CBS: Bucs Badly Need An Inside Linebacker
March 19th, 2025
He’s solid.
So the way Joe looks at it, two primary Bucs draft needs are inside linebacker and corner.
Secondary needs? Receiver, safety and running back. Let Joe explain:
The Bucs’ two best receivers are 32 and 29 and the younger guy has had two major injuries to his wheels including a dislocated ankle that’s still healing. Running back? Joe loves the current running backs but what are the odds Rachaad White signs a second contract with the Bucs? And next year Sean Tucker will be in his contract year.
But yeah, inside linebacker is the biggest hole on the roster. And it seems the son of a former NFL punter agrees.
John Breech of CBS went through every team in the NFL looking at their post-free agency biggest need. Breech thinks the Bucs need to draft an inside linebacker at No. 19.
Safety and linebacker are probably two of the biggest needs if you are a believer that Cade Otton can be a solution for them at tight end. They re-signed Lavonte David but, at some point, he is going to move on and there is not a transition of power in waiting.
Joe is a believer in Cade Otton. He showed Joe a lot last year when both Mike Evans and Chris Godwin went down with injuries. Otton damn near carried the passing game.
Otton has improved each year. What more do you want from a player who finds a way to improve each season? After his play last year, Joe thinks, at worst, Otton is an average starting tight end.
The way Todd Bowles spoke about Tykee Smith at the combine, it appears he will have the inside track to fill the hole left by Jordan Whitehead’s exit.
So in Joe’s mind, inside linebacker is the hole the Bucs need to fill next month in the draft. And Joe still has a thing for Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell.
March 19th, 2025 at 3:51 am
In August 2024, Hill and the Miami Dolphins agreed to a new three-year, $90 million contract extension, with $65 million guaranteed. This extension adjusted his previous contract, ensuring Hill remains with the Dolphins through the 2026 season.
For the 2025 season, Hill is set to earn a base salary of $10 million and a signing bonus of $15.85 million, resulting in a cap hit of $27,698,750 for the Dolphins.
It’s noteworthy that Hill’s performance in 2024 marked a decline compared to his previous seasons, as he failed to surpass 1,000 receiving yards for the first time since 2019. This downturn has led to speculation about his future with the team. This was due to injury of the qb….
10 million a year – I’m ready to give them dean and 3rd pick…
We instantly become a team no defense can plan against
March 19th, 2025 at 3:55 am
Im cool with drafting a te dt cb inside and outside linebacker…
I think we either trade white or Dean for hall with a pick.
This will give us the speed we need to take the top off defenses.
Not knowing Godwin health and how McMillan will do in year 2..I think this will not allow teams to stack the box on bucky n open under routes to otton and godwin
March 19th, 2025 at 5:27 am
LB, CB, CB again, Edge, LB again. can take like Jacorey Brooks last, but all defense please and no more fatties
March 19th, 2025 at 5:29 am
we’re crazy lucky Izien and Smith are so versatile they can cover nickel/safety/corner
March 19th, 2025 at 5:40 am
All of the top linebackers besides Campbell and Walker will be available in the second round. If Campbell makes it to 19, the Bucs should only take him if he is the highest player on their board. For cap purposes, it’s always better to draft the highest paid positions in the first round. Inside linebacker is one of the lowest paid positions. If Campbell were selected in the 1st, he would come in earning almost as much as Lavonte. I like Campbell as well, but he has to be great in order to justify going in the 1st.
March 19th, 2025 at 5:50 am
draft campbell and grab kyzir white now…!
stack up on our weakest area of defense now…
injuries will happen for sure…
lavonte is old…and dennis is often injured…
if sh!t hits the fan with injuries you will need a guy like kyzir white big time…
stack up big dog licht…stack up
March 19th, 2025 at 5:52 am
you can’t fully rely on that guy from the dolphins and deion jones…
that’s crazy…
and a rookie you hope falls in your lap at 19…remember, he’s coming in wet…wet af……………and that’s if we even land him
March 19th, 2025 at 5:55 am
cade otton is very solid #1 tight end…he grew into the spot nicely…
and he’s surrounded by a bevy of good receivers
March 19th, 2025 at 6:02 am
I agree with the CB, LB draft strategy but Emmanwori , a safety scored 100 on the RAS as a safety. This guy is a hybrid and bit of a freak. He would of scored 100 as a LB, CB, and wide receiver. If he is there at 19, I’m considering him in the LB CB group. There is no other safety with his size and speed. I also think he adds the most depth of any 2025 draft pick to the back field.
