After Dark: Do not fret about the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ defense
By Cory Kinnan
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have added minimal fire power to the defensive side of the ball in free agency; do not worry, the best is yet to come.
Now nearly a week into free agency, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have looked mainly at the offensive side of the ball in order to improve their roster with the signing of Breshad Perriman and re-signing of Peyton Barber and Ryan Griffin. Even though the team also added Deone Bucannon and Shaquil Barrett, many followers of the team remain worried that these moves are not enough to plug the floodgates that prevented success a year ago despite a flourishing offense.
Do not fret about the defense. While Tampa Bay has not looked to address that side of the ball with much vigor in free agency, expect the Bucs to rely heavily on the draft to add defensive talent. Defensive talent overwhelms the 2019 draft class, while the offensive talent lags behind; there is a strategy to Jason Licht’s free agency choices.
Do not overlook the impact that Bucannon and Barrett will have on the Buccaneers’ defense under Todd Bowles in 2019. Both remain on well on the right side of 30 and given an increased workload should prove to pay big dividends in Tampa Bay.
More from Bucs News
- Devin White posts cryptic message to Lavonte David on Twitter
- Updated Buccaneers depth chart after signing two players from rookie minicamp
- Todd Bowles sends clear message about Baker Mayfield’s role with Bucs
- The Athletic is wrong about Bucs one ‘must-watch’ game in 2023
- Todd Bowles admits he only looks at three things on Bucs schedule
Tampa Bay has also decided to retain defensive tackles Rakeem Nunez-Roches and Beau Allen, after he willingly took a paycut to hang around with the Bucs; the Bucs also re-signed cornerback De’Vante Harris to a one-year deal to add depth to the defense.
With talented linebackers Devin White and Devin Bush ripe for the taking at either five or via a trade down if they choose to stack pick and miss out on White, the Buccaneers have options moving forward to fill the void that was left when Kwon Alexander. Both Devins would be an excellent fit with Bowles in Tampa Bay as they have the speed to play sideline to sideline and play with their hair on fire.
Pass rushers are bountiful as well with the likes of Montez Sweat, Brian Burns, and Ed Oliver could also be headed to Tampa Bay once April rolls around. With only Jason Pierre-Paul in double-digit sacks in 2018 and the transition to a 3-4 defensive scheme, another pass rusher to the rotation of Barrett and Spence on the edge.
Next. Byron Leftwich coach-in-waiting for Tampa Bay Buccaneers. dark
The Buccaneers do not have the capital to overpay a top-tier talent to come Tampa Bay, but do have the draft assets, and the potential to add even more, to add elite potential through the 2019 NFL Draft. Do not fret about the lack of high caliber defenders added to the defense through free agency, the best is yet to come in a defense heavy draft.