Chris Simms: Hard To Call Out A Bucs Need
April 14th, 2025
This offseason, there wasn’t a more fun interview for Bucs fans than Chris Simms on the Ira Kaufman Podcast.
The former Tampa Bay quarterback hit all kinds of Bucs topics, and he went there again today on Pro Football Talk, an NBC Sports production.
So how does Simms view the Bucs’ draft next week? He sounded like a lot of Bucs fans four years ago.
“Not a lot of desperate needs here,” Simms said. “Maybe a receiver for the future because of Chris Godwin and Mike Evans; I think that’s the first thing. O-line, it’s one of the best in football. Tight end, they’re really good there with Cade Otton. Running backs, they’re stacked. Defensive line, they’re kind of stacked — depth, talent, everything.
“So the two spots I look at: maybe the receiver, maybe the Lavonte David replacement. They’re another team we can probably throw into the corner conversation, or safety, somebody in the secondary. But they’re a pretty well built roster. Jason Licht’s done a good job there, and it’s hard to look at one spot and go, ‘Oh, yeah, they definitely need a refresh right there.'”
Joe loves the Bucs’ roster, too, but the Bucs need to add a defensive playmaker to go along with what hopefully is an All-Pro caliber return by Antoine Winfield, Jr.
Joe doesn’t care where that special rookie lines up on defense. Find him, and let him go terrorize offenses.
April 14th, 2025 at 8:34 pm
Simms … ‘Defensive line, they’re kind of stacked — depth, talent, everything.’
Chris needs to stick to analyzing the offensive side of the ball.
April 14th, 2025 at 8:38 pm
Oh draft get here soon.
April 14th, 2025 at 8:41 pm
We need quality not quantity…trade some later round pics for better picks early.
We absolutely need another top corner….probably ILB…
Receiver ….next year
April 14th, 2025 at 9:08 pm
Need DL depth badly. I think they need a gurthy dude similar to Vea so when he’s out they don’t drop off. I’d like to see it play out by round
1 DL
2 CB
3 DE
4. ILB/WR
5 CB/Safety
7 BPA
We really need to build the trenches on the defensive side and the rest will take care of itself. Could swap DE and CB with 2nd and 3rd pick if a studly DE sits there. That way he can learn from Reddick since this is likely his only year here and will need DE help next year
April 14th, 2025 at 9:10 pm
Not a lot of great players this year and we don’t have the firepower to move up much for higher quality. This draft is the opposite. Lots of very good talent late. We should try to get additional 2s, 3s, or 4s.
April 14th, 2025 at 9:20 pm
We can’t afford another saeson with Dean.
April 14th, 2025 at 9:42 pm
These guys (Simms & others) are mostly embarrassing. They should have the good sense not to comment on subjects they know nothing about.
The Tampa defense has been an embarrassment. If in doubt, replay the two Atlanta games last season. Simms sounds as silly as many here who give Jamel Dean endless excuses. For that matter, McCollum is barely adequate as a corner. Winfield Jr. gets the injury benefit of the doubt but he and the other safety were nearly invisible last year. So far the purge of the defense has been about right. Not sure of Dean contract situation and team may want to keep him around for backup. Trusting that Licht and Bowles know where help is most needed and will draft accordingly. Cannot afford development programs. Need players that can step in immediately. Really need Braswell to assert himself in training camp.
April 14th, 2025 at 9:43 pm
LB3 @19
April 14th, 2025 at 9:43 pm
LB3 @19
April 14th, 2025 at 10:06 pm
This team needs a defense
April 14th, 2025 at 10:09 pm
I agree with TBBF on taking a WR next year, and Gipper about the Atlanta games…I’m trying to FORGET the Bucs defense in the Atlanta games.
I’d like to see the Bucs go DEFENSE early and often in the 2025 Draft. I’m not gonna put a position to a Round, that never seems to work out.
April 14th, 2025 at 10:16 pm
Alright, Im getting close to my final draft board if it falls this way, and theres no trade downs for extra picks (but if we can get a 6th, that would be great)…A lot of players I want but they wont be there, we only have 6 picks….
S-Starks/Emmanwori
WR-Jayden Higgins
DT-Alfred Collins
LB-Knight (if there, but i know he wont be) /Danny Stutsman
DT/DE-Elijah Roberts
CB-BJ Adams/Isas Waxter
April 14th, 2025 at 10:18 pm
Whew buddy, im under the mod machine these past few days lol…its all good.
April 14th, 2025 at 10:19 pm
Seen a few sites that say TE in later rounds. If we draft a TE for the fourth consecutive year, I’m choking someone out. Otton is good. Durham improved vastly last year and will continue to. Same with Delp. We need ILB, CB, Edge, DT, Saf.
April 14th, 2025 at 10:40 pm
There are three positions on defense where a rookie could start. Safety, ILB and possibly DL
April 14th, 2025 at 10:46 pm
We need Edge, DT, ILB, CB and Safety. Maybe trade back in 1st and/or 2nd to get other day 2 draft picks. Maybe a WR in the 5th or another CB.
Way too early 2026 draft picks – WR (Evans replacement), ILB (depth), DT (Gaines or Hall replacement), CB (depth), C/G (depth), RB (if White is gone) and Safety (depth).
