The Bucs And Boye Mafe
January 26th, 2026
Surprise! The Bucs need upgrades at the edge rusher position.
If the position isn’t addressed before the 2026 draft, then it’s fair to assume the Bucs’ front office doesn’t believe it can win postseason games next season.
Does Joe think the Bucs will go all-in with a whatever-it-takes approach to upgrade at edge rusher? Absolutely not. That doesn’t mean the team can’t improve significantly.
The bar is low. Chris Braswell can’t rush the passer. Haason Reddick was a mis-evaluated money flush. Anthony Nelson is a depth piece. And Markees Watts couldn’t get snaps in front of the aforementioned threesome.
So what kind of player will the Bucs seek to play opposite YaYa Diaby and essentially replace Reddick?
Joe thinks Seattle’s Boye Mafe could be that guy. He’s been buried in the Seahawks’ very deep edge rusher rotation. He turns 28 in November and was an early second-round pick out of Minnesota in 2022.
Mafe’s best year was 2023, his only as a true full-time player. He recorded 9 sacks and 6 passes defensed on what was a bad Seattle defense.
In addition to watching Mafe, Joe’s read various Seahawks fan takes on him. The consensus says he’s a quality player whose 2026 salary will be far greater than what he’s worth to Seattle.
Mafe played 20 snaps against the Rams yesterday in the NFC Championship game. He’s been durable in his NFL career and played every game this season with only 2 sacks.
The draft crowd knows Mafe is a freakish athlete at 6-4, 260 pounds, very much a YaYa Diaby clone physically.
Mafe will have a market, but he won’t break the bank if he doesn’t have a big Super Bowl finish, and he certainly should represent an upgrade in Tampa. There are other options, but Mafe is a name to keep an eye on.
January 26th, 2026 at 11:36 am
Odafe Oweh is the exact player we need. Plays and an edge and tenacity that we need, and produced well in a few games with the Chargers.
January 26th, 2026 at 11:43 am
He can definitely Rush the passer. I remember wanting us to draft him. If the price is right, and it won’t be, we’ll have to overpay a bit, but this is a move I would make.
January 26th, 2026 at 11:45 am
That would be a nice start to this pathetic defense!!! Go Bucs
January 26th, 2026 at 11:52 am
Ideally we sign at least 1-2 guys like this at DE, ILB, & DT. Then hit those positions again in the draft.
I’d be fine completely ignoring offense and secondary and going completely all in on revamping the front 7 and pass rush.
January 26th, 2026 at 11:56 am
Hope he can cover a WR 25 yards downfield.
With Bowles running the defense it will not matter what caliber of defensive players you bring to Tampa.
The best option now is to go all in on the offense in an attempt to outscore the wide open Swiss cheese soft as butter pee wee league level defense.
We will need to average 35+ points a game to even have a chance at victory.
Draft a RB, WR, QB, OG, IOL, TE, OT.
There’s no need to waste money on the defense.
January 26th, 2026 at 11:57 am
Sure, get him. Tood will turn him into Joe Tryon Showinka except not as good. It’s what Tood does. Regression and confusion. 2026 is already a disaster.
January 26th, 2026 at 11:58 am
It doesn’t matter who we draft or bring in FA just as long as we use them to cover WR instead of rushing the passer
January 26th, 2026 at 12:01 pm
Rondetime,
Tough to argue with you for 2026, but I would like to restock the defensive cupboards for the new coach in 2027.
One year under Bowles shouldn’t hurt the new draft picks that much. Just hope he doesn’t have a say in who they draft.
January 26th, 2026 at 12:01 pm
Sign Odafe Oweh at Edge and Devin Lloyd at LB and that would be a good start.
January 26th, 2026 at 12:18 pm
Add nakobe dean
January 26th, 2026 at 12:20 pm
Bucs need to also address the backup roles. Braswell, Watts and Anthony Nelson has to go. They do not raise the floor of the defense.
January 26th, 2026 at 12:25 pm
Just think how mad we’ll be if Braswell goes to a team that knows what they’re doing and he’s actually good.
January 26th, 2026 at 12:25 pm
Hear me out… what if just had safety type players play OLB? It only makes sense in Todd’s weird defense that nobody seems to understand but him.
Never forget Anthony Nelson’s responsibility was to cover James Cook on a go route. I can’t believe Todd Bowles is so stubborn he won’t mainstream his defense so people can understand it better.
January 26th, 2026 at 12:28 pm
I think we need a real Edge period. Yaya is fine, but he’s more a secondary piece that flashes sometimes. We need a new JPP or Simeon Rice type. I understand its a huge cost but our cap will be less restricted this year now that we have no dead money I dont think there is anymore excuses why we dont get a 1A player.
As many have mentioned, I wouldn’t stop with a big signing; I would still draft someone in the first round as well. You cannot have too many pass rushers, and the draftee can work his way on Yaya’s side or be a depth piece until the big signing we have retires etc. The big-time pass rushers available are a little older so they wouldn’t be around forever.
I’d go MLB next. There are some very good FA options, and we can draft some as needed. I think this would get us a quick turnaround. (being optimistic)
January 26th, 2026 at 12:30 pm
Any defensive coaching interviewed yet?
January 26th, 2026 at 12:36 pm
Kgh4life Says
“Bucs need to also address the backup roles. Braswell, Watts and Anthony Nelson has to go. They do not raise the floor of the defense.”
Braswell only just completed his second year. Players should have 3 years to develop. Also, he is good enough for depth.
Watts has completed his 3rd year and I agree.
Anthony Nelson is great…depth. Seven years in, but he actually produces like a decent backup.
January 26th, 2026 at 1:00 pm
Michael Strahan would’ve been a bust playing for Tood.
January 26th, 2026 at 1:01 pm
What about a trade for herbig on the steekers? Worth a shot.
January 26th, 2026 at 1:02 pm
This is the kind of player Licht looks for, low risk, MAYBE high reward
January 26th, 2026 at 1:03 pm
Add him and Bush or Lloyd or Dean or Walker at ILB and then use the draft to draft 1 edge and ilb in 1st 3 rounds. Trade up for Styles or back for Hill Jr. then get Howell or Messidor or Height in Round 2
January 26th, 2026 at 1:05 pm
Anthony Nelson needs to put on 30 to 40 pounds on a cycle, and play DE/DT.
January 26th, 2026 at 1:15 pm
Unless the Bucs pay big bucks no player will want to come to a losing team.
January 26th, 2026 at 1:22 pm
It’s sign Trey Hendrickson or bust at this point
January 26th, 2026 at 1:23 pm
Can he cover tightends and running backs? That’s what the scheme will require him to do rushing the QB lmao you guys are funny.
January 26th, 2026 at 1:28 pm
If we can’t get stars, we need to get solids, as Joe points out, this is would be an upgrade for us. We need to do the same at all front seven positions at defense.
January 26th, 2026 at 1:29 pm
Nelson is no longer a depth piece, he needs to be replaced. Watts? Please, he’s no good either. Licht has done a horrible job with the front seven. No DT’s, no ILBs, no edge rush. Some ROH G.M. we have. Expect more JTS’s, Reddicks, and Dennis’s until Licht is thrown out with Bowles.
January 26th, 2026 at 1:35 pm
His stats are arguably worse than Diaby’s.