Prickly Pick Of Jihaad Campbell For Bucs
April 8th, 2025
Joe pays a extra attention to the mock draft publishers that actually travel to NFL events and mingle with league movers and shakers and seem aware of what’s happening in Tampa.
Prickly Pete Prisco falls into that camp. Based in Florida, the CBS Sports senior insider also is an annual visitor to One Buc Palace.
In his new mock draft today, Prisco put Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell and his healing shoulder in the lap of the Bucs.
Prisco wrote: Lavonte David might be in his last year, and they have SirVocea Dennis coming off an injury. Campbell is a speedy player who would fit perfectly into what they need for the Todd Bowles style of defense.
Campbell is a nice fit but Joe is not buying it for Tampa. Highly unlikely. The team isn’t lying about its excitement for inside linebacker SirVocea Dennis (like it or not).
Heck, Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht just said Dennis is “a very good starting linebacker in this league” and he’s “super-intrigued” by what Dennis will deliver. Licht also noted that Dennis is healthy and ready for a full offseason
Plus, the Bucs signed Anthony Walker, Jr. quickly in free agency, an inside linebacker with 83 starts under his belt who was handpicked by Lavonte David.
Combine that with Campbell’s 2024 injury concerns, and Joe’s not feeling it. The Bucs already upgraded that position through health and acquisition.
April 8th, 2025 at 3:51 pm
NO! He’s going to miss the FULL SEASON! Godwin will be out 8 weeks minimum. No more broke down or injured players!
April 8th, 2025 at 3:55 pm
We’re going to draft an ILB somewhere, but it’s not gonna be Campbell.
April 8th, 2025 at 3:59 pm
Agreed Filthy Animal.
Jeff… Godwin isn’t missing the first 8 weeks of the season. Haha 0 chance of that happening. Not sure why you would say something that silly. Godwin will be sprinting in another 8 weeks and camp is another 4-6 weeks after that for him.
April 8th, 2025 at 4:13 pm
I can’t see them taking Campbell based on what Joe Licht said about SVD and Walker. If their tiered BPA is there I can see them trading back and adding picks to bolster the LB position but not in the 1st. I can see them going DL, DB x 2 then LB depending on whos there or sandwiching a LB between 2 DB’s, just don’t know how their value/ratings board play’s out.
April 8th, 2025 at 4:33 pm
What if they can trade down, and still get him?
April 8th, 2025 at 4:38 pm
Hodad….I would take him in a trade back situation, but dependent upon what extra compensation we pick up and the number of slots we slide back.
April 8th, 2025 at 4:46 pm
Deion Jones looked against the Redskins.
He also has at least 80 starts.
And he is great in coverage. I think Deion Jones is a sleeper.
He is studying the playbook. He’s watching film. He’s working hard.
I think we will all be surprised by Deion Jones.
April 8th, 2025 at 5:20 pm
Trade back or not, I’m not spending a 1st rounder on a guy who’s gonna be out for most of their rookie year. They gotta get immediate production out of this rookie class.
April 8th, 2025 at 5:29 pm
I don’t think he’ll miss the year. Could be ready for the start of the season. Depends how bad the shoulder was, which we’ll never know.
April 8th, 2025 at 5:44 pm
Why would any Bucs fan (given the choice) want to forfeit the team’s 1st round pick for a year.. Obviously they wouldn’t and by drafting Campbell that appears to be exactly what they would be doing.
As far as SVD goes all he really has to do is pick up where he left off and (here’s the big thing) stay on the field. If the guy can stay healthy he looks like a player. But at this point I think we have all seen enough of him in street clothes.
April 8th, 2025 at 5:52 pm
I’d definitely take Campbell in a trade back situation. If they evaluate that he’s ready by camp, would be a solid pick up. He was used at edge some times. He’s very Parsons like if not quite to that level.
That being said, is Licht and Bowles blowing smoke with all the ILB room confidence talk? Last season a TON of draft gurus/prognosticators mocked Barton coming to the Bucs. Guess what? We drafted Barton. Could Campbell play out that way? Well know in a little over 2 weeks.
April 8th, 2025 at 5:54 pm
Granted, I realize we needed Barton last season way more than we need Campbell this season. This draft should be a lot of fun based on all the different directions Licht can go.
April 8th, 2025 at 6:05 pm
I’m starting to like Carson Schwesinger at 51 better than Jihaad only because I don’t like the injury risk of Jihaad.
April 8th, 2025 at 6:15 pm
Schlesinger missed a lot of tackles and is smaller than safety Emmanwori!
April 8th, 2025 at 6:33 pm
Beastly DT… trenches!
