Pewter Report begins its Senior Bowl coverage by previewing some of the best Bucs fits on defense in Mobile, Ala. Tampa Bay has 23 unrestricted free agents this year, including 13 on defense. The Bucs have found some players at the Senior Bowl before, as Pewter Report’s Josh Queipo outlined in a recent article.

EDGE RUSHERS

The Bucs could use another outside linebacker as top reserves Anthony Nelson, Carl Nassib and Genard Avery are all free agents in 2023. Shaq Barrett turns 30 this year and is coming off a torn Achilles, while Joe Tryon-Shoyinka didn’t improve his sack totals in his second year, finishing with four again. This year’s group of edge rushers in Mobile is exceptional, which is good because Todd Bowles has said that the Bucs need more sack production from their outside linebackers. Perhaps Tampa Bay can find one at this year’s Senior Bowl.

Notre Dame EDGE Isaiah Foskey – 6-4, 257
Foskey might be the most talented and well-known edge rusher at this year’s Senior Bowl. He finished his career with a pair of double-digit sack seasons, recording 10 sacks as a junior and 10.5 QB captures in 2022. Foskey totaled 28 tackles for loss, 25 sacks and seven forced fumbles for the Fighting Irish in his collegiate career. Foskey wins with a sudden get-off, strength and length. He has a chance to go in the first round with a great Senior Bowl, but won’t be drafted lower than the second round.

Georgia Tech EDGE Keion White – 6-4, 267
White is not the fastest edge rusher, but he’s quick and agile for his size. He notched 19 tackles for a loss and 3.5 sacks in 2019 at Old Dominion and then 14 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks last year at Georgia Tech. He’s not an ideal fit for Tampa Bay’s defense, but could change some minds with a great week at the Senior Bowl. White will likely be a Day 2 pick.

Central Michigan EDGE Thomas Incoom – 6-4, 260
Incoom had great production in the MAC with 57 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks, a pair of forced fumbles, including one for a touchdown, and a forced fumble. But how will he fare against better competition from Power 5 players? We’ll find out at the Senior Bowl, but he seems destined for Day 3. Incoom wins with his long arms and has a quick get-off and nice bend.

Missouri EDGE Isaiah McGuire – 6-4, 266
McGuire steadily improved with the Tigers, notching 14 tackles for loss and six sacks in 2021 and 14 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks in 2022. McGuire uses a nice mix of speed and power to get to the quarterback and notched four career forced fumbles, including two last year. He might not be fast enough to be an outside linebacker in Tampa Bay, but the Bucs will use this week at the Senior Bowl to determine that. Will McGuire be a Day 2 or a Day 3 prospect? How he fares at the Senior Bowl will play a role in his draft forecast.

Army EDGE Andre Carter II – 6-7, 260
Possessing ideal size and length to play in Bowles’ defense, Carter had a monster 2021 season with 41 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 14.5 sacks, four forced fumbles and an interception. Last year, teams double-teamed him early and often, and he finished with just 41 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. Carter, who needs to hit the weight room and get stronger at the next level, has a lot to prove against better competition at the Senior Bowl, but he could be a fringe first-round pick with a stellar week.

Iowa State EDGE Will McDonald IV – 6-4, 245
McDonald played out of position quite a bit in Iowa State’s 3-4 scheme, playing defensive end over the offensive tackle or in the B gap. That was impressive for a player his size, but he’s better as a standup edge rusher in a 3-4 scheme. A fifth-year senior, McDonald racked up an impressive 40.5 tackles for loss, 34 sacks and an astonishing 10 forced fumbles. The 24-year old should have a chance to shine in Mobile, where he can showcase his speed and bend as a Day 2 true outside linebacker.

Auburn EDGE Derick Hall – 6-3, 251
Hall had a breakout season in 2021 for the Tigers with 52 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, nine sacks and two forced fumbles. He followed that up with 60 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks in 2022, in addition to a pair of forced fumbles and an interception. Hall is battle-tested by playing in the SEC and is a physical, relentless pass rusher. Hall has a chance to improve his stock in Mobile, but is likely a solid Day 2 pick.

DEFENSIVE LINE

Vita Vea and Logan Hall are under contract, but that’s about it for the defensive line right now. Starters Will Gholston and Akiem Hicks are slated to be free agents, along with Rakeem Nunez-Roches, Deadrin Senat and Pat O’Connor. Some will be re-signed in free agency, but the Bucs would be wise to draft another young defensive tackle for depth.

Oklahoma State DT Tyler Lacy – 6-4, 295
Lacy is a very active defensive tackle with some limited pass rush ability, evidenced by three sacks this past year and 11.5 sacks in his career. But Lacy is solid as a run defender with enough quickness to penetrate and rack up the TFLs, as he did 30 times for the Cowboys. Big, quick and physical, Lacy has an NFL-ready body with the frame to add 10 more pounds of bulk and muscle. Lacy is a middle-round pick, but will he be a Day 2 selection or slip to Day 3?

