Pewter Report analyzes each position’s strengths and weaknesses in Tampa Bay, as the Bucs attempt to three-peat as NFC South champions.

Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Wide Receivers
Tight Ends
Offensive Line
Defensive Line

Next up are Tampa Bay’s outside linebackers, which features one proven Pro Bowl performer in Shaq Barrett and a bunch of unproven – yet talented – pass rushers. The Bucs are just two years removed from the terrific tandem of Barrett and Jason Pierre-Paul, who led Tampa Bay to a Super Bowl LV championship in 2020 and a 13-4 season in 2021. Barrett enters the 2023 season with two big question marks, while the team moved on from JPP last year.

Former first-round pick Joe Tryon-Shoyinka enters the season at a crossroads, while the Bucs brought in three promising rookies this offseason. Tampa Bay’s outside linebacker position, which underwhelmed last year with just a combined 17 sacks, needs to return to being the position that is most responsible for taking down quarterbacks. Backup Anthony Nelson was tied for second on the Bucs with inside linebacker Devin White with 5.5 sacks – behind Vita Vea’s team-leading 6.5 QB captures. The Bucs doubled at outside linebacker in the 2023 NFL Draft for some reinforcements and competition this year, too.

The Strength of Bucs OLB: Versatility And Talent

Bucs OLB Shaq Barrett – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

When healthy and on top of his game, Shaq Barrett is one of the league’s best. He burst onto the scene with an NFL-leading and franchise-record 19.5 sacks in 2019, which was his first season in Tampa Bay. After producing eight sacks during the regular season the following year, Barrett notched four more in the 2020 postseason, helping the Bucs won Super Bowl LV. He followed that up with his second Pro Bowl season in 2021 with 10 sacks, but his production dipped to just three in the first eight games of the 2022 campaign before suffering a season-ending torn Achilles tendon.

The Bucs are hoping Barrett can make a full recovery and get back to double-digit sacks playing opposite Joe Tryon-Shoyinka. The big, 6-foot-5, 265-pound first-rounder needs to have a breakthrough season in 2023. He’s plateaued at four sacks in each of his first two years in Tampa Bay.

New outside linebackers coach George Young comes from Dallas where he worked wonders with Micah Parsons to become a two-time Pro Bowler and NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. JTS has all of the physical tools to be great, but needs to work on his rush plan before the snap, and finishing the sack once he gets to the QB.

Veteran Anthony Nelson signed a two-year contract extension and figures to be OLB3 in Tampa Bay. At 6-foot-7, 275 pounds, he has a different body type than the 6-foot-1, 250-pound Barrett and adds versatility to the unit. Nelson made big strides last year and forced a team-high three fumbles with his long arms. He’s always stout against the run.

Bucs OLBs Jose Ramirez and YaYa Diaby – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

YaYa Diaby, the Bucs’ third-round pick, is 6-foot-3, 263 pounds and is even faster and more athletic than Tryon-Shoyinka, and has a speed-to-power element to his game. Diaby wins with brute force rather than finesse, and brings a different element to the Bucs’ pass rush. Jose Ramirez, a sixth-round pick, reminds the Bucs of a younger version of Barrett in the way he has natural feel for pass rushing and a knack of being around the quarterback.

Cam Gill and Markees Watts are fighting for the final spot on the depth chart with Ramirez, fellow rookie Brandon Bouyer-Randle, and former practice-squaders Charles Snowden and Hamilcar Rashed. Gill and Watts bring speed off the edge, while Snowden is built like Nelson at 6-foot-7, but slimmer at 240 pounds. Watts was labeled as one to watch in training camp by head coach Todd Bowles.

Best-Case Scenario at OLB

Barrett returns with a vengeance and gets back to being a dangerous, double-digit sacker this year, while Tryon-Shoyinka doubles his sack production to finish with at least eight. The Bucs would also welcome big contributions from reserves Nelson and Diaby, as this unit produces a combined 30 sacks by itself.

The Weaknesses of Bucs OLB: Lack of Sacks Outside of Shaq Barrett

Bucs OLBs Anthony Nelson and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Shaq Barrett is the most experienced and productive pass rusher in Tampa Bay – by a mile. Out of Barrett’s 54.5 career sacks, 40.5 of them have come over the last four seasons in red and pewter. After Barrett there is a huge drop off in experience and productivity. Anthony Nelson enters his fifth year with just 11.5 career sacks, including 5.5 from last year. Joe Tryon-Shoyinka is next with only eight in two seasons.

After that, the Bucs are largely unproven and unproductive in the sack department. Last year the Bucs had veteran backup Carl Nassib, who has totaled 25.5 career sacks, including 16 in Tampa Bay. But with Nassib turning 30 this year the team wanted to go with more of a youth movement.

There’s a good chance that the Bucs keep five outside linebackers this year and likely another two on the practice squad. But after Barrett, Nelson and Tryon-Shoyinka Tampa Bay will be very young and inexperienced.

The team better hope that Barrett makes a full recovery from his torn Achilles at age 31, and can recover from the tragedy of losing his two-year old daughter to a drowning accident this offseason and turn in a great season. Of course no one could blame Barrett if he’s unable to, but the Bucs would have to largely rely on unproven talent this year if that’s the case.

Worst-Case Scenario at OLB

The Bucs’ plans at outside linebacker fall apart if Barrett doesn’t bounce back from a terrible offseason and return to his Pro Bowl level play, coupled with Tryon-Shoyinka just not panning out. Disaster strikes if Nelson can’t continue to raise his game and YaYa Diaby struggles through growing pains as a rookie, leading to an under-performing edge rushing unit for a second straight season.