One of the biggest needs the Tampa Bay Buccaneer had coming into the offseason was figuring out how to get stronger at edge rusher. Things got even more pressing when the team lose Shaq Barrett in free agency, placing even more emphasis on finding the right approach heading into next season.
Most thought the NFL Draft would be a place where the team looked for some help, which it did albeit not at the top. After using the No. 26 pick on offensive lineman Graham Barton, the Bucs spent their second round pick on Alabama edge rusher Chris Braswell.
It's a move that further adds to an important cog in Todd Bowles' defensive machine, but Braswell might not end up being the most impressive player off the edge during the season.
Buccaneers are teasing Randy Gregory as a potential sleeper on defense
The Buccaneers quietly signed former Dallas Cowboys standout Randy Gregory this offseason. He showed flashes of being an absolute Dude in Dallas but has run into a few setbacks in the time since. When he was on his game, though, Gregory was a menace and that's exactly what has the Bucs so excited about using him as part of their pass rush rotation.
Buccaneers defensive line coach Kacy Rodgers spoke about how Gregory might be used, and everything he said continues to suggest the team might have landed a free agent sleeper.
“When you kind of watch him, he still can win 1-on-1’s and go back to what we like, we want to pressure. And he was another pressure piece,” Rodgers said. “We’re going to make the offense try to find him. And this guy knows how to get to the quarterback. So it was a win-win situation for us.”
Gregory recorded 5 sacks, 10 combined tackles, 3 tackles for loss, and 12 quarterback hits in just seven games with the Cowboys after earning the starting defensive end role in 2021. In seven seasons in Dallas, Gregory racked up 16.5 sacks and over 50 quarterback hits, which is exactly what the defense needs off the edge.
The problem is that Gregory only played in five of those seven seasons, as he missed time after failing multiple drug tests over his first few seasons. It's something that has held him back, but everything seems to be in order for him and he's primed to make a major impact on the Buccaneers defense this season.