Welcome to SR’s Fab 5 – my weekly insider column on the Bucs that options 5 issues which might be on my thoughts. SR’s Fab 5 is now a faster learn, however nonetheless packs a punch. Take pleasure in!
FAB 1. Bucs Ought to Commerce Up For Jackson Powers-Johnson Or Graham Barton
Jason Licht has made loads of trades in his first 10 years because the Bucs normal supervisor, however maybe none greater than shifting up only one spot within the first spherical of the 2020 NFL Draft to safe Iowa offensive deal with Tristan Wirfs.
That’s it. Only one spot.
Bucs RT Tristan Wirfs – Picture by: Getty Photographs
It wasn’t an out-of-nowhere commerce like his deal for move rusher Jason Pierre-Paul, sending a third-round choose to the Giants in 2018. It wasn’t buying and selling all the way down to accumulate extra picks throughout the draft, as he’s achieved in 2018 and in 2022.
It was not taking an opportunity on letting the draft come to him with Wirfs, who was the final of the highest 4 offensive tackles accessible within the first spherical, nonetheless on the board. Sending a fourth-round choose to San Francisco to maneuver up one spot and fill the opening at proper deal with that was created with Demar Dotson’s departure was nicely price it.
Wirfs, who’s now manning the left deal with spot, has been one of many league’s prime offensive tackles since getting into the league because the thirteenth total choose. He’s a three-time Professional Bowler and a two-time All-Professional.
Now, with the Bucs choosing even decrease within the first spherical this yr at No. 26, Licht can’t afford to be too affected person and let the draft come to him. Not with a obvious gap at left guard and the necessity for an improve at middle, the place Robert Hainsey has been serviceable at greatest.
There are two first-round inside offensive linemen on this yr’s draft in Oregon middle Jackson Powers-Johnson and Duke’s Graham Barton, who performed left deal with in faculty however shall be a guard or middle within the NFL. Licht must be daring and be ready to go get one in all these stud linemen.
The Bucs simply gave quarterback Baker Mayfield a three-year contract price $100 million this offseason. Now the onus is on Licht and his scouts to guard that funding – Mayfield himself – as greatest as they will.
Certain, the draft is deep at inside offensive line, however why accept the second- or third-best possibility when the most effective is perhaps accessible inside attain, as each Barton and Powers-Johnson aren’t anticipated to be drafted till after the primary 15 picks or so?
Oregon C Jackson Powers-Johnson – Picture by: USA Immediately
Watching Powers-Johnson’s tape, the 6-foot-3, 323-pound mauler seems to be just like the second coming of Ryan Jensen. He’s a bodily, nasty finisher in each the run and the move recreation. Interviewing him at each the Senior Bowl and the NFL Scouting Mix, Powers-Johnson revealed that his favourite middle to observe and emulate was Jensen.
After Wirfs, the most effective offensive lineman Licht has ever chosen was former Professional Bowl guard Ali Marpet, an excellent sensible, tremendous powerful, tremendous athletic left deal with out of Hobart School. Watching Barton at Duke and interviewing him on the Mix, the 6-foot-5, 313-pounder seems to be, performs, and even talks like Marpet. It’s uncanny how Barton seems to be like Marpet 2.0.
Marpet abruptly retired at age 28 following the 2021 season, nonetheless in his prime and nonetheless within the midst of a five-year contract via 2023. Sure, Marpet, who will solely flip 31 on April 17, ought to’ve been the staff’s left guard in 2022 and final yr. That was the plan.
Additional complicating issues for the Bucs was Jensen’s catastrophic knee harm on the second day of coaching camp in 2022. Already with out Marpet, Tampa Bay misplaced its Professional Bowl middle for good because it seems. Jensen’s knee harm was profession ending and he retired this offseason at age 33. He was signed via the 2024 season.
Licht traded cornerback Carlton Davis III to Detroit for an additional third-round choose. He has the ammo to be aggressive and transfer as much as get both the subsequent Jensen or the subsequent Marpet, which is precisely what Tampa Bay wants.
Bucs G Sua Opeta – Picture by: USA Immediately
Whereas the Bucs signed a pair of offensive linemen this offseason in guard Sua Opeta and Ben Bredeson, who will compete at middle and guard, their addition solely raises the ground of the staff’s backups. Opeta and Bredeson are actually seen as higher depth than the staff had in Aaron Stinnie and Nick Leverett, each of whom have departed in free company.
Look no additional than the contracts the Bucs paid each of their new linemen. Bredeson signed a one-year deal price $3 million with $1.75 million in assured cash. Opeta signed a one-year deal price $1.375 million. That’s backup cash, people.
