Tampa Bay's defense was not elite last year, but they found ways to get the stops when they needed it most. With a growing collection of talent on the defensive side of the ball, it's fair to wonder who will be the most impactful player on defense for Tampa Bay in 2025.
Vita Vea
Vea had a career-high seven sacks in 2024, and was rewarded with his second Pro Bowl appearance. He's become one of the most consistent defensive tackles over the past four years and will again be the key piece of the interior defensive line.
Lavonte David
The longest-tenured Buccaneer has been consistently among the league's top linebackers. His approximate value was still at eight last year, making him a valuable member of the defense. Look for David to finish with around 115 tackles and five sacks, like he does most years.
Haason Reddick
Reddick is a massive wild card for the Buccaneers. He did very little last year for the Jets, playing in ten games but starting just two. He finished with one sack and three quarterback hits, not exactly an elite stat line.
However, Reddick was dealing with contract disputes and health issues. From 2020-2023, he was one of the top edge rushers in the league. During that span, he averaged 12.6 sacks, 20.8 QB hits, 12.8 tackles-for-loss, and 54.5 tackles. He made two Pro Bowls and was fourth in defensive player of the year voting in 2022.
Now on his fifth team, Reddick will be hoping to replicate his numbers from 2020-23, and not his numbers from 2024. If Reddick reaches his peak production, he has the potential to be the most valuable player on the team. At 31, he still should be able to be a physical beast, but will last year's woes resurface?
Antoine Winfield Jr.
Winfield Jr. was incredible in 2023, when he was named a first-team All-Pro safety. Last year, injuries hindered his progression, as he started just nine games and defended just three passes while finishing with two sacks.
Like Reddick, Winfield might just need a full, healthy season to get back into his groove and get back to becoming an elite player.
Final pick: Vita Vea
As much as I want to predict Reddick to finish with 12 sacks again, it feels like Vea's steady production will prove to be the most valuable. Vea will likely continue to be a disruptive presence upfront, and while he might not finish with more than five or six sacks, he will be the one opening up lanes for Tampa Bay's edge rushers to strike.
Winfield and Reddick are the clear X-factors. If the pair of uber-talented defenders can put together healthy and productive seasons, they both have the ability to take Tampa Bay's defense to the next level in 2025.