How Accurate Could The Chatter Be?
April 14th, 2025
Boston College edge rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku.
Joe figures it is a 50/50 shot the Bucs draft an edge rusher next week.
(“Next week?” We’re getting there folks. Joe is so close to being mocked out. It reminds Joe of going to Munich to cover the Bucs three years ago and every GD meal over there had some form of cabbage. Joe didn’t eat cabbage for a year after that.)
So last week BSPN reported that within NFL circles, two names are regularly linked to the Bucs at No. 19. That was Alabama inside linebacker Jihaad Campbell and Boston College edge rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku.
Unless the Bucs have done a good job with smoke screens, it seems like they’re lukewarm with Campbell. Maybe they’re spooked by his shoulder surgery? They should be.
Besides, the Bucs are going through that with SirVocea Dennis. Maybe that has the Bucs wigged out by Campbell as much as anything?
The Bucs have high hopes for free agent edge rusher Haason Reddick, as does Joe. Even if he recaptures just some of that magic where he had 50.5 sacks in the previous four seasons, that’s a massive shot in the arm to an otherwise flaccid edge rush.
There is more: If Reddick blows up, do the Bucs really want to sink a ton of Team Glazer loot into a guy who will be 32 in September 2026? History shows how the majority of edge rushers fall off the map when they hit their early 30s.
History also shows that rookie edge rushers not named “Bosa” rarely have an impact. So it might be wise to bring in a rookie edge rusher (Ezeiruaku?) and have him work out his rookie wrinkles as a part-time player and be ready to rock in his second season in 2026.
Besides, Joe’s never seen a team whine that it had too many good edge rushers.
https://twitter.com/BillsMusee/status/1892331357688517063
April 14th, 2025 at 7:21 am
Resource Allocation: You might be overinvesting in one area while neglecting others (e.g., the secondary or linebackers). Cap space and draft picks are limited, so it’s important to maintain balance across the roster. Think of it like a basketball team full of star shooters but no one to rebound or play defense—there’s talent, but the team isn’t complete. It’s like having Mike Evans and Chris Godwin with Jameis Winston just chucking picks all game. I never want to go into a Sunday thinking, “Okay, Funderburk, you GOT this!” It felt like the Sabby Piscitelli era—where you just kind of prayed the ball went somewhere else.
April 14th, 2025 at 7:26 am
Again I like the guy I just don’t think he’s starting for TB this season , so why draft a 1st rd talent who won’t start? I mean when you invest in him you want for sure results and reps. Just not seeing that. He very well could be the guy I guess. Maybe idk anything which is usually the case these days lmao
April 14th, 2025 at 7:35 am
Whats hurt us most the last two years? The backfield. I like Eze, he will be great, but we can tackle that later. We need DB (Safety/CB) WR, and DT
April 14th, 2025 at 7:44 am
Madmax — not sure that I agree that we need a WR either more this year or next year than we need an edge either this year or next year.
April 14th, 2025 at 7:45 am
I wouldn’t be so quick to put all my eggs in the Haasan Riddick Easter basket… The 2 and a half sacks he accumulated in his last 7 games as an eagle’s starter is very telling.
April 14th, 2025 at 7:54 am
Well Joe, have you ever heard a team whine for having too many bad ones?
April 14th, 2025 at 8:03 am
geno i get it. But lets see what we have in Reddick and hopefully Braswell finally shows up. After Evans and Godwin, we have McMillan, then what? If Evans gets injured again and Godwin isnt returning to himself the first 4 games?…I mean you have to think about it. Our Offense is the reason we won the division again last season. Baker needs targets.
April 14th, 2025 at 8:47 am
the key is whether this guy is a can’t miss EDGE prospect. we cannot be guessing here. need a bonafide first-year contributor
April 14th, 2025 at 9:16 am
Ezeiruaku Is 100% my hope for round 1. Round 2 is for Jayden Higgins, and round 3 I’ll take Dorian Strong.
Make it happen, Jason!
April 14th, 2025 at 9:18 am
The more attention this guy gets the higher he goes up the board. I used to think they could move back pick up an extra 3/4th round pick and still get him. Now I don’t think he’s gonna be there at 19. This seems to happen every year.
April 14th, 2025 at 9:20 am
It’s probably wishful thinking one of the top edge guys will be there because it usually is like every year.
April 14th, 2025 at 9:39 am
In last year’s draft very, very few mockers had the Bucs picking Barton but many of us here had him on our mocks. We do better than the national mockers for the Bucs’ pick. Very unlikely to be Jihaad only because of his injury, but… I have no idea what will happen. Kind of like Rory looking a 4 footer to win the Masters.
April 14th, 2025 at 10:31 am
The draft is largely a crap shoot. There’s no guarantee that a players talents will translate to the next level.
Tackling and coverage should be paramount in the decisions on which defensive players to take.
Injury history also needs to be a key factor.
Let’s just hope they don’t fall in love with the wrong players.
April 14th, 2025 at 10:44 am
I want Derrick Harmon at 19 but if he is gone I think I want Ezeiruaku but not more than a trade down or maybe even Colston Loveland if he is there. I love EZ’s freaky wingspan, tackling prowess and pass rush repertoire but with Reddick and Braswell on the roster for 2025 maybe its wiser to invest a midrounder in a less developed talent like Jared Ivey or that fella from UCLA with not one but two confounding to spell and pronounce names Oluwafemi Oladejo- I love this guy’s game as an edger but he can also play in the middle- that is where he played until week two of 2024. He doesn’t have EZ’s hands but his ability to bait blockers with his pacing and skillfully vary his angles of approach to OTs compare favorably to the BC stud. He is rock solid in zone but a little shaky in man. His versatility and proven coverage skills make him pretty enticing.
