There is no doubt that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are still reeling from one of the worst NFL collapses in recent memory last season, as the Bucs went from Super Bowl contenders to nearly guaranteed NFC South champions to not even making the postseason at all.
And there should be equally no doubt that Todd Bowles's defense - and not Baker Mayfield or the offense - was primarily to blame for this awful collapse. Sure, some of the players on offense, Mayfield included, could have played better, but they were under so much pressure due to not only injuries, but also the margin for error placed on them by having such a horrendous defense.
While the secondary has some solid pieces, such as the underrated Jacob Parrish, the front seven is absolutely abysmal with very few starting caliber players, no pass rush, and a dearth of coverage linebackers as Lavonte David begin to contemplate retirement.
Buccaneers have already found their hidden gem at linebacker
Although the Senior Bowl sometimes gets overlooked in the pre draft process, the battles at the event are very telling and often clue teams in to which gems are worth drafting in May. And the Buccaneers faithful are beginning to pay special attention to a linebacker who could fill one of their biggest needs on draft day.
Kyle Louis may not be a projected first round pick, but of the prospects expected to go on Day 2, the Pittsburgh Panthers star may have the highest flying stock at the Senior Bowl. He has impressed everyone in attendance, with many draft analysts sharing workout clips and rave reviews of his work, particularly in coverage.
Bucs fans are already becoming smitten with the Pitt grad, and he definitely falls under the saying "speed kills". An undersized inside linebacker who can almost function as a free safety with his ability to step up and cover tight ends and running backs, Louis is an active, sideline to sideline player who fears nobody, lights up running backs, and has the smoothness and quickness to be an elite coverage linebacker at the NFL level.
If the Buccaneers can snap him up in the second or third round in combination with a first round pass rusher and one marquee front seven addition in free agency, the Buccaneers may actually be in pretty decent shape defensively next season. Louis checks off a lot of boxes the Bucs are looking for at linebacker, and he can even get after the pass rusher with 10 sacks in the last two seasons, too.