Hopefully, Bucs Don’t Bank On Hope (Once Again)
March 3rd, 2026
Hope again.
Look, Joe gets how NFL suits like to gloss their homegrown talent. It’s like an Iowa farmer bragging about how many bushel an acre his corn crop produced.
The Bucs put a lot of work into research and scouting, as most teams do. So Joe gets why a team would be giddy about a player they *think* may turn into something. There’s a lot of sweat equity involved.
Joe heard a whole lot of happy talk last week in Indianapolis about David Walker, last year’s fourth-round pick who blew his knee out last July. Two words went through Joe’s head every time he saw someone with the Bucs beam after mentioning Walker’s name.
Slow down!
Joe sure hopes — there’s that vile word again — Walker turns into something. But here’s the ugly reality: Walker has never played a snap of NFL football.
In fact, Walker never made it past the first padded practice of training camp last summer. He blew out his knee in the very first padded practice.
And when/if he does get on an NFL field, he won’t be playing Southeast Missouri State.
Joe brings all this up because, per well-plugged-in NFL scribe Dan Graziano of ESPN, Licht is looking for an edge rusher right now.
Tampa Bay will look for edge-rush help this offseason. Veteran Haason Reddick sounds unlikely to return, and though the Bucs have high hopes for 2025 fourth-round pick David Walker, who was impressing them last offseason before tearing his ACL at the start of training camp, they’ll be trying to bring in upgrades on the edge.
Enough about hope! A hope is a prayer! It’s wishful thinking. Instead of banking on hope (UH-gen), how about banking on an established NFL resume? You know, like go trade for someone or sign someone you know can get after the quarterback because he has proven it.
(Joe applauds Licht for sticking his neck out, stepping outside his comfort zone last March and signing Haason Reddick. Hey, it didn’t work out. At least Licht *tried* instead of again banking on hope.)
Joe still maintains the franchise turnaround began when Licht stole Jason Pierre-Paul for a third-round pick from the Giants. That began the Bucs’ march to winning the Super Bowl some three years later.
If Licht can do it once, he can do it again.
Yes, Joe wants Walker to be a beastly Pro Bowler. It would be such a cool story and if he did, Joe’s thinking the Bucs could win the NFC South or more.
But banking on a fourth-round pick from Central Arkansas, who unfortunately has never completed even a full NFL padded practice, at the defense’s most important position, seems like a major if not unnecessary reach.
March 3rd, 2026 at 4:02 am
Not arguing with you Joe, just saying..
Maxx Crosby – Selected in the 4th round (106th overall) of the 2019 NFL Draft
March 3rd, 2026 at 5:19 am
We heard the same things about Dennis. When he finally took the field we wished we hadn’t. Braswell, JTS, you trust Licht? He’s welcoming back a washed 36 year old LB coming off knee surgery with open arms. I’m rewatching the season, just finished the Jets game. David had 3 missed tackles. Feel good signing, but he won’t help our team. Walker will be lucky to be have of what YaYa is. Probably be as impact full as Dennis.
March 3rd, 2026 at 5:41 am
We’ll soon see. If they resign Evans and don’t do any contract restructurings, they won’t have the cap to get anything but Licht’s normal bargain basement deals. I don’t mind keeping Evans at a decent price for his part time play. But they need to choose Evans or Godwin. Can’t keep both and do much to fix the defense.
March 3rd, 2026 at 5:53 am
Sign a FA OLB for $10-15M and then draft one with a day 1 or 2 pick.
No trades though – unless the value is high like in the case of JPP for a 3rd….
Can’t let the whiffs of signing Reddick and drafting JTS and Braswell deter you from continuing to take swings at finding the effective starting edge rusher this team needs.
YaYa is solid to good – he needs an equal or better bookend….
OLB and ILB along with depth for NT/DT/OG needs to be the focus of this off season’s acquisitions….. plus a RB, a TE and a CB if White, Otten or Dean don’t get re-signed. We need a decent back-up QB as well…..
March 3rd, 2026 at 6:20 am
Signing Reddick wasn’t about HOPE Joe, it was about taking a very poor RISK & having it blow up in our face. He was never gonna be the answer, despite JL paying him $14 mil. Every other team saw that after his 2024 season, except JL.
