PewterReport.com analyzes the top players in the 2020 NFL Draft with its position previews. Jon Ledyard previews the edge defender/outside linebacker position with a comprehensive look at what the Bucs have and what they need on the perimeter of the defensive line, a detailed list of this year’s top edge defenders, and Scott Reynolds offers up the annual PewterReport.com Bucs’ Best Bets – one early round pick, and a pick from the later rounds.

What The Bucs Have At Outside Linebacker

Bucs OLB Anthony Nelson – Photo by: Getty Images

There is no need for the Bucs to look for another starting outside linebacker, as Shaquil Barrett and Jason Pierre-Paul are both returning for the 2020 season. Second-year player Anthony Nelson figures to step into Carl Nassib’s role as the team’s No. 3 edge rusher, after an injury forced him to miss a chunk of his rookie campaign. Quinton Bell and Kahzin Daniels are currently slated to battle it out for the last 1-2 roster spots at outside linebacker.

What The Bucs Need At Outside Linebacker

Depth, badly. The drop-off behind Barrett and JPP is ridiculously steep, and with the former currently set to play on the franchise tag, it’s important for Tampa Bay to start planning for the future in case things don’t work out long term with the NFL’s leading sack-getter.

The Bucs would love for Nelson to step up and prove worthy of the fourth-round pick they spent on him a year ago, but he’s an unknown after just 151 snaps in 2019. The duo of Bell and Daniels didn’t even combine for 20 defensive snaps last season. If this class had more quality edge defenders, we’d be mocking the position to the Bucs much more frequently.

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Click The Next Page For The Top Outside Linebackers