The Bucs haven’t completed their job in free company for my part. Sure, they’ve shored up their secondary depth with the signings of Bryce Corridor, Jordan Whitehead and Tavierre Thomas. Sure, they’ve bolstered their backend depth on the offensive line with the acquisitions of Ben Bredeson and Sua Opeta.
Bucs G Sua Opeta – Photograph by: USA In the present day
I’d argue that they need to have pursued one of many many high-end edges out there in free company or by means of commerce. However the workforce appears content material to enter 2024 with Yaya Diaby and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka main a gaggle that has a stable flooring however a questionable ceiling.
However there’s nonetheless a obvious gap within the beginning lineup that needs to be addressed earlier than the draft. In any case, free company needs to be used to deal with holes on the roster in order that when a workforce enters the draft, it doesn’t should be pigeon-holed into drafting for want.
The Bucs appear to be rushing down a path to should just do that. In my estimation, neither Opeta nor Bredeson is the caliber of participant that Tampa Bay ought to really feel good with in the event that they had been to imagine the beginning left guard spot. So, what can they do to improve that spot?
Bucs Ought to Look At Greg Van Roten
Enter Greg Van Roten. Van Roten, a former undrafted free agent, has carved out a stable profession taking part in for the Packers, Panthers, Jets, Payments and Raiders. The 2023 marketing campaign was his finest season as a professional, as he earned a 77.4 cross block, 68.5 run block and 75.3 general grade from Professional Soccer Focus.
His 3.35% strain fee allowed was the bottom since 2018 when he began to get common work. The veteran guard has over 100 video games of expertise and 71 begins whereas being thought to be a stable cross blocker and an honest sufficient run blocker.
Raiders guard Greg Van Roten Photograph by: USA In the present day
Here’s what PFF’s Brad Spielberger needed to say about Van Roten when projecting his subsequent contract of 1 yr and simply $2.75 million.
“Van Roten does a pleasant job of holding his chest clear with absolutely prolonged arms on double groups that allows him to shortly disengage and get to the second degree, however can lose floor on the line off the snap occasionally when he doesn’t have a assured first step. The veteran has all the time been a stable cross protector, absorbing contact effectively if he stays in entrance of the rusher.”
After reviewing a few of his movie, it’s clear that he has a most popular path to success. In cross safety, he needs to win early with a punch after which instantly work to maneuver his opponent to a unique path than they supposed to take. Van Roten wins loads by re-routing after which driving down by means of the pocket cross the quarterback.
He can permit his arms to maneuver too far inside every now and then. This provides opposing cross rushers a possibility to spin or side-step him.
Within the run recreation, he has a stable leg drive that works finest for him in a zone scheme the place he can drive opponents by utilizing their very own momentum towards him. He’s succesful sufficient on the second degree however isn’t a fluid mover who excels on pulls. However his play on this space is sweet sufficient to be a median starter on a line with a number of above-average movers/gamers.
Van Roten Would Give The Bucs Flexibility
Bucs basic supervisor Jason Licht – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
By signing Van Roten, the Bucs might pencil him into the beginning lineup between Tristan Wirfs and Robert Hainsey and permit the Bucs to enter the 2024 NFL Draft with the ability to really goal the perfect participant out there at every choose.
It could stop them from having to surrender the exorbitant prices related to buying and selling up with the intention to nab a participant at a place the place there could also be an surprising run.
Then, if a guard who the workforce likes is out there after they choose at 26, 57, 89 or 92, there’s nothing stopping them from drafting that participant and beginning them. The transfer would push Van Roten right into a premium backup function with Opeta and push Bredeson to the backup middle function.
However it additionally provides the workforce the flexibleness to take a Jackson Powers-Johnson and put him at his pure place of middle, push Robert Hainsey again into the backup middle function and permit Opeta and Bredeson to man the depth guard positions.
This is able to be an inexpensive signing that raises each the ceiling and the ground of the present Bucs line’s composition that additionally improves their flexibility within the draft. Greg Van Roten is a participant who would enhance the 2024 Bucs with out hurting them long-term.