Way Way Way too early 2027 draft – QB, WR, TE
April 14th, 2025 at 10:50 pm
Simms should stick to throwing flat passes batted down at the line of scrimmage.
April 14th, 2025 at 11:15 pm
1. DT/NT (Vea 2.0)
2. DT/DE (Gholston 2.0)
3. CB
4. CB
5. ILB
6. WR
7. WR
April 14th, 2025 at 11:22 pm
Our newest edge rusher said he watched tapes, noticed the D couldn’t get off the field
April 14th, 2025 at 11:58 pm
Agree we need playmakers on defense- anywhere in the secondary, middle of the field, or on the line…
Go get done ballers. No injury history guys please.
April 14th, 2025 at 11:59 pm
*some ballers
April 15th, 2025 at 12:12 am
Idk about the d line there Chris. We need a DE and DT.
April 15th, 2025 at 1:02 am
Chris fails yet again if he says it…check to see if he stole your shoes.
Go Bucs!
April 15th, 2025 at 2:51 am
MadMax Says:
April 14th, 2025 at 10:16 pm
Alright, Im getting close to my final draft board if it falls this way, and theres no trade downs for extra picks (but if we can get a 6th, that would be great)…A lot of players I want but they wont be there, we only have 6 picks….
S-Starks/Emmanwori
WR-Jayden Higgins
DT-Alfred Collins
LB-Knight (if there, but i know he wont be) /Danny Stutsman
DT/DE-Elijah Roberts
CB-BJ Adams/Isas Waxter
^^^^^^^^
Do you think you’ll hit on one of these?
April 15th, 2025 at 4:17 am
There’s also speculation about an under-display camera for the inner screen, which would be a major leap in Apple’s design approach
April 15th, 2025 at 4:28 am
Mad Max: You think the Bucs aren’t going to take a CB until the 7th Round? Or that’s what you would do?
April 15th, 2025 at 4:37 am
Plug and play D line Beef.
April 15th, 2025 at 7:53 am
Someone explain to me how we went from wholesale changes needed on defense in January to we don’t have any needs pre draft in April.. Baffled to say the least
April 15th, 2025 at 7:58 am
Teacherman, we don’t have a 6th pick in 2025.
At Athon Sports a writer named Luke Easterling has a mock draft where he thinks that the Kansas City Chiefs will trade with us, pick 31 for pick 19, so they can grab a left tackle… given the Chiefs are absolutely horrible at that position given the SB outcome. Then he had the Bucs grabbing Jihad Campbell at pick 31 and getting an extra second round pick, granted a low one. I’m guessing he assumes Campbell will fall due to the surgery recovery. This draft is light on the superstars at the top but heavy on starting quality players for the first few rounds, especially a DT.
Out of curiosity, what do you guys think of this move? I don’t want to even guess what the odds are that this will happen. I’d be more than shocked if th draft played out exactly this way but if a similar scenario came to pass, I’d be happy with lower 1st and an extra 2nd.
April 15th, 2025 at 8:03 am
Many of these national talking heads see that we now have Reddick, we got Walker, we got a debth CB, we got a decent punter all in FA plus a lot of our injured players like Godwin, Winfield and Hall will be back healthy so that leaves us fewer holes.
But we all know here that we need depth, Reddick is only here for a year lossibly so we need to build up the edge and that Mike, LVD and Vita aren’t spring chickens. We have to build the defense for the future and for a possible tash of injuries in 2025.
April 15th, 2025 at 8:07 am
@KA
Getting Campbell at #31 and an extra pick in round 2 is worth the risk. Lots of talent to be had in rounds 2 and 3. Go bucs
April 15th, 2025 at 9:27 am
Joe in Mich…yep, unless we snag an extra 4th for Nohl Williams in a trade down…..but im probably wrong….all good
April 15th, 2025 at 10:38 am
So Simms only watched the Bucs offense last year, huh?
April 15th, 2025 at 10:52 am
Agreed. Deff need a DB safety or corner and also ILB. I still pushing for Campbell. My reason is straight forward. If LVD goes down or SVD we’re in bad shape really bad shape. Bowles has done wonders with DBs in the later rds. 2nd or further back. I mean look at Zyon Mr 5th and then look at Winfield dean smb Davis all 2nd thru 5th. Campbell is a now and future even with the injury. Hes young and will recover quicker then most prob think and he’ll have the best to coach him up in LVD and Foote. Just sayin lol
April 15th, 2025 at 11:26 am
Simms would fit right in with some of the commentors here.
The poly positive types that only want to hear their own thoughts repeated back to them.
Just go watch the last playoff loss to the Redskins.
The defense could not get a rookie QB in his first playoff game to punt the ball.
Problem found. It’s the defense, stupid.
April 15th, 2025 at 1:23 pm
My draft:
DT/NT
Edge
CB
ILB
BPA @ another position (anywhere this might occur)
Go Bucs! In Licht I trust!
April 15th, 2025 at 1:33 pm
Mad Max: If you get one of the 6 right, that’ll be good. If you get 2 or more right, that’ll be great guessing.
April 15th, 2025 at 10:35 pm
Buwahahahahahahahah
Seriously?