Chucky: Go Get An Edge Rusher
February 4th, 2026
“C’mon Todd, you gotta start embracing an edge rush. I have no friggin’ idea if Maxx Crosby can cover his mouth when he coughs, forget covering receivers. But the man destroys quarterbacks!”
For those who follow Chucky on social media, you know the following.
Chucky considers an elite edge rusher as a Mariano Rivera, Kenley Jansen or Bruce Sutter of good defenses. A closer. A guy who slams the door shut on offensive comebacks late in games.
Appearing with Tom Krasniqi on WDAE-AM 620 last week, Chucky hasn’t moved from his core belief that without a ferocious edge rush, a team can only go so far.
“I think that’s a winning edge that a great defense has, it’s a fourth quarter pass rush,” Chucky said. “You know, when we got Simeon Rice, things changed for us.”
Chucky isn’t wrong. The Bucs defense was already arguably the league’s best in 2001. When Richie McKay got Simeon Rice, he took that defense from very good to historic.
Joe saw how Green Bay went out in August and made a splash by acquiring Micah Parsons. Chucky thinks it would be smart of Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht to identify a guy who gives quarterbacks the shivers at night, and go get him.
“I think the Buccaneers need to take a page out of the Green Bay Packers,” Chucky said. “They went out and got Parsons. Perhaps Jason Licht can swing a deal to get a great rusher?
“And I’m sure he’s looking at the guys that are available in this draft as well, but that’s an area that the Buccaneers, I think we all realize they got to improve upon.”
As far as a great edge rusher, Krasniqi asked Chucky about a guy he used to coach, Raiders edge rusher Maxx Crosby. Of course, Chucky was all for the Bucs trying to trade for Crosby but he didn’t seem to think that it was possible.
“Yeah, I mean, if you’re anybody, you make a big play for Maxx,” Chucky said. “If you’re the Raiders, you’re one of the dumbest franchises in America if you let him out of there.”
Look out, Tom Brady!
But here’s what Joe keeps in mind when discussing whether the Bucs should trade for an edge rusher, any edge rusher:
Under the current coaching regime, it’s not about if the guy can put a quarterback on his ass. No, no, no. That’s not the key. What we must know is, can the guy cover receivers 15-20 yards downfield?
February 4th, 2026 at 12:38 pm
This team has so many needs,
Edge Rushers are an immediate need for this team
But so is ILB, CB, DT, WR, RB, TE
We’re not an Edge Rusher from the Super Bowl
We need a higher quality of players on this roster
That’s the main thing
February 4th, 2026 at 12:55 pm
Sign Odafe Oweh
Trade for Jeffrey Simmons or Cam Hayward
Draft OG with our first pick(keeps baker clean & open up running lanes)
GO BUCS!!!!
February 4th, 2026 at 1:00 pm
Oweh would be a nice addition
February 4th, 2026 at 1:40 pm
Todd Bowles doesn’t need an edge rusher according to him sacks don’t matter it’s just pressures lol. Not sure how a defensive guru could ever think that.?
February 4th, 2026 at 1:50 pm
That’s funny JOE. I didn’t read any article about you complaining about this in 2020 when the Bucs dropped JPP , Shaq and vea into coverage that year. NFC champ game at Green Bay vea dropped into coverage and murdered a guy who dropped the pass. Also Bowles isnt the only coach who does this. A lot more defensive coaches do this now
February 4th, 2026 at 1:52 pm
This joe gets it they could have gotten Myles Garrett but what good is he if he is covering wrs 15 yards down the field. Thanks for another depressing season glazers appreciate it.
February 4th, 2026 at 1:54 pm
Glad an offensive coach can tell “the defensive guru” the obvious. He’s too stubborn to listen. Jason, make him!
February 4th, 2026 at 1:56 pm
813, The recommendations are fine. Minus Heyward. Guys 100 years old. And would cost too much. And wouldn’t be worth it. Simmons? For sure. And Oweh would be a nice addition as well.
February 4th, 2026 at 2:00 pm
Maxx Crosby is damaged goods with an expensive price tag.
I like his moxy but he put up 10 sacks for $30M.
February 4th, 2026 at 2:39 pm
I’ll say it again.. the bucs havent been able to draft a 10 sack edge rusher since lee roy selmon.. they better trade for one. And does anyone remembee jpp and shaq barrett covering wrs down the field??? NOPE… you wanna know why, because there was no need to disguise blitzes, those guys got PRESSURE! Bucs dont have that right now.
There is way more footage of reddick and nelson covering pass catchers than it is footage of yaya diaby…. Wanna know why? Because yaya gets constant pressure. Not a fan nor a hater of bowles, but the whole pass rushers covering pass catchers complaint is old. Micah parsons has covered his fair share of WRs
February 4th, 2026 at 2:45 pm
WR is not an “immediate” need for this, not even close.
Edge and Ilber are the immediate needs. Depth at CB, TE and OL would be next.
February 4th, 2026 at 3:24 pm
Todd knows how to get the best out of his players.
February 4th, 2026 at 3:34 pm
We need a consistent pass rush! It doesn’t have to be an “edge” rusher but someone needs to win.
