The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a lot of positions of need where any prospect they take at No. 15 overall in this month's draft could hpothetically help in their first year. One position above all else however, could be the difference from the Bucs nailing the first round or leaving it with some regrets.
For the Buccaneers, it is paramount that they come out of the draft feeling better about their edge rushing prospects. While there are certainly several established pieces along the defensive front such as Vita Vea and new addition A'Shawn Robinson, there is no one who has the positional versatility to wear man hats for Todd Bowles. That's why a certain edge talent from Auburn could become the missing puzzle piece.
Keldric Faulk could be missing piece for Bucs' defensive front
Keldric Faulk is a freak of nature that any head coach would love to have on their team. At 6-6 and 276 lbs., his length alone allows him to do things not many already on the Bucs roster can do. While there could be some initial confusion about where he could fit in the Bucs' scheme, he has the NFL-ready play style that could ease the burden on several players.
Calijah Kancey is expected to have a much bigger role next season, but as a more undersized, shifty defender, he could be best suited on the outside. Faulk on the other hand, has the opportunity to play as a 4i or 5 tech, meaning he can operate against interior guards to stop the run with his freakish athleticism.
One trait that could be worked on when it comes to Faulk's development is his pure pass rushing traits. In a scouting report for Pewter Report, Joshua Queipo acknowledges that Faulk ,"comes off as an underdeveloped pass rusher without a plan".
For a Bucs pass rush that is already relying upon a lot of youth to carry them forward, perhaps that could come back to bite Faulk. Still, the Bucs need a more defined identity in terms of their interior might.
Faulk is an athlete that while admittedly has his downsides, is still someone who can immediately bolster the depth of the Bucs roster. With both Logan Hall and Greg Gaines having uncertain futures, and Chris Braswell and Anthony Nelson not showing enough to gain the trust of Bowles, Faulk may be the wild card that the Bucs take a swing at.
His size and length alone should really intrigue Bowles and while he may not be ready to help off the edge, there is no reason to believe he cannot improve on his potential there.
For the Bucs, they have a defense clearly in a state of transition where they must make decisions about the future of the team. Faulk may not be a certainty, but his uniqueness is what the Bucs should be willing to tap into.