Buccaneers can’t pass on obvious draft need on Day 1 or Day 2
By Rob Leeds
The Buccaneers tend to address most of their major needs in each draft. This makes it obvious that the Bucs will address IDL relatively early next week.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers aren’t the type of team to go into the draft process with a bunch of smoke-screens surrounding their plans.
It seems like the Bucs tip their hats towards certain prospects or positions early in the process, and we can all rest assured that this isn’t going to change just because Todd Bowles is the head coach now.
If prior years are any indication and the free agency situation holds on as is until after the draft ends, the Bucs are almost assuredly taking a defensive lineman with one of their first three picks.
Tampa loves Vita Vea and William Gholston, but the depth outside of these two is shaky. Ndamukong Suh would give a great third option, but his price tag relative to his age and level of play could be why he isn’t back on the team just yet.
It makes sense that Bowles and company would be wary of rostering two aging defensive linemen (Gholston and Suh) after the foul injury luck we saw last season, and a rookie seems like the best way of hedging those bets.
Even if Suh comes back on a cheaper deal, a rookie adds a bit of youth to a unit that desperately needs it, especially from the depth. We all saw what happened with Joe Tryon-Shoyinka. Going for someone like that again with few pressing needs hurts no one.
Finally, this deal also makes sense due to the change at head coach. Bowles will want to get as many of his guys as possible to make the team in his own image going forward. Reforming that image starts with the defensive line, and we should expect to hear that position called out early on next week.
Buccaneers still need more help at offensive role for 2022. light. Trending
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