FYI – of the teams with the top edge rushers in 2025 (top 4) only one made the playoffs
February 4th, 2026 at 4:05 pm
That’s because good teams rarely pick early enough to draft one, and if you have one, you are not going to let him go.
February 4th, 2026 at 4:14 pm
Bucboi831 – I am all for more quality depth on the OL but when healthy the OL is set. Sending Mauch, Brederson or Barton to the bench?
We need to sign a C/G in FA, a good one. Need to sign Evans and get an edge… Hendrickson, Mafe, Oweh … Hendrickson should be cheaper now but one of those guys would be nice.
First 5 picks of the draft need to be all D. Edge, DT, ILB, OLB, CB… BPA take your pick although more than 1 CB could be overkill. Need multiple of the rest, 6-7 new guys for that front 7 between draft and FA.
February 4th, 2026 at 4:19 pm
Green Bay wasn’t the same team after Parsons was hurt.
February 4th, 2026 at 4:51 pm
Wr not a need this year..assuming Mike is back n Chris is ready which he should be…
Elite de needed not a project..
David comes back we need at least 1 really good guy to pair well with him..
Cb will be a need especially if Dean walks..
Dt free agent pick up or late draft pick
LG if the right guy is there in the draft
Te that can pass catch …
Those position
A new power back for short yardage would be nice.
February 4th, 2026 at 6:00 pm
Why even comment regarding pass rushers when EVERYBODY know what the problem is. Sure, it’s nice to have your pass rushers guard a receiver for short yardage IF (1) usually he rushes and this could surprise the offense. (2) Other capable rushers are present if he drops back (3) he passes off to DBs if the receiver goes long.
NONE OF THIS happens with the Buc team as it exists with JL/TB running the show. It NEVER will until the Glaziers dump this pair of misfits.
Solution: Tank in 2026 and get a pair of west coast GM/HC for 2027.
February 4th, 2026 at 6:15 pm
Shaq Barrett dropped into coverage and still led the NFL in sacks in a Todd Bowles defense. How does Joe (Lee) explain that?
February 4th, 2026 at 6:33 pm
Shaq Barrett led the NFL in sacks in a Todd Bowles defense whilst dropping into coverage in a higher percentage of snaps than Yaya Diaby does.
February 4th, 2026 at 6:52 pm
They don’t need to take a page out of the Green Bay packers playbook. How about doing what you did when Bruce Arians got Licht. This is the worst GM’ing stretch he’s had. Sure good in the draft so what first round exit now you can’t win the division. A general manager is supposed to build a Super Bowl team not play around in the draft every year then see you next year
February 4th, 2026 at 7:09 pm
Joe, the last paragraph of your article said all that needs to be said about an edge rush in Tampa, with the current leadership.
*Sigh*…
February 4th, 2026 at 7:11 pm
The fact that we didn’t get parsons makes me sick. I still laugh at the fans in here that said he “costs too much” QB’s, Pass rushers & LT are the 3 big needs. If you have all 3 you will win a lot of football games. IDC what anyone says otherwise.
February 4th, 2026 at 7:15 pm
You cannot buy Greatness on the cheap anymore. You gonna have to pay bigtime. All this past season, we had shots at premier pass rushers. But the cheapness in us said No. You want one? Gotta pay the man.
February 4th, 2026 at 7:26 pm
How cute AC/DC loving …..
Cute inside joke you got going with the GM there
Explains a lot
February 4th, 2026 at 7:34 pm
Yeah, real inside joke, among the 42,000 followers he has on social media and untold thousands who heard him on radio talk about AC/DC. Nice try. #Fail
February 4th, 2026 at 7:43 pm
1) I just cannot see the Las Vegas Brady’s trading away Maxx Crosby knowing they have a rebuild underway, have the #1 pick, loads of cap space and want to sell tickets…Crosby is by far the #1 fan favorite…Not to mention the heart & soul of their defense…. Organizations don’t just dump their main marketing piece unless they just can’t afford them anymore!
2) I can’t imagine Licht would deal away the draft capital and core pieces needed to go get Crosby, even if he was available.
February 4th, 2026 at 9:42 pm
I could easily see the Raiders trading him away. Reports of him being unhappy and the haul of draft picks and players the Raiders could get would make it worth while. Parsons went for two firsts and a starting DT so the Raiders could probably easily expect a trade package with a first and second round pick plus an additional player or later round pick 3/4 rd.
February 4th, 2026 at 11:13 pm
Lakeland Says is spot on. Bucs defense has so many needs that one player will not make a difference.
February 5th, 2026 at 11:24 am
941-JPP SHAQ and vea dropped into coverage. During the SB run it worked beautifully. I remember like yesterday when vea dropped into coverage against the packers on the nfl champ game and delivered a bone crushing hit to make the receiver drop the ball. All I’m saying is it had worked and can confuse the QB. It’s a wrinkle.
February 5th, 2026 at 3:54 pm
about damn time 813bucboi said something actually constructive. Get some depth on the Oline, keep Baker upright.
Need a LVD replacement.
Mike looks to be leaning to leave, we drafted EE. Should see FA about that still tho.
Grab an edge rusher either in the draft or FA.