That’s to not say that both one gained’t compete for a beginning job in coaching camp, nevertheless it’s clear to see that the Bucs might want to deal with the inside offensive line early within the draft – and they need to do it within the first spherical. To attend till the second or third spherical to fill the opening at left guard or get an improve over Hainsey with what may very well be a lesser participant is a danger that the Bucs can’t afford to take.
FAB 2. Why Upgrading Guard And Heart Is So Necessary For The Bucs
NFL Movies guru Greg Cosell, who is without doubt one of the smarter soccer analysts round, was Thursday’s visitor on the Pewter Report Podcast and laid out the case for safeguarding Baker Mayfield, particularly alongside within the inside offensive line.
Bucs RG Cody Mauch, C Robert Hainsey, LG Matt Feiler and QB Baker Mayfield – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
“I’m not telling Jason Licht what he ought to or shouldn’t do, however I feel when you could have Baker Mayfield you clearly simply laid out a ton of money for, you must make certain the middle and guard place are taken care of,” Cosell mentioned. “Now you don’t want three All-Execs, however that may’t be a weak point in your staff as a result of then your quarterback can’t operate. And also you simply gave him some huge cash with the expectation that you simply’re going to get into the playoffs and have a great season.”
Cosell famous that shorter quarterbacks like Mayfield, who’s 6-foot-1, 215 kilos, want higher safety in the midst of the pocket. Final yr, the Bucs struggled at left guard, the place the mix of Matt Feiler and Aaron Stinnie have been the weak hyperlinks of the offensive line.
Proper guard Cody Mauch was a rookie who had his ups and downs, and the drop off in play at middle has been noticeable since Robert Hainsey changed injured Professional Bowler Ryan Jensen in 2022.
“He’s a smaller man and he’s not essentially nice when there are our bodies round him,” Cosell mentioned of Mayfield. “He must be protected, ideally within the center as a result of the middle and the 2 guards – they management the depth of the pocket. And he wants the depth managed. The tackles management the width of the pocket. He wants the depth of the pocket managed as a result of he’s simply over 6-feet [tall]. You need to be sure to care for that so he does have clear sight traces.
“The opposite factor is that he’s a step thrower. Some guys don’t have to step into it. He’s a step thrower, so he completely wants the depth of the pocket dealt with as a result of he must step into his throws.”
No play higher demonstrates what Cosell is speaking about than Mayfield’s essential first quarter interception in opposition to Detroit in a 20-6 loss in Week 6. Mayfield noticed Mike Evans extensive open on a vertical route that might’ve resulted in a 92-yard landing, however Lions nostril deal with Isaiah Buggs tipped the move on the line of scrimmage and defensive again Will Harris intercepted it within the Bucs’ purple zone.
Buggs, a 6-foot-3, 335-pound nostril deal with, collapsed the pocket by driving Hainsey again a number of steps and was capable of get in Mayfield’s throwing lane to tip the move. Mayfield was pressured up the center far too many occasions final yr.
In response to Professional Soccer Focus, Mauch, a second-round choose, surrendered 57 pressures, together with a team-high eight sacks in 2023 whereas making the transition from enjoying left deal with at North Dakota State to proper guard within the NFL. Hainsey, a third-year professional, allowed 33 pressures, together with 5 sacks. Stinnie and Feiler allowed a mixed 44 pressures, together with three sacks.
Bucs C Robert Hainsey and RG Cody Mauch – Picture by: USA Immediately
Newcomers Sua Opeta and Ben Bredeseon aren’t the solutions in the case of defending Mayfield, both. Each are recognized for the run blocking versus their move safety. Opeta performed in simply 9 video games and allowed 25 pressures, together with three sacks in Philadelphia.
Bredeson, who is predicted to compete with Hainsey at middle or at left guard, began 16 video games throughout the inside offensive line for the New York Giants final season. His numbers have been on par with Hainsey, surrendering 39 pressures, together with 5 sacks.
“You simply spent some huge cash on Baker Mayfield, who’s an excellent thrower of the soccer, however he’s a sure sort of quarterback,” Cosell mentioned. “He may be profitable as that sort of quarterback, as we all know, nevertheless it’s very onerous for him to achieve success if the depth of the pocket shouldn’t be managed and brought care of.”
This additional bolsters the argument for Bucs normal supervisor Jason Licht being aggressive within the first spherical of the 2024 NFL Draft and buying and selling up for Duke’s Graham Barton or Oregon’s Jackson Powers-Johnson to improve the expertise at middle or fill the opening at left guard with a greater, extra succesful athlete.
FAB 3. How Excessive Would Tampa Bay Have To Commerce Up To Get A High IOL?