Right now Bucs have 5 OLBs under contract: (1) Diaby; (2) Nelson; (3) Braswell; (4) David Walker; (5) Kamara. As a group, they had 1458 def snaps, with Walker & Kamara providing a TOTAL of 5 def snaps last season. Unfortunately those 5 OLBs only got 11 sacks, 27 QB hits, 20 TFLs in 2025. So yes, Bucs NEED 1 more Edge, preferably an experienced Edge to replace Reddick & provide some LEADERSHIP within that young OLB room.
Spotrac shows 79 Edge free agents, of which 60 are UFAs. A total of 21 of those 60 UFAs are over 30, with the majority (39) being under 30. I can see 3 younger OLBs the Bucs might want to focus on:
1 – Odafe Oweh (Chargers … 27 yrs old; 6’5″ & 251 lbs; 4.36 sec 40-yd): Only played about half-season in 2025 with Chargers (traded from Ravens). Rnd 1 pick of Ravens in 2021. Has 30.5 sacks, 79 QB hits, 34 TFL & 176 tackles (118 solo) in 5 years. Market Value: $19.3 mil.
2 – Kwity Paye (Colts … 27 yrs old; 6’3″ & 265 lbs; 4.52 sec 40-yd): Rnd 1 pick of Colts in 2021. Has 30.5 sacks, 50 QB hits, 37 TFL & 209 tackles (123 solo) in 5 years. Market Value: $17.9 mil.
3 – Jaelan Phillips (Eagles … 26 yrs old; 6’5″ & 266 lbs; 4.56 sec 40-yd): Rnd 1 pick of Dolphins in 2021. Only played about half-season in 2025 with Eagles (traded from Dolphins). Has 28 sacks, 68 QB hits, 32 TFL & 205 tackles (119 solo) in 5 years. Market Value: $17.4 mil.)
Yes they’d each cost some big $$$. So did JPP & Shaq.
However, if the Bucs don’t dramatically improve the INTERIOR of our DLine, it won’t matter who we sign for our Edges. It all starts in the trenches, and our interior pass rush sucks. Bucs need to replace BOTH Gaines AND Logan Hall with BEASTS in the trenches, AND move Kancey further outside. No more baby DTs; we need BEASTS with really bad attitudes. Suh was the model, not Gaines, not Hicks, not Swaggy. No more light-weights.
March 3rd, 2026 at 6:38 am
Braswell should be cut in training camp. He’s a boy amongst men. Another brilliant move by the General Gaslighter.
March 3rd, 2026 at 6:52 am
There’s an old saying: “Hope is your worst enemy in the marketplace.”
March 3rd, 2026 at 7:04 am
Khalil Mack had 5.5 sacks and was a difference maker in stopping the run. Plus he missed four games so his production easily could have been better. Mack is ready to go and the lessons an all pro future HOF’er can teach to players like Diaby and Walker are invaluable-SIGN MACK.
March 3rd, 2026 at 7:32 am
Hope? In a Todd Blows defense?
March 3rd, 2026 at 7:33 am
BucU … ‘Braswell should be cut in training camp. He’s a boy amongst men.’
Respectfully disagree. I’m convinced that he’s been misused, and that’s resulted in him not really being given sufficient chances to produce sacks & pressures.
Chris has decent size for an OLB (6’3″ & 255 lbs) and has good speed (4.60 sec in 40-yd). He’s an excellent tackler (only 2 missed tackles in his 2 yrs here, resulting in a 4.0% Missed Tackle Rate), lowest of all our OLBs. But there’s a very good chance Bucs have put him out there mostly in run situations (especially last year), although for us TV viewers it’s impossible to truly tell. However, look at what Chris has produced in 2 years (34 games):
o 2024: 17 games – 329 def snaps – 22 blitzes – 1.5 sacks – 8 QB hits – 1 TFL – 1 FF – 18 tackles (11 solo) – 3 targets – 3 completed – 100% Pass Completions Allowed.
o 2025: 17 games – 283 def snaps – 6 blitzes – 1.0 sacks – 4 QB hits – 4 TFL – 0 FF – 30 tackles (21 solo) – 7 targets – 5 completed – 71.4% Pass Completions Allowed.
So Braswell has dressed for all 34 games over his 2 years with us (excellent availability IOW), but has only gotten on the field for roughly 300 def snaps per year (has played a LOT of S/Ts however). Blitzed a lot his 1st year (22 blitzes); sacks weren’t there (1.5) and his QB hits were decent (8), but his TFLs (1) & tackles (18) were low.
