Buccaneers are contenders with these projected starters
By Rob Leeds
OLB: Shaquil Barrett and Jason Pierre-Paul
ILB: Lavonte David and Devin White
NT: Vita Vea
DE: Ndamukong Suh and William Gholston
The front-seven for the Buccaneers was one of the most successful in the NFL in 2019. This is one of the driving reasons behind why the coaching staff made it a priority to bring all of these players back for the 2020 season.
By keeping this group together, Tampa Bay can certify that the defense versus the run will remain as dominant as it was last season.
The linebacker corps for the Buccaneers is second to none in the league. With Devin White and Lavonte David on the inside, the defense is stingy against not just the run and also against the pass. In addition to the inside, the Bucs have the outside locked up with Barrett and JPP as a pair of talent pass-rushers.
The interior of the defensive line is where all of the magic will happen. Vea was the biggest reason the Bucs succeeded against the run last season, as would any nose tackle in a 3-4, Suh is a substantial veteran presence despite his price, and William Gholston is another reliable yet expensive option.
While this group will be hard to keep together after the 2020 season, the Buccaneers’ front-seven is in a prime position to retain its status moving forward.