Bucs Still Need Two More Inside Linebackers
March 17th, 2026
More.
Joe is on record claiming the Bucs need three new inside linebackers this offseason. The Bucs last year had zero depth at the position.
If the Bucs want to keep SirVocea Dennis around, OK. As a backup only. Maybe he can be good on special teams.
The Bucs signed Alex Anzalone last week and that’s a good start. Whether Lavonte David comes back or not is no matter to Joe: The Bucs still need two inside linebackers.
So, the Bucs will likely draft one next month. They may need to draft two, unless the Bucs find a decent guy who is on the fringe. And any free agent who hasn’t yet signed is likely a fringe player.
Over at the PFF tribe, Gordon McGuinness — heh-heh, heh-heh, he said “Guinness” — seems to think the Anzalone signing may mean the Bucs won’t draft an inside linebacker with their first few picks.
Anzalone has [played well] the past three seasons and now turns that into a solid deal with the Buccaneers. He excels in coverage, against the run and as a blitzer, providing the Buccaneers with a three-down presence at linebacker. Perhaps this signing means they aren’t tied to selecting a linebacker early in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Joe cannot imagine the Bucs not drafting an inside linebacker on the first two days of the draft. That would be grossly irresponsible unless Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht has a trick up his sleeve.
Man, some folks howl because Joe fantasizes over tight end Kenyon Sadiq getting picked by the Bucs at No. 15. Or even when Joe suggests tight end Michael Trigg gets picked by the Bucs in the second round.
Imagine the chaos and panic if the Bucs waited until Day 3 of the draft to hunt for an inside linebacker?
March 17th, 2026 at 9:09 am
We need Kenyon Sadiq or Keldric Faulk at 15! Let’s Go Bucs!!!
March 17th, 2026 at 9:13 am
Skeptical about Faulk.
March 17th, 2026 at 9:17 am
With the holes on defense, if they draft a TE, I would be shocked. Brings about memories of O.J. Howard who was supposed to be a home run at 19. What I see about K Faulk is upside rather than production. We need a beastly DT/NT and ILB.
These nation guys just throwing crap against the wall.
March 17th, 2026 at 9:21 am
Don’t forget CB….we are thin
March 17th, 2026 at 9:28 am
there are holes all over the place, O-line, Pass Rush, LB, CB……honestly both lines need to be fortified before anything else but we haven’t even touched the Oline yet other than Feeney (barf)
March 17th, 2026 at 9:32 am
We need to keep adding pieces to help our Putrid Pass Defense improve or this team is not going anywhere. Keep ’em coming JL!! Go Bucs!!
March 17th, 2026 at 9:34 am
Yes Joe I totally agree with you and have been saying it for awhile. The Bucs need 2 more LBs . How the Bucs thought Dennis was a starting LB with no one behind him is beyond me. Dennis as a ST person and 4 th string on the roster makes sense.
To me the Bucs did not do enough in free agency to help the defense and they could have. It is becoming easier for me to see why Evans left. It seems the Bucs don’t have a plan to win. They keep using short contracts on rotatational players hoping to find another Shaq. They definately can’t find all that they need defensely in the draft this year. Thus far we are talking about Edge players and LBs. I think they are also going to need to draft at least one corner. Joe do you really think Morrison and McColumn are going to work as your starting corners? They mat be the worst starting corner tandem in the league.
Sorry, yes still upset with the whole ME deal and the Bucs in Free Agency only make Mike’s decision to leave look like the only decision he could make for himself.
Sorry , it is hard to be a fan right now
March 17th, 2026 at 9:46 am
I get Logan Hall vibes from Keldric Faulk( I understand Faulk is a better athlete than Hall) but he is big and plodding and I just don’t see the motor and that is a problem for a player that is going into the league with NO ESTABLISHED PASS RUSH MOVES!! As for taking a TE at #15 given the state of the Bucs current pass rush problems, in my mind, that would be a fireable offense and CLEARLY I think Jason Licht understands that🚩🏴☠️🚩‼️
March 17th, 2026 at 9:47 am
Give me a pairing of any of these ILBs.
-Anthony Hill Jr.
-Kyle Louis
-Josiah Trotter
-Nikhai Hill-Green
-Shawn Murphy
-Shad Banks jr
-Keyshaun Elliot
-Red Murdock
-Raylen Wilson
Get me any of these 2 players and turn them loose in rookie camp.
March 17th, 2026 at 9:54 am
Kyle Louis, Pitt or Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech.
March 17th, 2026 at 10:00 am
Not day one but probably day two (unless one of the OSU guys falls). If they draft two ILBs, one needs to be on day three.
We absolutely have to draft both an edge or DL on day one and two IMO.
March 17th, 2026 at 10:02 am
It sure feels like the bucs organization is doing a lite tank job for the 2026 season
March 17th, 2026 at 10:07 am
LB, DT and CB are all needed.
March 17th, 2026 at 10:11 am
Jacob Rodriguez is a pure football player. Has the potential to be like Carson Schwesinger. If he is available, would be a big mistake to pass him up.
