3 pass rushers Buccaneers need to draft in 2025 to fix mediocre defense

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have one of the best offenses in football, as Baker Mayfield ranks near the top of the league with 24 touchdown passes despite a poor running game and wide receiver injuries. The defense, however, has been a total nightmare from start to finish.

Despite Todd Bowles' history as a defensive coach, the Buccaneers have one of the worst secondaries and least-scary pass rushes in the league. Much like he did with the Jets, Bowles' rigidity on defense and inability to adapt after other teams adjust could prove to be a downfall.

Logan Hall is the leading sack-master among defensive ends on this team with three, as Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey have both surpassed him as interior rushers. Tampa's three-headed monster of Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, YaYa Diaby, and Anthony Nelson have combined for just six sacks on the year, with all three of them tallying two takedowns each. Second-rounder Chris Braswell hasn't seen a ton of snaps.

If the Bucs end up picking in the middle of the first round, it seems overwhelmingly likely that their first selection will end up being used on a defensive player. If Jason Licht is on one of his trademark hot streaks, his pick will be used on one of these three players as the retooling gets underway.

3 pass rushers Tampa Bay Buccaneers need to draft in 2025

3. Princely Umanmielen, Ole Miss

After years of struggling to get it together with Florida, Umanmielen has stepped on the gas pedal since arriving in Oxford, Umanmielen has 9.5 sacks on the year, which ranks just outside the top five in all of college football. His speed to power is what sets him apart when compared to the rest of the

Umanmielen may not come into the league as a run defender, but Shaq Barrett never looked like Reggie White setting the edge and the Bucs found more than enough utility in the sack artist. Umanmielen can get to the quarterback, and that trait is always going to get him work in the pros.

2. Mykel Williams, Georgia

Williams might be the most direct Logan Hall replacement or upgrade. At 270 pounds with tremendous run defense skills for a big-time program like Georgia, Williams stands out as one of the more pro-ready finished products in a draft class that is still filled with athletic question marks.

Williams' sack production might be down a little bit, and he may not fly off the snap, but he does everything fairly well on the defensive line, giving him unmatched versatility. If Bowles keeps the same defensive coaching staff for next year, those traits will be incredibly appealing.

1. James Pearce Jr, Tennessee

Pearce had so much hype at one point that he was considered by some to be the top player in the entire 2025 class. While his stock has fallen just a bit, partially due to the emergence of Penn State's Abdul Carter, Tampa Bay should still be chomping at the bit if Pearce is available anywhere near when they are picking.

Pearce is going to cause havoc the minute he steps on an NFL field, as he has a preposterous amount of explosion off the snap and a surprising amount of power for someone who isn't the biggest edge rusher in the world. Even at Tryon-Shoyinka's peak, he never had this level of physical tools.