If Bucs normal supervisor Jason Licht follows the identical thought sample as he did when it got here to buying and selling up one spot to get Professional Bowl offensive deal with Tristan Wirfs within the first spherical in 2020, how excessive would Tampa Bay must go to safe both Oregon middle Jackson Powers-Johnson or Duke’s guard-center Graham Barton?
Taking a look at among the prime mock drafts, there are 4 groups drafting forward of Tampa Bay which have inside offensive line wants with Seattle being the primary at No. 16.
No. 16 Seahawks – LG, C
Oregon C Jackson Powers-Johnson – Picture by: USA Immediately
Seattle’s new offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb comes from the College of Washington, the place he noticed Powers-Johnson play in opposition to the Huskies thrice during the last two seasons, together with the PAC-12 Championship Recreation final yr. The Seahawks might use an improve over smallish middle Nick Harris, and a alternative for left guard Damien Lewis, who signed with Carolina this offseason. Powers can play both spot.
No. 20 Steelers – LT, C
The Steelers drafted proper deal with Broderick Jones within the first spherical final yr, however have to improve left deal with the place Dan Moore Jr. is ample at greatest. But when there may be an early run on left tackles, Pittsburgh could wait till the second spherical to handle that place and seize both Powers-Johnson, who’s a Mike Tomlin sort of man, or Barton as an improve over middle Nate Herbig.
No. 24 Cowboys – C, LG
Dallas’ offensive line wants some work after dropping middle Tyler Biadasz and left deal with Tyron Smith in free company. The staff might additionally use an improve at left guard over T.J. Bass. Outdoors of the Seahawks, the Cowboys are in all probability the largest menace to the Bucs in the case of deciding on an inside offensive lineman. And if both Powers-Johnson or Barton goes to Seattle at No. 16, the Bucs may very well be empty-handed simply two picks later.
No. 25 Packers – LT, G
Duke OL Graham Barton – Picture courtesy of Duke
The Packers pose a danger to the Bucs in a few methods. First, Inexperienced Bay might select to seek out an improve at proper guard over Sean Rhyan or at middle over Josh Myers. That places both Barton or Powers-Johnson in play if both remains to be left on the draft board.
Second, with the remainder of the league absolutely conscious that the Bucs need assistance at guard and middle, a staff just like the Eagles might commerce up forward of Tampa Bay and discover a alternative for Professional Bowl middle Jason Kelce, who retired this offseason. Philadelphia has loads of ammunition to maneuver up with two picks within the second spherical and three within the fifth spherical.
There may very well be some excellent news for the Bucs, although. ESPN’s Mel Kiper has but to place Powers-Johnson in any of his three mock drafts.
The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman has Powers-Johnson sliding to No. 25 in his mock draft the place Dallas, which traded again with Inexperienced Bay, chosen him one spot forward of Tampa Bay. Feldman has the Bucs taking Penn State edge rusher Chop Robinson at No. 26 however Barton remains to be on the board, sliding all the way down to No. 32 the place Philadelphia trades up with Kansas Metropolis to take him.
MockDraftDatabase.com has Powers-Johnson because the twenty fourth prospect on the board, whereas Barton is the Twenty sixth-ranked prospect. If these consensus media projections align with what is occurring in actual NFL warfare rooms, it places the Bucs inside placing distance for both Powers-Johnson or Barton ought to Licht wish to transfer as much as get both participant.
So Licht and the Bucs must transfer up forward of Dallas at No. 24 on the very least to have a shot at both Barton or Powers-Johnson – and that’s if both the Seahawks and Steelers don’t select one in all them.
It value Licht a fourth-round choose to maneuver up one spot in 2020. It will value at the least that this yr – if not one of many staff’s third-rounders as a substitute to maneuver up two spots or extra this yr.
FAB 4. Bucs Might Draft A Defensive Deal with Increased Than You Suppose
Maybe no normal supervisor believes in trench warfare greater than Tampa Bay’s Jason Licht. Possibly it was the truth that he performed each defensive deal with and guard in faculty, however Licht has seen firsthand how the Bucs gained Tremendous Bowl LV. Whereas touchdown the best quarterback of all time in Tom Brady in free company in 2020 was clearly an enormous addition, the Bucs gained that recreation within the trenches.
Bucs NT Vita Vea and DT Ndamukong Suh – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
Licht constructed an offensive line that featured three Professional Bowl-caliber gamers in middle Ryan Jensen, left guard Ali Marpet and rookie proper deal with Tristan Wirfs. Left deal with Donovan Smith and proper guard Alex Cappa have been additionally enjoying their greatest soccer that season, and Aaron Stinnie performed at a excessive stage coming off the bench for Cappa within the postseason. The Bucs averaged 122.4 yards per recreation on the bottom within the playoffs and the Tremendous Bowl and scored at the least 30 factors in all 4 postseason video games.