I also like Que Robinson on Day 3. If he stayed another year at Alabama and actually got significant snaps he would likely be a top 50 pick in 2026. He looked great this past season until he was lost for the season to a forearm injury in early November. If the Bucs pick an Alabama LB the team listed with “an upper body injury” I hope its Robinson on Day 3 not Campbell on Day 1. He has extensive experience sitting next to Braswell on the bench so he seems like he’d be a nice tight fit in Tampa.
Reddick is awesome to have on board but that does not mean the Bucs should pass on drafting an edger or two from this draft’s crop.
April 14th, 2025 at 10:45 am
I think Ezeiruaku is the pick if he is there at 19, otherwise we may try to trade down and take a DB. I don’t like the value of the DBs who will likely still be on the board at 19. If we can’t find a trade partner we may end up with a WR at 19.
April 14th, 2025 at 10:47 am
The thought of a 360 pound DT excites me. I’m good with him having played at Michigan. Him running a 4.9 40 totally sells me. I’ve never seen a guy that big that runs a legitimate 4.9. If he is a locker room fit, and he’s there when we pick, I’d hate to miss on him. Like Vea, it’s a better defense when he’s in the game. Then go best CB available. Then best inside linebacker available. Gipper, I like Emmanwori too but you can’t always get what you want. But if we try we just might find we’ll get what we need. Oh yeah! Our 4th, 5th, and 7th round picks oughta go to defense too. Madmax, we’ve got a bunch more receivers than you think!
April 14th, 2025 at 10:48 am
I’m thinking most our picks will be guys we’ve never heard of before
April 14th, 2025 at 11:26 am
The decisions Jason makes over the three days of the draft and the rationale for those decisions are what I trust. Confident Jason knows way better than a bunch of internet mutts.
What we know is we need center cut beef for savage penetration of the middle. When, how and who with they do that, doesn’t matter as long as the player(s) is (are) effective at it.
April 14th, 2025 at 12:14 pm
WANT TO KNOW HOW GOOD LICHT IS IN THE 1ST ROUND …
Licht has made 10 1st round picks. 5 have made the Pro Bowl. Once Kancey and Barton make the Pro Bowl, Licht will be 7/10.
Hargreaves, JTS, and OJ Howard were the exceptions. I don’t see Licht drafting an undersized CB, unproven DE, or TE in the 1st ever again.
April 14th, 2025 at 12:30 pm
Beeej may be correct. I just don’t want that to happen at #19.
April 14th, 2025 at 1:18 pm
Bucs just hosted Darius Alexander DT from Toledo on their top 30 visits. He’s considered to be an early to mid 2nd round pick.
Matt Brown’s breakdown. Long frame. Athletic mover. Disruptive traits. Pass rush plan. Alignment versatility in NFL fronts.
April 14th, 2025 at 1:23 pm
OJ could have been very good, but injuries limited him. I’ll give JL a pass on him. 7-2-1
April 14th, 2025 at 4:14 pm
And Jameis Winston. He made a pro bowl also.
I want a DT at 19. We got lucky with Kancey at 19. Let’s do it again.
2nd round also. Grab another DT/DE.
I want Vea, Kancey, Hall, a 1st round rookie and a 2nd round rookie.
Gaines might not make it.
But I want 5 beasts at IDL.
Do you guys want to win a Super Bowl?
What if Vea or Kancey or Hall get hurt?
We need 5 beasts on the IDL!
April 14th, 2025 at 5:16 pm
Jimbo many mocks had the Bucs taking Barton. Basically the only ones who didn’t had him being taken prior to the Bucs pick.
April 14th, 2025 at 10:51 pm
Oh so you are saying Braswell may be great this year?
April 14th, 2025 at 10:52 pm
you have to draft an edge rusher because to sign a top guy nowadays, you literally have to break the bank and destroy your cap…
top dawgs get paid out the azz nowadays…
it’s a position you must try to grab at almost every year…
and if you land a big fish, you have one at a “so called bargain rate” for 4-5 years…
the problem is licht and co. have had trouble landing one in the draft, but have otherwise been doing a stellar job…
#EdgeRushingForDummies #GetTheBook #OnAmazon 🙂
April 14th, 2025 at 11:22 pm
ThatAintRight! Says:
April 14th, 2025 at 7:26 am
“Again I like the guy I just don’t think he’s starting for TB this season , so why draft a 1st rd talent who won’t start?”
Because you very rarely get starter play in the first year of a rookie. Just because a rookie is a first round pick, it doesn’t mean they should start in their roomie year.
I don’t think Reddick will be a Buc next year if he does well. He’ll want too much. So we’re going to need a replacement, preferrably one who is familiar with the syystem and other players
April 15th, 2025 at 8:51 am
Depth Depth Depth on defense!!
Take the best player available at DL, OLB.ILB.CB and S.
April 16th, 2025 at 3:57 am
Counting on Reddick for 10+ sacks is a losing strategy. So is counting on Jamel Dean’s health. We need help badly on D-line and secondary. While ILB is a pressing issue, ILBs are simply not game changers. Devin White was already a wasted investment even during his best years. Bucs would have been so much better off with Josh Allen that plays for the Jags.