The newest addition to the Bucs roster is edge rusher Randy Gregory. Tampa Bay signed Gregory to a one-year deal on Wednesday, adding to an outside linebacker room that has one starter in YaYa Diaby and several others vying to compete for starting job on the opposite side.

That includes Gregory, although he is not coming to Tampa Bay under the impression that he is automatically going to start.

The Bucs clearly felt they needed to add some talent to the outside linebacker room even before the NFL Draft. With Randy Gregory they get another player with experience and an ability to rush the passer.

What Made The Bucs Appealing To Randy Gregory?

One day after his signing, Randy Gregory had an introductory press conference via Zoom. Part of the reason why he liked Tampa Bay goes back to when he was going through the draft process in 2015. But it didn’t have to with the Bucs.

Bucs OLB Randy Gregory – Photo by: USA Today

Gregory recalled a pre-draft meeting he had with head coach Todd Bowles that stuck with him.

“I actually spoke with Coach, I remember coming out of college during the draft and speaking with him a bunch,” Randy Gregory said. “Loved his personality, loved his down-to-Earth demeanor, no-nonsense type of guy. I think I always thrive well when I work with coaches like that.”

While Randy Gregory is new to many on the Bucs, he does have a familiar face in outside linebackers coach George Edwards. The two worked together with the Dallas Cowboys when Edwards was a defensive assistant. In the 2021 season, Gregory tied his career best with six sacks on the season in 12 games. He also recorded an interception and a career-best three forced fumbles.

“Coach Edwards I worked with him obviously in Dallas, I have a relationship there,” Gregory said. “I think highly of him.”

Tampa Bay isn’t just getting a pass rusher with the addition of Gregory. The team is getting a player that can fit in many different ways in Todd Bowles’ scheme. Bowles loves to present various exotic looks and use his edge rushers in many ways, even dropping them in coverage in zone blitzes.

“I think the ability as far as the schemes and what we do, I fit will there,” Gregory said. “I can play inside, outside, on third down, things like that, stand up, put my hand down in the dirt. To be able to play in a 3-4, 4-3 scheme, do a couple different things there, drop in coverage – it’s all stuff I’ve done in Dallas and Denver and San Francisco. For me, it was a real good spot to land in.”

Does Randy Gregory Expect To Start?

Adding Randy Gregory into the fold begs the questions of Tampa Bay’s plans at outside linebacker. Presumably, YaYa Diaby will occupy one starting outside linebacker spot, but the Bucs also have Gregory, Joe Tryon-Shoyinka and Anthony Nelson along with Markees Watts and Jose Ramirez at their disposal.

Plus, it’s quite possible that the Bucs draft another outside linebacker to further add to the room.

Bucs OLB Randy Gregory and Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes – Photo by: USA Today

Gregory has started 18 out of 72 games during his time in the NFL. When asked if he believes he’s going to be the starter heading into the 2024 season, he’s not coming in with any set expectations.

“At this point in my career I don’t go in expecting or anything like that,” Gregory said. “I expect to help, expect to influence the team how I know I can and make plays the way I know I can. At the end of the day, it’s really what you make it. I expect to come in here and keep my head down and like I said, I know Coach Bowles, I know what he expects, I know what coach Edwards expects. I think it’s big to have a guy that obviously Coach Edwards has worked with (me) before.

“To be able to be in that room and do things the way I know how he wants it done, it’ll be real easy for me. I don’t really expect to start or anything like that, I don’t go in with my mind made up about stuff. I’m going to go in there and every rep I have and when I’m not in there I’m going to try to help the guys that are in there.”