@alldaway - I totally disagree and I’ve said this every offseason. Having a room full of edge players means we don’t have a true OLB1. We need a dawg, not 4 puppies.
@alldaway - I totally disagree and I’ve said this every offseason. Having a room full of edge players means we don’t have a true OLB1. We need a dawg, not 4 puppies.
Who is the dawg for the Seahawks or Eagles? Why are the Eagles signing JTS? Is Howie Roseman a bad GM?
The Cowboys were smart to dump Parsons because they had more important issues to deal with than paying a single edge a QB sized contract. The Raiders are laying low but they may end up trading Crosby too because they don't want to deal with a QB sized contract going to an edge rusher either.
It is about money and has always been about money which is why teams go 34 because you don't need to pay one guy to be the dawg. Bucs need to do better by upgrading all their LB positions if they want to replicate fire zone blitzes the 90s Steelers used with a LB corps of Greene, Nickerson, Lloyd, Kirkland, Brown, etc.
Let me be clearer… we cannot fill our edge room with a bunch of average pass rushers under a Todd Bowles led defense. Seattle and Philadelphia have great defensive coordinators. They know how to run coverage packages and they don’t blitz nearly as much as Bowles.
I’m glad you and I are old enough to know the 90’s Steelers personnel you always mention, but the game has changed as well. And Lloyd and Greene and Nickerson were as much dogs as any dogs I’ve ever seen.
And Parsons is a different story. A high up official in the Cowboys organization told me two years ago during a long flight, that they wouldn’t be resigning parsons. He wasn’t worth the headache.
Bowles defense has only worked with studs… Barrett and JPP. The rest of the time we’ve tried to build that room through depth. It won’t work under Bowles. Get him a stud or continue to give quarterbacks all day when we rush 4, or blitz to make up for it and get gauged in underneath zones.
I looked up the draft prospect rankings from 3 sites. Below are the 15th ranked prospects per each site. If your strategy for the upcoming draft is BPA, which of these three would you draft?
Makai Lemon WR per PFF
Jermod McCoy CB per NFL.Com
Olaivavega Ioane OL per CBS Sports.
Let me be clearer… we cannot fill our edge room with a bunch of average pass rushers under a Todd Bowles led defense. Seattle and Philadelphia have great defensive coordinators. They know how to run coverage packages and they don’t blitz nearly as much as Bowles.
I’m glad you and I are old enough to know the 90’s Steelers personnel you always mention, but the game has changed as well. And Lloyd and Greene and Nickerson were as much dogs as any dogs I’ve ever seen.
And Parsons is a different story. A high up official in the Cowboys organization told me two years ago during a long flight, that they wouldn’t be resigning parsons. He wasn’t worth the headache.
Bowles defense has only worked with studs… Barrett and JPP. The rest of the time we’ve tried to build that room through depth. It won’t work under Bowles. Get him a stud or continue to give quarterbacks all day when we rush 4, or blitz to make up for it and get gauged in underneath zones.
The stud thing is where there’s a disconnect because Barrett wasn’t a stud before he got here. They don’t need certified stars, they need guys with pass rush traits. We could have gotten Chaisson for cheap AGAIN.
R Mason Thomas has very good pass rush traits.
There must be a MISUNDERSTANDING because we all AGREE that we need to upgrade the entire LB unit. One stud at edge doesn't help when you need a left inside line backer, right inside line backer and a third guy off the bench to rotate with your two primary LOLB and ROLB starters.
That is why I cited the 90s Steelers because they didn't just have HARDY NICKERSON. They also had KEVIN GREENE and GREG LLOYD along with CHAD BROWN.
Adding a Hardy NICKERSON or KEVIN GREENE aka stud does NOT instantly make this defense better. Nickerson was on a bad Bucs team but the turn around happened when Brooks and Sapp came along TOO.
There is no uber weapon or player coming to save this defense. This defense truly needs an enema to find players that can actually impact the play on the ball if we are honest. But that is now how NFL rosters are constructed.
So having JAGS like Nelson and NICK JACKSON is fine in spot duty or relief but this team has been forcing these guys into responsibilites above their pay grade. I am not a hater of Dennis but he wasn't given enough time or coaching to make the huge leap into a starter role. In fact down the line he may become a serviceable starter too like Nelson has been.
@alldaway - good post. I think it goes back to coaching and less about construction of a team. The enema is a new coach. Bowles without superstars doesn’t work like it does for Seattle.
And a stud edge helps every player on defense more than any other position. It helps Bowles coverage lapses. It helps keep ILBs in coverage and not blitzing 50% of the time. It makes Bowles a better DC.
I typically snicker when the idea is floated that we’ll trade down, because Licht doesn’t move a lot, and everyone thinks trades are easy. But, Licht’s interview from Arizona, as we all likely read on JFB, indicates (to me) he’s practically advertising for a trade partner (the follow up question indicates he’s more inclined to trade down). So I think it more plausible this draft.Olaivavega Ioane OL
I’ve got Ioane nudging out McCoy.
