Be Aggressive
February 15th, 2026
Decisions.
The Bucs of the post-Tom Brady era seem to be of the “trust the process” mindset, as Nick Saban might say.
The Bucs are proud of their draft process. You may have heard of “I Am That Man.” And *that man* (Lavonte David) is on the brink of retirement.
The Bucs trust their ability to size up prospects and develop them. The first part has played out well since Brady retired. The development? Eh, not so much.
So the Bucs have become a tweener team, suggests ESPN NFL scribe Jeremy Fowler. He says they’re good enough to make a playoff run after a couple of additions, but also a team with enough holes to go south in a hurry if they’re not successfully addredssed.
Tampa Bay falls somewhere between contention and the need for a mini rebuild. The Bucs need to address their defense this offseason. The group needs talent improvements at all three levels, most notably pass rusher. This would be as good an offseason as any to take some chances to acquire quality defensive players.
Well, the Bucs have a lot of defensive holes, specifically in the front-seven. It is unlikely they can all be filled by just one draft class.
Joe doesn’t expect Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht to go out like a drunken sailor next month and spend Team Glazer loot like Licht’s at the craps table at Aria.
So, might Licht be aggressive and bring in decent starting inside linebackers? And Joe’s not talking about the Anthony Walkers of the world. Might durable and productive veteran Germaine Pratt fit Todd Bowles’ defense?
February 15th, 2026 at 6:54 am
The Bucs have been in full rebuild since Brady/Gronk & company. They have invested draft capital on the front 7, but with little luck. Maybe Licht should stick to evaluating Offensive lineman and find someone who specializes in aggressive defensive players.
February 15th, 2026 at 7:03 am
I am sticking with what I have been saying!!!!
The Glazers fear the ‘Beard’ aka ‘Rooney Rule!!!!’
As long as they fear that….. there will be no such thing as being aggressive with the Buccaneers!!!
SMH
February 15th, 2026 at 7:15 am
Pratt would def be an upgrade….but we still have to draft them youngins…
A QB hungry team will trade up with us for 15….its what i see…if we only drop a few spots and get another 2nd, i say go for it….
1st (18 after trade down) Vega Ioane, if he’s not there DT Kayden McDonald
2nd (46) Edge R. Mason Thomas
2nd (49) LB Josiah Trotter (-or flip these two picks)
3rd (77) TE Michael Trigg / or TE Jack Endries if Trigg is gone
4th (116) LB Harold Perkins jr
5th (154) QB Sawyer Robertson
6th (194) RB Adam Randall
7th (216) Edge Caden Curry
February 15th, 2026 at 7:16 am
Btw, thats if Styles is gone, and he will be…..
February 15th, 2026 at 7:32 am
The draft record is blunderful.
February 15th, 2026 at 7:56 am
If Sonny Styles is gone then absolutely trade back if you can. Increase your chances of success by having more picks. There are quality DTs in 3rd round. Get best LB and Edge early. There are are also a few mid round DBs that fits Bowles mold. Hoping we sign a decent Edge and LB in free agency otherwise all this talk is just a waste. I just can’t see Jason going for FAs unless they are in the discount section 😐
February 15th, 2026 at 8:10 am
The 3 hardest positions to get for a team also happen to be the 3 most important. QB, EDGE, LT.
LB’s are more plug and play id fill this hole with actual FA’s no more cute approaches like Dennis just go out and get a couple actual starters.
At 15 we pick too late for a premier EDGE so trading for one shouldn’t be off the table. EDGE rush is the key if we don’t fix it we are doomed
February 15th, 2026 at 8:11 am
No matter who the Bucs bring in, the problem is not going to be solved in the short term. Apparently, Bowles’ defense is so complicated, it takes quite some time to master – months, years. Rookies and veterans alike seem to be confused about their responsibility on any given play. That’s why you see defenders standing like statues with receivers wide open in the holes in the zones. Nobody seems to know who is supposed to pick up whom so they just stand in their assigned spots and hopefully make a tackle after the easy catch is made.
Bowles’ answer about coverage breakdowns at press conferences is always the same – “we, the players and coaches, need to communicate better”. Communicating mid-play is already too late. They need to know what they are doing the second they line up and who they are going to pick up when they get anywhere near their spot in the zone. This defense is just too complicated – something Ronde Barber has acknowledged. Too bad Bowles can’t see that.
February 15th, 2026 at 8:23 am
Ain’t buying what has been coming out of One Luck Place
Those inside the building are getting G direct deposits obviously believe each other but they are drinking the Fool Aide
David, Evans, Godwin are past their prime
1-7
February 15th, 2026 at 8:32 am
I’m expecting more of the same, calculated risks and some swing at players of value in order to fix some of the fixable talent issues with this team on both sides of the ball. Of course, we can’t do much anything in FA without pinching some pennies in house, as we’re middle of the pack in regards to our cap space.
Depending on where we go in terms of bringing in players at the start of the new league year, we’ll get a clearer picture of how aggressive we can be in the draft where I think the pay off is bigger than any haul of players we can bring in FA.
There’s plenty of opportunity to re-fortify this roster in all 3 phases.
February 15th, 2026 at 8:34 am
I think JL’s seat is warm this year. Needs a really good draft and grab some FAs. And as many others I still dont know how Bowles is still here after dropping so many coaches on defense. Doesn’t make sense. Even at my age I still have a lot to learn so I guess I’m missing something.
February 15th, 2026 at 8:57 am
Its all about redzone defense now in today’s NFL. The kickers are almost automatic from 50 yards and in, so holding good offenses to 3 is about the best you can hope for.
This team needs more freaks in the box on defense. Inside LB’s with lots of range, and bigger safety/LB/slot hybrids. Pass rushers are great, but theyre useless if the middle of the field is wide open all game long and the opposing offense is in 3rd/4th and manageable on every series of downs.
February 15th, 2026 at 9:02 am
Bojim, you ain’t the only one missing something if we fail to draft Jacob Rodriguez, given the chance to do that.
February 15th, 2026 at 9:12 am
Jeremy Fowler’s revelation! Why didn’t we think of that!!!
February 15th, 2026 at 9:22 am
Joe Says:
“Well, the Bucs have a lot of defensive holes, specifically in the front-seven. It is unlikely they can all be filled by just one draft class.”
=======================================
The Bucs have just as many holes in the back 5. Hard to say otherwise watching the confusion in the back end of the defense when it comes to pass prorection. Invite all who post here to name a couple of Bucs defenders that could start for the Seahawks, NE, Detroit or the Rams. Will be waiting a long time after you get past Vita Vea.