In a Thursday column on PewterReport.com, two Pewter Reporters will debate a Bucs topic with different viewpoints. Which Pewter Reporter wins the debate? You get to decide in the comments section below.

This week’s topic: Which Position Should Bucs Double Up In The Draft?

Point: Bucs Must Come Away With Two Inside Linebackers In The Draft

By Scott Reynolds

I’m not good at math, generally speaking. But I do know basic arithmetic, and I can count to six. As of right now, the Bucs have four inside linebackers on their current 2026 roster, and they could very well wind up with four on their 53-man roster after training camp and the preseason – when they’ll have at least six on the roster. But it won’t be these four.

The Bucs added veteran inside linebackers Alex Anzalone and Christian Rozeboom in free agency, while SirVocea Dennis and Nick Jackson are holdovers from the 2025 team. The 31-year old Anzalone signed a two-year, $17 million deal in free agency and is slated to start at the Mo’ linebacker spot on the weak side, replacing Lavonte David, who retired after 14 remarkable seasons in Tampa Bay. Quite frankly, Anzalone is the only linebacker guaranteed a roster spot this year.

Bucs ILB Christian Rozeboom – Photo by: IMAGN Images – Jim Dedmon

Rozeboom wasn’t re-signed by Carolina despite starting 15 games last year and leading the team with 122 tackles along with seven tackles for loss, two sacks, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and an interception. The 29-year old signed a one-year, $1.55 million contract and could make the team over Dennis, who is entering a contract year after a very mediocre first season as a starter.

Dennis is set to make $1.145 million in 2026 and could still make the squad as ILB4 or ILB5 with a good training camp and preseason, as well as showing out on special teams. Jackson is merely a practice squad linebacker and I don’t look at him as a viable roster option.

In reality, both Rozeboom and Dennis are reserve middle linebackers, and neither is signed past 2026. Tampa Bay needs a stud middle linebacker who is capable of starting as a rookie ahead of both Rozeboom and Dennis, as well another weakside linebacker who can serve as Anzalone’s understudy and eventual replacement. If the Bucs are going to double up at any position in this year’s draft it should be at inside linebacker, especially due to the talent and depth in this year’s draft class.

Texas Tech ILB Jacob Rodriguez – Photo by IMAGN Images – Nathan Giese

Ideally, Tampa Bay should draft a middle linebacker somewhere in the first three rounds and then draft another linebacker capable of playing either middle linebacker or weakside linebacker on Day 3. It’s taking a player like Texas Tech’s Jacob Rodriguez, Georgia’s CJ Allen or Cincinnati’s Jake Golday on Day 2 to start, and then selecting Michigan’s Jimmy Rolder, Oklahoma’s Kendal Daniels or Clemson’s Wade Woodaz on Day 3 as more of a developmental prospect who could help immediately on special teams. Then the Bucs’ 2026 depth chart could like this:

ILB1 Jacob Rodriguez (draft pick)
ILB2 Alex Anzalone
ILB3 Christian Rozeboom
ILB4 Kendal Daniels (draft pick)
ILB5 SirVocea Dennis

Last year’s draft was quite weak at inside linebacker and the Bucs didn’t select one as a result. But the depth and talent this year means it’s time for the Bucs to double dip at the position and set the team up with two linebackers who would both be capable of starting by 2027 to solidify the position for the future in Tampa Bay.

Counterpoint: Tampa Bay Must Double Up At BOTH Inside Linebacker And Outside Linebacker

By Josh Queipo

This draft class has a lack of hype surrounding it. But there are a couple of positions where the depth looks substantially better than others. And those two positions line up so well with the Bucs’ needs this year. Scott Reynolds has laid out a fantastic case for doubling at inside linebacker. So instead of a “Yeah, but…” I’m going with a “Yes, and…”

I agree with Reynolds that Jacob Rodriguez would be a fantastic get in the early rounds. He’s ILB3 for me in this draft class and likely the best linebacker available when the Bucs are on the clock at No. 15. I would also love if they came away with Georgia’s CJ Allen in the second. And I’ll add to Reynolds’ Day 3 list with Arizona State’s Keyshaun Elliott, who isn’t getting enough love in draft discussions and could be a Day 3 fit who could start year one if need be.

So, in a way I completely agree with Reynolds. But let’s take it a step further. Tampa Bay has been looking for pass rush juice for multiple years now. Each year they seem to take a shot. With the real value of this draft coming from the second round on I would argue they should take multiple shots at finding a strong running mate for Yaya Diaby.

Bucs OLB Yaya Diaby – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The Bucs edge room may seem crowded right now. Diaby is locked in as one starter. But beyond him it’s a string of depth pieces. The team took a low-risk flyer on Al-Quadim Muhammad, signing him to a one-year, $4 million deal with upside if he produces. Anthony Nelson is entering his eighth season with the Bucs as a strong run defender with a low ceiling. He’s entering the final year of his current deal.

They also have 2024 second-round pick Chris Braswell who the team has seemingly soured on after he failed to take a step in his second year. But as low as they seem on him, they are just as high on 2025 fourth-round pick David Walker, who missed all of last year with a torn ACL.

All of those options could be a helpful wave pass rusher this year and in the future. Walker has the highest long-term ceiling at this point. But none of them are anywhere near a slam dunk. And none of those players should prevent the team from adding multiple options to the room and letting things shake out from there.

The Bucs could add a first-round pass rusher like Miami’s Akheem Mesidor, or wait for the second round and target any number of upside options like Oklahoma’s R Mason Thomas, Texas A&M’s Cashius Howell or UCF’s Malachi Lawrence and then come back with a Walker-like play in this year’s draft on day three with a player like Western Michigan’s Nadame Tucker.

UCF EDGE Malachi Lawrence – Photo by: IMAGN Images – Patrick Breen

That could make the Bucs outside linebacker depth chart look like this:

OLB1 Yaya Diaby
OLB2 Akheem Mesidor/Malachi Lawrence
OLB3 Al-Quadin Muhammad
OLB4 Anthony Nelson/David Walker
OLB5 Chris Braswell/Nadame Tucker

And really, from OLB3 on that order could be in almost any order. The key here is getting as many bites at the apple as possible and letting eight players really fight it out for five spots. There is very little downside here. Neither Muhammad, nor Nelson, is making enough money to guarantee them a starting role.

Nelson doesn’t have any guaranteed money for this year, signaling his roster spot isn’t guaranteed either. Braswell’s draft status is a sunk cost at this point. His guaranteed salary this year is less than $250k. It would really allow for an all-out battle of a group of players – each with decent qualities that can contribute – to set themselves apart from the rest.

In this draft cycle, that’s a good strategy – double dipping at inside linebacker and outside linebacker and invest real assets in improving a glaring issue on the Bucs’ front seven.