On protection, the return of Professional Bowl nostril deal with Vita Vea subsequent to defensive deal with Ndamukong Suh not solely helped the Bucs shut down the run, but in addition push the pocket and flush the quarterback in direction of the harmful outdoors linebacker duo of Jason Pierre-Paul and Shaq Barrett. In Tampa Bay’s 31-9 win over Kansas Metropolis in Tremendous Bowl LV, Patrick Mahomes was sacked thrice and pressured on 44 of 56 dropbacks.
There isn’t any doubt that the Bucs might use one other edge rusher like Pierre-Paul or Barrett of their prime. New outdoors linebacker Randy Gregory isn’t the double-digit sacker who’s at the moment lacking in Todd Bowles’ protection.
However this isn’t a great group of edge rushers within the 2024 NFL Draft. Gregory’s signing doesn’t rule out the staff deciding on one other outdoors linebacker, nevertheless it definitely takes the stress off of Tampa Bay having to draft one this yr – and maybe pressure a choose primarily based on want.
However that doesn’t imply that Bowles and Licht gained’t deal with the defensive position. In reality, the Bucs might draft a defensive deal with larger than you may assume. Sure, Licht has spent current first-round picks on defensive tackles like Vea (2018) and Calijah Kancey (2023) and the staff’s prime choose in 2022 atop the second spherical in Logan Corridor.
Bucs DTs Logan Corridor and Calijah Kancey – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
So what does that inform us?
Two issues.
First, each he and Todd Bowles worth the defensive deal with place. And why shouldn’t they? All of it begins up entrance. Defensive tackles are the closest defenders to each quarterbacks and working backs by way of proximity. Groups that lack expertise on the defensive deal with place possible aren’t excellent.
Chiefs defensive deal with Chris Jones was the highest-graded defender in Kansas Metropolis final yr with an 88.1 Professional Soccer Focus grade. He was additionally the second-highest participant on the staff behind solely Patrick Mahomes (90.5). Jones was a terror within the Tremendous Bowl with six pressures on 49ers QB Brock Purdy with a number of coming within the fourth quarter.
San Francisco had a pair of stud defensive tackles final yr in Javon Hargrave and Arik Armstead. They totaled 13 pressures on Mahomes within the Tremendous Bowl and every had a sack.
The Bucs have a pair of stud defensive tackles in Vea and Kancey, however every has missed time attributable to harm. Vea missed two video games final yr and three video games in 2022 attributable to harm. Tampa Bay was 2-3 in video games when Vea didn’t go well with up over the previous two seasons. Kancey primarily missed the primary 4 video games of his rookie season attributable to a calf harm.
When Vea and Kancey didn’t go well with up final yr, Corridor was inserted into the beginning lineup and didn’t have a lot of an affect in opposition to the run or the move. In reality, the extent of play at defensive deal with in Tampa Bay went down a notch when that occurred.
Bucs DT Mike Greene – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
Accidents to Vea and Kancey additionally had a domino impact as Greg Gaines, Will Gholston and Mike Greene all moved up a spot on the depth chart because of their absence. Gaines was okay as a backup nostril deal with, however Gholston clearly misplaced a step final yr at age 32.
In case you are asking how Greene is, you’re making my level. Greene might be greatest fitted to the apply squad, the place he spent the primary two years of his Tampa Bay profession.
Second, I feel Licht realizes he made a mistake with Corridor by drafting him to fill a necessity at defensive deal with that was created when the staff let Ndamukong Suh go in free company. Licht shouldn’t be one to compound a mistake by sticking with it, therefore his collection of Kancey within the first spherical final yr to make up for it.
Keep in mind, there are three beginning defensive tackles in Bowles’ 3-4 protection. So Corridor is basically a starter on about 35-40% of the snaps, along with when he rotates in for Kancey or Vea when the Bucs are in a four-man entrance in nickel protection.
Corridor wants an enormous yr getting into his third season or it may very well be his final in Tampa Bay. However don’t look ahead to Bowles and Licht to see if which will occur. There may be good crop of defensive tackles on this yr’s draft class, and getting one that’s simpler at dashing the passer than Corridor is may assist the manufacturing of the staff’s edge rushers.