April 8th, 2025 at 6:35 pm
This is where I disagree Joe. Even with SVD maybe penciled in as a starter next to LVD we still need a starter there. Walker is a backup ane ST player also SVD hasn’t played a full season and then there is looking at what happens if both guys go down with injury and retirement for LVD is a lot closer now. You can draft Campbell and still go for our SB and look towards life without LVD. Just my thoughts. Jason is going to get the right guy and I’ll be happy either way
April 8th, 2025 at 7:04 pm
LB3 @19
April 8th, 2025 at 7:11 pm
Joe, I understand your line of thinking, but respectfully disagree. There’s 2 MLBs in Bowles 3-4 scheme. To think we are set with This likely being LVDs last season, a still unproven 5th round pick coming off a major injury and another guy on a 1 year deal and on like the 3rd wave of free agency, I’m not buying it. Recall how valuable it was to have 2 high performing MLBs in our Super Bowl year? I sure do.
Why would Jason give any inclination that we need a high draft pick to address that position? Especially when everyone and their mother is mocking him to us. Not saying he’s gonna be the pick, but I absolutely think if he’s there and another top 10 talent t doesn’t fall to us, he will be a Buc.
April 8th, 2025 at 7:43 pm
Walker is not LVD’s replacement, that person isn’t on this team. Campbell? Dunno, it wouldn’t much matter if he missed much of camp, just need him to learn the system by the end of the year. I expect they will find an LVD replacement later in the draft, unless Campbell is still there
April 8th, 2025 at 8:05 pm
Center cut defensive beef. It’s what’s on the menu at #19.
April 8th, 2025 at 8:19 pm
If he slides to the 2nd round then maybe. It’s a redshirt year for Campbell, no training camp, no offseason, no first half of the season if not more. Literally no help this season.
April 8th, 2025 at 8:23 pm
No go to Campbell, no way Licht drafts a redshirt player unless he gets him cheap.
April 8th, 2025 at 8:27 pm
That is the exact utility of having a bridge player like walker. He doesn’t have to start right away.
April 8th, 2025 at 8:28 pm
If the Bucs are thinking about Campbell they would be better off trading for a high impact free agent and another second round pick. This team does not need any more rehab projects on defense.
April 8th, 2025 at 8:30 pm
Dean and #19 for Hendrickson and Cincy’s 3rd
April 8th, 2025 at 8:34 pm
Paul Jr, Knight Jr, Stutsman, Bassa, Martin, and Kiser late preferably over him… That’s just me personally no MLB in the first round. Pass Rush or Secondary please.
April 8th, 2025 at 8:43 pm
The only reason Jihaad would even be there for us is because his injury, otherwise easily in the top 10. Some people are even suggesting he may go top 10 as Jalon walker falls.
April 8th, 2025 at 8:51 pm
There’s always things that seem like obvious smoke screens in hindsight. Especially for Jason Licht. My guess is that we go BPA and if that happens to align with one of our pressing needs (linebacker) then we’ll do that.
April 8th, 2025 at 8:52 pm
NO! WE need help at start of season, not next year.
April 8th, 2025 at 9:00 pm
What about Kyzir White?
April 8th, 2025 at 9:27 pm
The prognosis was that he will be ready for the start of the season. The risk is that he misses the offseason.
April 8th, 2025 at 11:34 pm
He also has an injury history before the shoulder, from what I heard.
April 8th, 2025 at 11:55 pm
Kyzir White doesn’t help our team, he is a solid run defender but not good in coverage. He was also part of one of the worst defenses last year.
April 8th, 2025 at 11:55 pm
I am looking forward to the draft. Nobody knows what Licht is going to do.
April 9th, 2025 at 12:10 am
FA
References are cool. I didn’t see anything on other injuries after just searching.
Jalon walker 2024 stats: 6’2” 245
61 tackles, 6.5 sacks, 10.5 TFL, 2 PD, 0 int, 0 ff
Jihaad: 6’3” 244
119 tackles, 5 sacks, 12 tfl, 2 pd, 1 int, 1 fumble recovery, 2 FF
Both listed on their teams websites as ILBs.
April 9th, 2025 at 8:59 am
My grandson has never been the sharpest knife in the drawer
April 9th, 2025 at 10:18 am
Comparing last year’s numbers from before SVD went on injured reserve, Walker and David should be starting with the current roster.
SVD hopefully becomes a success for the Bucs. But, from what he has done on the field for the Bucs so far, the talk about him being a starter is either blowing smoke or smoking dope.
April 9th, 2025 at 10:54 am
It’s still a no for Campbell.