Most Improved Position Group
May 6th, 2025
Bucs coach Todd Bowles.
So, underwear football season is days away. It kicks off with rookie minicamp Friday followed by the portion of OTAs where teams can hold organized 11-on-11 practices (in shorts and practice jerseys with no pads and positively zero hitting) later this month.
So what position group improved from free agency and the draft? Many fans would say cornerback since the Bucs drafted two on Day 2 of the draft. Jenna Laine would disagree.
ESPN’s Bucs beat reporter thinks edge rush has been the most improved.
… The Bucs signed a low-risk and potentially high-reward free agent in Haason Reddick, who has produced double-digit sacks in all but one season since becoming a full-time edge rusher in 2020. On Day 3 of the draft, they selected quick edge David Walker and powerful Elijah Roberts. Walker notched 31 sacks and 191 tackles at Central Arkansas. Roberts had 17.5 sacks in two seasons at SMU, and the 278-pounder can line up on the edge or inside.
Joe would lean cornerback. While the Bucs added productive rookies, for the 2025 season, really the Bucs only added Haason Reddick because rarely do rookie edge rushers make a major impact.
Oh, sure, some guy by the name of “Bosa” will, but that is not even close to the norm.
But the Bucs may have improved their edge rush. For 2025, while Reddick is certainly an improvement, Joe doesn’t expect much if anything this season from David Walker and Elijah Roberts, who is projected to rush inside.
Now if rookie second-round pick cornerback Benjamin Morrison can get back on the field, both he and Jacob Parrish (Round 3) have a real shot of making an impact this year.
And looking ahead to next year, yes, the Bucs still likely need an edge rusher. “This Joe” figures there is a 40 percent chance Reddick sticks around if he returns to his usual form. And if he doesn’t, the percentage he sticks around will plummet.
Until the Bucs demonstrate they have a double-digit sack guy, they don’t.
May 6th, 2025 at 12:21 am
They still need to sign another LB. They didn’t even draft one. Even if you took a chance on one in the 7th round you never know because good players can come out of any round.
May 6th, 2025 at 12:33 am
First year pass rushers do tend to not find much success. We have a second-year pass rusher in Chris Braswell that Jason Licht and company are really high on. Probably worth a mention here as well. Not to mention the addition by subtraction of JTS.
May 6th, 2025 at 12:35 am
Pressure is on the DB coaches
May 6th, 2025 at 1:00 am
Whoever plays just needs to learn how to drop as deep as possible. Nothing over your head. Except when Vita throws the 7th round dwarf at Michaels Penix. That by definition is over your head.
May 6th, 2025 at 1:08 am
CB
Edge
WR (includes getting Godwin back)
If LVD or even SirV goes down, it is a major issue. After that, they have an average guy in Walker and a young guy in Jones. I will be shocked if they don’t sign another ILB given SirV’s in injury history and LVD’s age.
I honestly think this team can win 13 games, have the highest scoring offense in the league, finally have a 4 man pass rush… I’m just terrified of LVD going down
May 6th, 2025 at 2:21 am
When it comes to the position group that sorely needed reinforcements and improvement and got some attention I would agree: #1 is CBs and #2 is pass rush. However, adding Egbuka and Tez Johnson to the Bucs WR stable makes WR the most improved position group hands down. The improvement may be superfluous or it may be a revelation. That is up to Grizzard.
I love the pair of feisty man CBs as a crucial addition but the Bucs added a pair of consistent, top producing weapons for Mayfield to target so I have to declare WR most improved. The rich got richer.