March 17th, 2026 at 10:14 am
I disagree….ILB can wait…whats up with Bullock and Jackson?
its more grossly irresponsible to wait until Day3 to select OL help!!!!!
Baker and the run game will suffer if MJ, Haggard or Klein are named starters for any period of time…
-Draft OG 1st round
-Barton=LG
-Bredenson =C
-1st round RG
Mauch wont be 100% when TC rolls around and he’ll be a FA after the season…dont wait until he’s out the door to fill the hole…do it now and create quality depth
GO BUCS!!!!
March 17th, 2026 at 10:15 am
Joe … ‘Imagine the chaos and panic if the Bucs waited until Day 3 of the draft to hunt for an inside linebacker?’
That’d be totally irresponsible not to draft an ILB until Day 3. Our best long-time LBs, Derrick Brooks & Lavonte David, were Rnd 1 & Rnd 2 picks respectively. Devin White, Rnd 1, served us well, until he didn’t.
This is the year of the LB and we’ve got to take advantage. Hopefully we’ve learned our lesson that Rnd 5 picks rarely make good starters. Two ILBs in the Top-4 Rnds should be our goal. In Todd Bowles’ defense, the ILBs are critical.
March 17th, 2026 at 10:22 am
I’m not absolutely certain about a TE Joe. The hole on the defense or should I say Crater has to many pieces making me scratch my head. Zion going to pull his head out of his, you know, Morrison? What’s it gonna be? I only hope he is fully healed and can. There’s to much wonder at CB as well. I hope someone can put up 50 and hope the defense can make a stop. I’m a little worried that JL is losing some of his touch.
March 17th, 2026 at 10:22 am
It won’t really matter, the result will be the same.
March 17th, 2026 at 10:26 am
@813bucboi everybody is entitled to their opinion BUT HOLY SMOKES I want noooooo part of WHATEVER you smokin SIR😳😖😫 this man said ILBer can WAIT %#?%\!?????
March 17th, 2026 at 10:34 am
Jacob Parrish grew up in a wrestling family. I can usually tell when a guy has a wrestling background and it really helps football players. So I looked up Jacob Rodriguez background because I thought he was probably a wrestler. Bingo. The kid grew up in Minnesota wrestling. Oklahoma produces wrestlers, but Minnesota is not too shabby. My wrestling coach in school was a national champion at the University of Minnesota. If we pass on the chance to get the best defensive player in the last 5 years coming out of college we oughta line up the whole crew and give them a swift kick right in the nads. And I ain’t whistling Dixie.
March 17th, 2026 at 10:44 am
I think the first three rounds should include a pass rusher and inside linebacker and then the best player available at either of those two spots and/or nose tackle and less of course a stud corner is there when we pick.
Mesidor round 1. Yes he is a bit of an older prospect but I would say production-wise he was arguably top three at his position last year and given that we think we are not in a complete rebuilding phase but only a few pieces away on defense from being very competitive, he is probably more pro-ready than some of the other edge rushers.
Rodriguez in the 2nd
Louis or Trotter in the 3rd
If somebody like Mansoor delane is available in round one then I take him I go best edge rusher I can get in round two and then take best linebacker I can get in round three.
Alternatively based on his production in the combine it’s possible that somebody like Lee Hunter falls to the third round or the DT from Florida State could be available then or maybe even in the 4th.
March 17th, 2026 at 10:46 am
There seems to be plenty of LBs that the ‘experts’ are claiming will be there in the second round. Allen, Rodriguez for example. Maybe they don’t make it to 46 tho. I’ve also seen options mocked in the third. The talent seems to align to draft position and positional value, outside of Styles going top 10.
Would be a shame if we don’t come out of a draft that seems to be deep in rushers and LBs without two players capable of starting at those positions.
March 17th, 2026 at 11:02 am
Past HC BELICHEK would not resign any player including Tom Brady if they were crossing the 30 year age barrier.
He was too concerned about the cost of aging players affecting the chances of making the playoffs.
.
New England stayed relevant for a long time based on that philosophy, plus Tom Brady defied all odds by his health regimen.
TB was a once in a lifetime athlete. Evans forced the Bucs hand by signing with the 49ers. which was a in disguise blessing for the Bucs.
March 17th, 2026 at 11:03 am
Sonny Styles is the only ILB l give a Top-15 grade
He would probably be long gone at 15
But we need a Top CB from this draft
Avieon Terrell and Mansoor Delane are solid Corners
We can also go Edge is Howell is still on the clock
But Licht shouldn’t reach for an ILB at 15, if Styles is gone
We have needs all over the place
Trade down or go BPA
March 17th, 2026 at 11:10 am
**** If we go into Training Camp with Zyon McCollum, Benji Morrison, Jacob Parrish as our Cornerbacks, with basically no depth behind them. Then we are relying on them the exact same way we relied on David and Dennis last season. Whatever they decide to do, I’m with it, but we don’t need another season of Question Marks..
March 17th, 2026 at 11:13 am
Need two OLBs or real DE types that are edge rushers and at least one ILB assuming old man LVD comes back. I think the Bucs better find two FA CBs also.
More concerned about the defensive backfield with Dean and Izien gone.