Present Bucs DT Depth Chart
DT1 Vita VeaDT2 Calijah KanceyDT3 Logan HallDT4 Greg GainesDT5 Mike GreeneDT6 C.J. BrewerDT7 Lwal UguakDT8 Eric Banks
Texas DT Byron Murphy II – Picture by: USA Immediately
Don’t look now, however Vea simply turned 29 in February, and the older he will get at 350-plus kilos the extra foot, ankle, leg and groin accidents he’s going to have because of his huge weight. Getting one other starting-caliber defensive deal with to rotate in with Vea and ultimately change him in a number of years shouldn’t be a nasty transfer contemplating the significance of the place.
Leaning right into a deep, proficient place within the draft and taking what the draft is providing is at all times a sound technique. Even though the Bucs have extra urgent wants at different positions, the staff interviewed eight defensive tackles on the NFL Scouting Mix.
4 of these interviews – with Florida State’s Braden Fiske, Clemson’s Ruke Orhorhoro, Michigan’s Kris Jenkins and Texas A&M’s McKinnley Jackson – have been formal. Fiske, Orhorhoro and Jenkins are Day 2 prospects, whereas Jackson ought to be passed by the fourth spherical. Tampa Bay additionally introduced in Texas defensive deal with Byron Murphy II, a mid-to-late first-round choose, for a High 30 go to.
Licht felt like he compelled the collection of Corridor in 2022 and has discovered that lesson. Although defensive deal with will not be an apparent want, if there may be one ranked excessive sufficient on the Bucs’ draft board in Spherical 2 or 3 and that participant is best than a participant at one other place – even one at a extra urgent want – Tampa Bay may add one other D-tackle.
That’s what taking the most effective participant accessible is about. And that’s by no means the mistaken technique in the case of the draft.
FAB 5. High 30 Visits Can Be Fairly Telling – Or Deceptive
During the last couple of years, Pewter Report has put collectively a Bucs High 30 Visits Tracker, monitoring the gamers who’ve come to Tampa Bay and visited the Bucs’ brass at staff headquarters. However simply because these gamers go to doesn’t imply that the Bucs shall be concentrating on them within the upcoming NFL Draft later this month.
Bucs head coach Todd Bowles and GM Jason Licht – Picture courtesy of the Buccaneers
In reality, the staff winds up being turned off by some prospects who interview extensively with the staff in Tampa Bay.
It’s one factor for a prospect to rattle of fastidiously scripted solutions in an 18-minute interview on the NFL Scouting Mix. It’s one other factor to attempt to do this after assembly with head coach Todd Bowles, the Bucs coordinators and place coaches after which normal supervisor Jason Licht and his prime scouts for half the day.
Coaches will typically watch movie and put prospects up on the white board to check their soccer I.Q., whereas the scouts will attempt to choose aside a participant’s character and background to verify they might be a great locker room match. The medical workers can be given the prospect to carefully consider a participant’s previous accidents and even run some exams throughout the go to.
It’s fascinating to notice that of the 23 out of the 30 gamers in 2022 who Pewter Report recognized as coming to Tampa Bay for a High 30 go to, the Bucs drafted three of them. Defensive deal with Logan Corridor was the staff’s first choose on the prime of the second spherical, whereas working again Rachaad White was drafted within the third spherical and tight finish Cade Otton was chosen within the fourth spherical.
But final yr, Pewter Report once more recognized 23 of the staff’s High 30 visits, however the Bucs didn’t draft any of them. We do know that extensive receiver Trey Palmer, who was chosen within the sixth spherical, had a Zoom name with the coaches, however didn’t have a High 30 go to.
Bucs head coach Todd Bowles, DT Calijah Kancey and GM Jason Licht – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
In reality, the Bucs went into stealth mode and didn’t have defensive deal with Calijah Kancey, the staff’s first-round choose, in for a High 30 go to nor did the staff interview him on the NFL Scouting Mix. Pewter Report has recognized 12 of Tampa Bay’s High 30 guests to date, and will probably be fascinating to see if the Bucs wind up drafting any of these gamers or in the event that they decide to be stealthy once more.
One factor to remember is that the Bucs don’t simply carry within the prime prospects for High 30 go to. The staff often reserves a few these visits for gamers who could not get drafted so Tampa Bay’s coaches and scouts can construct a rapport with gamers who is perhaps precedence undrafted free brokers. As soon as the draft ends, a frenzied free company interval commences as the highest undrafted gamers get recruited by NFL groups.
Chris Murray, a middle out of Oklahoma, was one such participant final yr. He got here in for a High 30 go to and wound up signing as an undrafted free agent as a result of relationship he constructed with the Bucs on his go to to Tampa Bay.
As of proper now Air Power security Trey Taylor, who’s a late-round prospect, matches that description, however there may very well be extra because the names of these High 30 guests to Tampa Bay turn out to be recognized later this month.
