E.J. Speed (Part III)
March 4th, 2026
Twice Joe wrote about inside linebacker E.J. Speed as a quality free agent target for the Bucs last year.
It didn’t happen. Speed went to the ferocious Houston defense on a 1-year, $3.5 million contract. Instead, Bucs fans were treated to the SirVocea Dennis experience.
Speed, 30, is a pending free agent again.
He was a rotational inside linebacker for the Texans (9 starts) and was lauded there for his fiery play and (gasp!) work on special teams. Speed had 62 tackles in 16 games.
In 2024, Speed had a whopping 142 tackles as a full-time starter for Indianapolis. He spent six seasons with the Colts after being their fifth-round pick in 2019 out of the Division II ranks.
Joe sees Speed — again — as a value-priced player who can produce. Perhaps Speed wants a team where he’ll get more playing time?
If Speed was good enough to start for Houston, that’s enough for Joe to hand him a Bucs helmet.
March 4th, 2026 at 12:23 pm
Concur.
March 4th, 2026 at 12:26 pm
Versatility is more important than excellence. How many positions can he ply, and how does he do in walk through practices?
March 4th, 2026 at 12:27 pm
Dennis is gonna start again.
March 4th, 2026 at 12:31 pm
Cool name.
March 4th, 2026 at 12:31 pm
Him and Dre Mont Jones is worth a look
March 4th, 2026 at 12:33 pm
You had me at “special teams”.
March 4th, 2026 at 1:03 pm
Gotta hand it to the Bucs, they picked a great year to need edge and LB help. Ton of guys on the open market and a deep LB draft.
Speed sounds good to me. Sign him and Trey, draft a 1st round DT followed by couple more LBs and the front 7 is transformed. The coach in 2027 can get the Bucs D to be a league average group. No more 25th-29th ranking.
March 4th, 2026 at 1:05 pm
Love that guy. Too much of a no brainer for out geniuses.
March 4th, 2026 at 2:11 pm
The Voss play last season was no treat lol
March 4th, 2026 at 2:12 pm
Well we need help at the LB postion starting and backup. If the Bucs address this correctly, Dennis does not make the team or is 4th string and a ST player. How Bowles or anyone else thought this guy could start at the NFL level is totally beyond me. He must have been magical during training camp. My question, was their a starting player on any other team that was worse than Dennis. He had to be 34 out of 32 teams. Yes he was that bad
March 4th, 2026 at 2:16 pm
Just because. That’s why at this point Dennis should be an after thought, we could teach Kieft how to do a better job. This EJ Speed sounds like he has a pulse and numbers that show.
March 4th, 2026 at 2:49 pm
give him a 2 year deal
March 4th, 2026 at 3:46 pm
Agree, and draft 1 -2 linebackers. They are quicker and younger and motivated. Dennis was not the answer.
March 4th, 2026 at 3:52 pm
Are these people even aware there’s a limit on how many full contact practices you can have and on top of that the Bucs were the walking wounded last year?
Ugh. Seriously.
March 4th, 2026 at 4:46 pm
The need for Speed…..
Where have I heard that before – lol.
He’d be an upgrade
Let’s hope the Front Office sees what you see Joe!!!
March 4th, 2026 at 4:52 pm
yes please!
March 4th, 2026 at 8:59 pm
He sounds like an excellent gamble.
March 5th, 2026 at 10:51 am
I forgot we need to add players to ST. He sounds good and cheap and like you said JOE he was good enough for the Texans. I like Ryan’s. His team is physical and they plays pretty good D. We did beat them tho lol