Of all of the positions the Bucs are set to deal with within the offseason, defensive deal with might be not an important. Technically, as of proper now, the 2024 depth chart has only one quarterback below contract and no Mike Evans, Lavonte David or Antoine Winfield Jr. below contract.
Add in query marks alongside the inside of the offensive line, who will begin at linebacker, and the way they are going to handle robust security, and you’ll see why inside defensive position simply doesn’t pop on the radar.
Jets DL Quinton Jefferson Photograph by: USA Right now
However don’t rely the Bucs out of dipping their toes within the free agent pool to solidify one of many strongest rooms on the roster. Professional Soccer Focus’ Brad Spielberger thinks that’s a risk, anyway. He lists the Bucs as a possible touchdown spot free of charge agent defensive deal with Quinton Jefferson in a current article highlighting potential matches for upcoming free company. Here’s what he needed to say:
“Tampa seems to be to have hit on one other crop of draft picks in 2023, with first-round inside defender Calijah Kancey producing 11 quarterback pressures in his first two playoff video games. However the unit wants extra depth alongside Kancey and Vita Vea.
Washington has the dynamic duo of Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne however not a lot behind them to spell them and nonetheless get after the quarterback. Enter inside pass-rush specialist Quinton Jefferson, who by no means performed for Dan Quinn however has labored with lots of his proteges over time.”
Bucs Might Have Want For Defensive Line Depth
The Bucs have their beginning duo set in Calijah Kancey and Vita Vea. There’s additionally 2022 second-round choose Logan Corridor, who made optimistic strides final yr as a rotational piece who can play 4i on early run downs.
Bucs DTs Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
However past these three, issues get murkier. Will Gholston had a stable season, however his snap rely decreased for the third straight yr to a career-low 244 and is at present unsigned for 2024. The Bucs re-signed him on the eve of coaching camp final yr. He will probably be 33 years outdated when the 2024 season begins, and he’s somebody who may very well be on retirement watch.
Greg Gaines and Pat O’Connor are each pending free brokers as nicely. Mike Greene had a couple of good video games final yr, however is much from a dependable participant at this level in his profession. There’s room so as to add to the place group.
Jefferson is a former fifth-round choose who had a stable begin to his profession in Seattle from 2016-2019, the place he amassed 88 tackles, 16 for a loss, 13 sacks, two fumble recoveries and 7 passes defensed. Since then, he has performed 64 video games throughout 4 seasons for the Payments, Raiders, again with the Seahawks, and Jets. He’s a high quality rotational go rusher who has struggled to defend the run over time. Since 2018, Jefferson has averaged 38 quarterback pressures and a 9.7% strain fee.
Given this draft class isn’t the deepest at inside defensive position, it is smart that the Bucs would use free company to shore up depth at that place group. And Jefferson could be had for each a short while dedication (one yr) and at a really affordable worth ($2 million-$4 million).
Primarily based on his feedback on the 2024 NFL Scouting Mix, basic supervisor Jason Licht will very a lot focus his efforts first on re-signing Tampa Bay’s personal high-priority free brokers. However from there, he and his employees can get to work on constructing the roster in a means that units the crew as much as enhance on its NFC Divisional Spherical look final season.
The free company interval begins in below two weeks, so we’ll see how the Bucs method issues quickly sufficient.
