Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Rookie pass rushers stand out at mini-camp

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been in a summer of transition, but are getting a boost from a couple of day-three draft picks at mini-camp.

This offseason has been a rough one for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in terms of losing pass rushers. First, team leader in sacks Jason Pierre-Paul hurts his neck in a car accident which is likely to sideline him until at least October. Then the Buccaneers finally pulled the trigger on the release of longtime defensive tackle Gerald McCoy.

This offseason has also seen the Buccaneers sign former Denver Broncos’ pass rusher Shaquil Barrett and drafting two trench players on day three of the 2019 NFL Draft. As it turns out, fourth round pick out of Iowa Anthony Nelson and seventh round pick out of Missouri Terry Beckner Jr. may soften the blow of losing two veterans.

According to Carmen Vitali, a staff writer of the Buccaneers, these two rookies look impressive this summer and hope to build off of their momentum from mini-camp. Nelson has been shuffling in at outside linebacker with Carl Nassib, Noah Spence, and Barrett at Mini-camp, while Beckner has the opportunity to fill some big shoes next to Ndamukong Suh and Vita Vea.

Rookies are going to make an impact in 2019 across the board due to the loss of multiple key players over the past few years. To see day-three picks making an early impact is a positive sign for the Buccaneers early on in the summer.