Bucs’ Best Bet: Edge Rusher

Bucs’ Best Bet Rounds 1-3: LSU OLB K’Lavon Chaisson

Chaisson is a risky first-round pick because of his lack of production at LSU. He enters the draft as a redshirt sophomore with just 92 tackles, 19 tackles for loss and 9.5 career sacks, four pass breakups and a forced fumble. Chaisson missed most of his 2018 season after tearing his ACL in the season opener. He returned in 2019 and had the most productive year of his career, recording 60 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks in helping LSU win the national championship. What makes him a first-round pick is his elite athleticism and potential rather than his production. Chaisson didn’t test at the NFL Scouting Combine, but the film shows a speedy edge rusher with the ability to dip his shoulder and bend the curve when getting after the quarterback.

The Bucs had a formal interview with Chaisson in Indianapolis and if the top four tackles are off the board by the time the team picks at No. 14, Chaisson could be an intriguing option to replace Carl Nassib in the outside linebacker rotation. Chaisson played in a 3-4 scheme at LSU and he’s a perfect fit in Todd Bowles defense. It usually takes young edge rushers a year or two to develop and the 20-year old Chaisson would be an ideal heir apparent to either Jason Pierre-Paul, who turned 31 in January, or Shaquil Barrett, who turns 28 this year. Chaisson is not ready to be an every down defender yet, but he could learn from two accomplished pass rushers, help the team this year as a situational pass rusher and provide depth, and then start in a year or two. – Scott Reynolds

Bucs’ Best Bets Rounds 4-7: Utah OLB Bradlee Anae

Aane finished his four-year career at Utah as the school’s all-time leading sacker with 29.5, including 13 during his senior campaign. Anae racked up 131 tackles, 40 tackles for loss, five forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries at Utah, making him one of the more accomplished pass rushers in this draft class. Anae wins with tremendous technique and physicality rather than pure athleticism. He has enough size at 6-foot-3, 257 pounds and toughness to set the edge in the running game, but his lack of athleticism – 4.93 in the 40-yard dash and a 31-inch vertical leap – will cause him to drop to the third or fourth round despite his production.

Anae is a bad ass and just gets the job done as an edge rusher. He has fantastic hands, which helped him to rack up three sacks during the Senior Bowl, in addition to several hurries – one of which caused an interception. Anae, who had an informal interview with Tampa Bay at the NFL Scouting Combine, is just a gritty football player that would fit in well with the Bucs defense as a strongside edge rusher, replacing Carl Nassib, who played the game the same way. If Anae lasts until the fourth round he would be an outstanding pick up by Tampa Bay from a value standpoint. – Scott Reynolds