However, I’d be ok with taking Ioane if he can’t find a dance partner (but I confess I temporarily flirted with Kenyon Sadiq).
With the 2026 NFL Draft just a few weeks away, the consensus for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Pick No. 15 has shifted heavily toward the defensive side of the ball. Following the departures of franchise icons like Mike Evans and Lavonte David (who recently announced his retirement), Jason Licht is widely expected to focus on "rebuilding the identity" of Todd Bowles' defense.
Based on the most recent 7-round projections for April 2026, here is how a full mock draft currently looks for the Bucs:
Round 1: Pick 15 — Akheem Mesidor (EDGE, Miami)
The "win-now" pick. Mesidor is a versatile, high-motor pass rusher who can play multiple spots on the line. While he’ll be a 25-year-old rookie, his polished technique makes him an immediate Day 1 starter to help a pass rush that struggled late last season.
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Alternative: Keldric Faulk (EDGE, Auburn) or Kenyon Sadiq (TE, Oregon) if they go "Best Player Available."
Round 2: Pick 46 — Anthony Hill Jr. (LB, Texas)
With Lavonte David retiring, the Bucs need a rangy, sideline-to-sideline playmaker. Hill is a massive upgrade in size (, ) compared to traditional Tampa linebackers but possesses the speed Bowles requires for his blitz-heavy schemes.
Round 3: Pick 77 — Keylan Rutledge (G, Georgia Tech)
The interior offensive line needs depth after injuries plagued the unit last year. Rutledge is a "nasty" blocker with a high wrestling background who fits the physical profile Licht loves for the trenches.
Day 3: Building Depth
Draft Strategy Analysis
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Defense First: The first two rounds are dedicated to replacing legends (David) and fixing the lack of pressure.
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The "Big Men" Philosophy: True to Jason Licht's history, you see heavy investment in the offensive and defensive lines (McClellan and Rutledge).
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Replacing Mike Evans: Note that most analysts agree Evans is "irreplaceable." Instead of a 1-for-1 replacement, the Bucs are looking for "contact-balance" receivers like Cameron or vertical threats like De'Zhaun Stribling (Ole Miss) in later rounds.
I’ve done several draft simulations without a trade in the first round, most of them were good, some covered need positions, many I didn’t get access to the guys I really wanted. When I began factoring in a trade down from 15, the board opened up and better options, (and an additional pick) gave better value, and covered the positions better.
You do have to have a trade partner that’s looking for their guy at 15. The most satisfying trade was one where I traded out of the 1st round, picking up pick 34, and improved by two picks (adding #65, and swapping our 115 for 104).
Who knows how it will fall, but the better value seems to improve as you get towards the bottom of round 1.
I heard Dane Brugler from the Athletic say he only graded 14 picks in this draft as 1st round value. I agree.
I got started late this year. Not a great draft, but good depth for pure rush edges and good ILB’s (and some depth at CB & IoL), just depends on how it falls. It’s really tempting to reach without a trade down.
Dont know if I trust Mesidor, he surely looks good, but not sure a 25 year old will have the same power when he’s not throwing around 19 & 20 year old kids? Agree that you can pass him up if you can’t get a trade.
It’s still going to be an interesting draft to watch. Not sure we fans will be entirely pleased with it. Would have been happier if we could have gotten into a trade for the right edge, or one of the free agents, but it is what it is.
The Cowboys were smart to dump Parsons because they had more important issues to deal with than paying a single edge a QB sized contract. The Raiders are laying low but they may end up trading Crosby too because they don't want to deal with a QB sized contract going to an edge rusher either.
Crosby will be traded during the draft.
Dont know if I trust Mesidor, he surely looks good, but not sure a 25 year old will have the same power when he’s not throwing around 19 & 20 year old kids? Agree that you can pass him up if you can’t get a trade.
I like his motor more than his power. But the age is definitely a concern. Although I think it's going to affect his second contract more than anything.
Depending on who is available, I'm good with Mesidor at 15.
I can be talked into Ioane at 15, I like Mesidor a lot, but I’m not sure I’d take him that high? Again, I like him, just think we’d be reaching for him at 15 if this were last years draft.Dont know if I trust Mesidor, he surely looks good, but not sure a 25 year old will have the same power when he’s not throwing around 19 & 20 year old kids? Agree that you can pass him up if you can’t get a trade.
I like his motor more than his power. But the age is definitely a concern. Although I think it's going to affect his second contract more than anything.
Depending on who is available, I'm good with Mesidor at 15.
its more than his age, I’m also concerned with his foot injuries in college.
I mean if you’re considering Mesidor, why not trade for a slightly older, original article, Maxx Headroom? I mean, especially sinc Maxx already has actual NFL experience at a high level?