Dre’Mont Jones And The Bucs
March 5th, 2026
There are lots of late-bloomer pass rushers across the NFL.
Just ask star free agent Trey Hendrickson. He had total of 6 1/2 sacks through his first three seasons.
If you’re just returning to the planet after an extended vacation, the Bucs need help at edge rusher and 2026 free agency starts Monday at noon.
Joe suspects Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht is not looking to swing for the fences at the position. He didn’t last year when the need was just as dire, and it seems every current option has flaws or question marks, including Hendrickson and Pro Bowler Maxx Crosby. Both are coming off surgery.
Joe would love to see the Bucs chase Bradley Chubb, who finally played a full season last year. But what if they’re looking to go a lot cheaper?
Dre’Mont Jones is a thought-provoking option. Eager for a pass rusher at the trade deadline last year, the Ravens sent a conditional fifth-round pick to the Titans for Jones. The seven-year veteran finished the season with 7 sacks and 24 quarterback hits, both career highs.
Jones, 29, is a pending free agent and, Joe suspects, he could be had on a one year deal for less than $10 million.
Joe likes how Jones rushes from everywhere with a lot of juice. At 6-3, 280 pounds, he can rush inside and outside and he’s versatile.
No, Jones won’t get fans excited. But they might smile a little thinking about how much of an upgrade he could be over Haason Reddick, Chris Braswell and Anthony Nelson.
The Ravens front office coughing up a draft pick for Jones four months ago tells Joe a lot.
March 5th, 2026 at 6:29 pm
I’m confused at how you say some pass rushers are late bloomers in the first paragraph, and yet you are also so quick to give up on a guy with two years under his belt. I’m not saying Braswell is going to suddenly figure everything out, hopefully he does, just funny how you contradict yourself. There’s no contradiction whatsoever. Joe has watched Braswell and doesn’t see a future. Joe wishes Braswell well.–Joe
Jones averages a little over 5 sacks a year, not exactly gang busters for your proposed $10M/yr. No matter what we do, we need to improve the pass rush options. And maybe let them loose. It would be nice to see our defense play with fire. Last year it looked like both our offense and defense were jogging half the game. I want to see guys flying around on both sides of the ball. Playing with passion. The kind of passion that we saw Mike Evans demonstrating after the 3rd and 28 fiasco.
March 5th, 2026 at 6:51 pm
Passion some of that should be on Bowles ,like what Baker has? Hendrickson wants to play here so you’ll see that resonate its contagious
March 5th, 2026 at 6:55 pm
“Sell the house. Sell the car. Sell the kids. Find someone else. Forget it.”
March 5th, 2026 at 7:37 pm
Tannenbaum suggesting Cam Jordan to the Bucs…lol, the most hated Saints player ever for Buc Nation
March 5th, 2026 at 7:43 pm
Maybe the Bucs split the difference, salary-wise, and make a Pierre-Paul type of trade for an edge rusher the Vikings are currently shopping to save cap room – Jonathan Geeenard.
March 5th, 2026 at 7:43 pm
Well Joe, let’s hope you are wrong about this year and last year! Hopefully , they learned not to repeat what they did last year because they sank the ship!!!. Maybe just maybe they pick up a few free agent Edge guys like a Hendrickson and some guys like you just mentioned, good players who would work well in a rotation. Then in the draft, draft 3 LB’ ‘s one in the first 3 rounds. I agree with you we need 3 LB’s. Dennis can maybe make the team as a St guy. That would be my wish.
On the other hand we also really need a great corner. The thought of MCColumn being the best corner on the team is down right scary!!. Morrison may be a Dean clone as far as injuries go and we really don’t know if he can play.
March 5th, 2026 at 8:05 pm
Looking at the Bucs’ website, our defense has 15 ‘keepers’ under contract right now to build around for 2026:
1 – DLine – Vea
2 – DLine – Kancey
3 – DLine – Elijah Roberts
4 – Edge – YaYa Diaby
5 – Edge – Nelson
6 – Edge – Braswell
7 – Edge – David Walker
8 – ILB – Dennis
9 – CB – McCollum
10 – CB – Morrison
11 – CB – Parrish
12 – Safety – Winfield
13 – Safety – Tykee Smith
14 – Safety – JJ Roberts
We normally keep 24-25 defenders on the active roster, so that means we need up to 11 more for a total of 6 DLine, 5 Edge, 4 ILBs, 5 CBs & 5 Safeties. That leaves a NEED for 3 DLine, 1 Edge, 3 ILBs, 2 CBs & 2 Safeties. We have an additional 4 DLine, 1 Edge, 1 ILB, 1 CB, and 3 Safeties currently under contract, but of those 10 hard to see more than 2 or 3 actually making the final 53-man roster (and maybe none of them make it).
To fill those 10-11 holes, Bucs can draw from our own FAs (we currently have 11 UFAs), plus other FAs (LOTS & LOTS available this year), plus our 7 draft picks. LOTS of work ahead for Jason Licht & his front office to improve this roster to the point where we can be competitive defensively.
March 5th, 2026 at 8:11 pm
Safe to say the difference from 2025 to 2026 is how hot Bowles and possibly Lichts seat are.
It’s already ludicrous that Bowles is still employed. If Jason wants to try to save his buddy, save face and/or sell some tickets, he better take a real solid swing or two!
March 5th, 2026 at 8:38 pm
Another one year deal for a guy that is going to get 2.5 sacks. Expecting Licht to re-sign Reddick or something equally as stupid. Neither Bowles or Licht should be here.
March 5th, 2026 at 9:06 pm
Brasswell should go home to the ravens and dc weaver, he’ll take off
March 5th, 2026 at 9:13 pm
Licht didn’t swing for the fences last year at the pass rusher position? Reddick was the 3rd highest paid Buc last year after Licht bid up the price against himself to the tune of 14 million. That was the equivalent of a golden sombrero!
No wonder this Joe gives Licht the title of Ring of Honor. Thick, thick beer goggles.
March 5th, 2026 at 9:38 pm
Rando defensive player and the Bucs.
March 5th, 2026 at 10:14 pm
Any of the players Joe has posted the last several days are upgrades over what we have.
March 5th, 2026 at 10:50 pm
Chubb has good numbers on paper, but literally every time I read about him from people that follow the Dolphins, they really don’t think much of him, the sacks mostly seemed flukey. The fact that he could have been had for almost nothing before the trade deadline, and no one would even flip a 7th rounder for him, says a lot. I won’t be mad or anything if we get him – and I haven’t personally watched his tape so maybe they’re all off base, but it will be interesting to see what he ends up getting salary wise.