Bowling Green DT Karl Brooks 6-4 280
Brooks is an interesting player because he was an edge rusher at Bowling Green, where he racked up 10 sacks last year and 27.5 sacks in his career. But his size and lack of speed will probably necessitate a move inside to tackle at the next level and that will take some time to transition. Brooks forced five fumbles for the Falcons in his collegiate career, which helps his draft stock. Due to the likely position switch to tackle and the level of competition he’s faced, Brooks will likely be a Day 3 selection.

LINEBACKERS

If Lavonte David doesn’t return to Tampa Bay this offseason, then linebacker becomes a pressing need for Todd Bowles’ defense. The 33-year-old David was the best and most consistent defender on the team last year even if he’s not the splashy playmaker he used to be in his younger years. Backups K.J. Britt, J.J. Russell and Ulysses Gilbert III are more suited for special teams and don’t have the upper level athleticism to replace David on defense. Here are some speedy linebackers the Bucs will be scouting hard in Mobile at the Senior Bowl.

Washington State ILB Daiyan Henley – 6-1, 220
Henley is coming off a very productive senior season and really filled up the stat sheet. He had 106 tackles, 12 TFLs, four sacks, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, two pass breakups, an interception and a pass breakup. Henley is solid in pass coverage and has five career picks. He wound up playing six years in college due to the COVID year in 2020 and transferred from Nevada to Washington State in 2022. Henley is a solid Day 2 pick.

Cincinnati ILB Ivan Pace Jr. – 6-0, 239
Bowles likes to blitz his linebackers, and that’s something Pace does exceptionally well, evidenced by 20 career sacks, including nine last year. Pace transferred from Miami (OH) to Cincinnati last year and racked up 136 tackles, 20.5 TFLs, 4 pass breakups and two forced fumbles in addition to his nine sacks. Not a tall linebacker, Pace is jacked up and well built at close to 240 pounds. Pace is a Day 3 pick with the chance to move up to Day 2 with an exceptional week in Mobile.

Tulane ILB Dorian Williams – 6-1, 220
Williams spearheaded a Tulane defense that propelled the Green Wave to a 12-2 record, including a 46-45 comeback win over USC in the Cotton Bowl. Williams, a three-year starter, had a fantastic senior season with 132 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, seven pass breakups, five sacks, two interceptions and two forced fumbles. Williams is fast and physical and had a monster game against the Trojans with 17 tackles. Like Pace, Williams has the chance to up his stock from Day 3 to Day 2 with a great showing at the Senior Bowl.

CORNERBACKS

Starter Jamel Dean and reserve Sean Murphy-Bunting are both entering free agency. Can the Bucs keep Dean, who is the top free agent cornerback? If not, the Bucs will have to draft a starting-caliber cornerback early.

Iowa CB Riley Moss – 6-1, 194
Moss spent five years at Iowa, where his fantastic instinct resulted in 11 interceptions, including three pick-sixes and 26 pass breakups. He also forced two fumbles and recovered a fumble for the Hawkeyes. Moss’ speed and athleticism will be tested in Mobile.

Kansas State CB Julius Brents – 6-3, 204
Brents is one of the tallest, longest cornerbacks in this draft. The physical DB transferred from Iowa to K-State, where he helped lead the Wildcats to the Big XII championship in 2022 with a career-high four interceptions, four pass breakups and one forced fumble. Brents totaled 10 pass breakups and six interceptions in his college career.

Virginia CB Anthony Johnson – 6-1, 205
Johnson started his career at Louisville before transferring to Virginia, where he recorded five interceptions and broke up 17 passes in the last two years. The playmaking cornerback had 30 pass breakups and seven interceptions in his college career, in addition to three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. Johnson’s timing at the high point of the pass is his calling card in coverage.

SAFETIES

The Bucs only have Antoine Winfield Jr. and Nolan Turner under contract at safety. Mike Edwards, Logan Ryan and Keanu Neal all started games in Tampa Bay last year and are slated for free agency. At least one or two of them should return, but drafting another safety is not out of the question.

Florida State S Jammie Robinson – 5-11, 199
After Alabama’s Brian Branch, Robinson is probably the most complete safety in this year’s draft. This hard-hitting playmaker plays with a great football I.Q. and recorded seven interceptions in college, including four in 2021 and one last year. Robinson notched 318 career tackles, 15.5 TFLs, 16 pass breakups, three forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and a sack. He’s a second-round pick and could even sneak into the first round with an incredible week at the Senior Bowl.

Georgia S Christopher Smith II – 5-11, 190
A two-time national champion, Smith was a three-year starter and recorded 132 tackles, six tackles for loss and six interceptions – all of which came in the last two years. As a senior, he notched 61 tackles, 5 TFLs, five pass breakups, three interceptions, five pass breakups, one sack, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. Smith is a very active, heady defensive back with a great deal of versatility, and he’s destined to be drafted on Day 2.

Illinois S Sydney Brown – 6-0, 200
Brown had a breakout year in his fifth season at Illinois with 60 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, seven passes defensed, six interceptions, including a pick-six, a sack, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery for a touchdown. The instinctive DB finished his Illini career with 16 pass breakups and 10 INTs. Brown is a thick, physical safety with a nose for the ball – and the end zone – and figures to be a Day 2 selection.