March 19th, 2025 at 6:14 am
Otton is doing well. He comes out of nowhere and makes the plays. All in on drafting Campbell. Hope we can get him at number 19.
March 19th, 2025 at 6:45 am
I’d love Campbell, but it’s a safe bet good corners are more rare than good ILB’s
March 19th, 2025 at 6:48 am
We need CB, ILB, OLB, DT and S depth!!
Draft one of each in the first five rounds and call it a day!!
March 19th, 2025 at 7:56 am
Cheetah Hill = Antonio Brown
… in the locker room at least.
Campbell is my vote if available. Ezeiruaku would be perfectly fine. CB at 2 or 3. We’ve always been able to find starting caliber secondary help beyond the first round so a corner at 19 doesn’t seem necessary. I’d like to see a DT in the first 4 rounds if at all possible
BADP is the desire… Best Available DEFENSIVE Player. (IMO)
March 19th, 2025 at 8:07 am
If the TE from Penn State, Tyler Warren, is available, take him.
March 19th, 2025 at 8:07 am
Just draft Defense please. We can find a WR in next years draft.
March 19th, 2025 at 8:16 am
I still like trading back at 19. If we can end up with 4-5 picks in the first 3 rounds we can fill our hole at ILB and build some serious depth on defense. Our first guys have been good but when they go down we get killed.
March 19th, 2025 at 9:20 am
Is ILB the Bucs biggest need? Yes, but by no stretch of the imagination does that mean that the Bucs ought to pick one early. All the best paid and best PFF rated ILBs are late round, undersized players. I wouldn’t be upset to have Campbell on the roster but there are talents at positions of higher value that would be higher impact. Teddye Buchanan is the ILB the Bucs need. He can likely be had in the fourth round. A DB, DT, edger or even IOL are the positions I hope to see the Bucs using their day one and two picks on in this draft.
March 19th, 2025 at 9:39 am
Tightend? Bucs have Otton, of course but also Devin Culp. He looked really good at the end of the year. The three biggest needs are: MLB, CB, and WR. Evans is 1-2 years and CG is injury prone. They need to develop a new #1. It could happen next year but don’t be surprised if a stud WR falls to 19.
March 19th, 2025 at 9:43 am
Don’t forget, we are tragically thin at DL. If Cancey gets another calf pull or VV misses time, we are running out Gaines and Brewer. We should take a page from the Eagles and draft DT depth each year. A young rotational interior rusher could help keep the starters fresh and build for future years
March 19th, 2025 at 10:19 am
Otton has proven to be a weapon. His hands have improved although most would agree he needs to wear gloves. He’s a beast with the ball in his hands and gets good YAC. I love the guy, like Brate only better.
March 19th, 2025 at 10:44 am
I disagree a bit on secondary needs. Yeah White might need a replacement but is his replacement more important than Vea’s? Not sure what’s on his contract but he’s a 60% player and Gaines isn’t terrific. More important than Reddicks?
We need another guy to eat space up front/attack the QB. WR and S sure… but we have guys under contract for a couple years in the starter spots.
March 19th, 2025 at 4:39 pm
Just saw the worst take on fox sports. They say the Bucs are taking an injury prone CB in the first round. I say there is no way we take another injury prone CB, especially in the first round
March 19th, 2025 at 5:20 pm
Rasta, Exactly. Hall is also on his last year. I think they take an edge or DT. My guess is Kenneth Grant to rotate with VV.
March 20th, 2025 at 2:37 am
DT/DE in round 1.
CB in round 2.
ILB in round 3.
CB in round 4.