But then something must’ve changed in 2025. He had fewer snaps & blitzed a lot less (only 8); sacks still weren’t there (1.0) and his QB hits dropped (4), but his TFLs quadrupled (to 4) and his tackles almost doubled (to 30). That’s implying to me that he was out there for more Run situations. Still, his Pass Defense opportunities look like they doubled, and his Completions Allowed Percentage (71.4%) was 2nd-lowest to Nelson’s 61.5% .
I’m not at all ready to give up on Chris. With an improved INTERIOR pass rush (ours sucked these past 2 years), both YaYa and Chris will produce considerably more sacks and pressures. Personally I don’t mind that Bowles drops our OLBs back periodically into pass coverage in his 3-4 defense. But I do wish that he’d vastly beef up our interior DLine, use the 4-3 a lot more, and let guys like Diaby & Braswell pass rush a lot more. And oh ya, move Kancey further outside (he’ll be a lot more productive further out IMO).
March 3rd, 2026 at 7:50 am
Trade a 3rd or 4th for Thibedeaux from the giants. Might work out like the trade for JPP did
March 3rd, 2026 at 8:03 am
Is it really hope? Or more of a “WISH”. Hope is for a first or maybe a second round pick. But a fourth round pick, be for real, that isn’t hope that is a dream. Not on this team with Todd, hope is the wrong four letter word.
March 3rd, 2026 at 8:06 am
The guy from the Bears, would cost a day 2 pick tho
March 3rd, 2026 at 8:33 am
Joe- go listen to Friday’s Pardon My Take because Adam Schefter said he believes Trey Hendrickon wants to play in Florida and more specifically, Tampa.
March 3rd, 2026 at 8:38 am
Bucs already Bank on Hope
They kept Bowles
March 3rd, 2026 at 8:43 am
According to Spotrac, Reddick’s price has dropped down to $4.9M, so I would keep him unless Bowles thinks Braswell or Walker can step up? I would never bring back Reddick at $10M plus, but at his current market value he’s worth keeping. Licht still needs to draft an edge, probably at 15.
Logan Hall’s market price is $8M, and is a little pricey for me, but I don’t see anyone on the roster who could step up and replace Hall. The draft isn’t deep in DT’s this year, but maybe Licht could go DT in rd3?
March 3rd, 2026 at 8:47 am
“But banking on a fourth-round pick from Central Arkansas, who unfortunately has never completed even a full NFL padded practice, at the defense’s most important position, seems like a major if not unnecessary reach.”
It’s not about hope, it’s about potential. Whether it be the individual player or the team as a collective projected-potential aka “hope” is hoping what you feel manifests on the field of play.
We don’t need David Walker to come out of the gate looking like a pro bowler/all pro, we just need him to fulfill his role and be apart of a turnaround on our front 7 improving it’s play to where we’re able to flip the pressure switch when need be.
Hope would be thinking we’re all set with Walker coming back, but I still feel we’ll go out to add to that OLB room.
I think it’s also time to cut ties with Marquees Watts, we’ve been holding onto him and as of now he hasn’t even shown he’s as good as Cam Gill was for us as a depth piece.
I’m interested in adding more length to that room, a guy like Malachi Lawerence would be a nice addition to what we have in Yaya and as close to having someone with the athelticism+size combo we had in JPP.
March 3rd, 2026 at 8:49 am
Defense Rules is spot on again. If they give Braswell some better players around him and use his best skills, he could shine. The same is true for Parrish and Morrison.
This franchise has seen how Brooks and Sapp changed the mentality of the Defense. Made HOF out of Lynch and Barber. Those two were perfect for the Defense Kiffin was running.
It can happen again. Get Maxx. A healthy Kancey.
And I recall that Brooks and Sapp were at their best in years 3-5.
March 3rd, 2026 at 8:50 am
resign yaya
sign oweh
trade for kevon or sign Mafe
kick CK94 outside
GO BUCS!!!!
March 3rd, 2026 at 8:53 am
The pass rush strategy has been failing since the super bowl season. JTS and Logan hall were busts. YaYa and Kalijah arent the answers we’re looking for. Reddick was a swing and miss as well. Vita isnt getting any younger and there’s no time to waste with Atlanta and Carolina having better D Lines than we do. New Orleans wont be far behind.
March 3rd, 2026 at 8:54 am
“Logan Hall’s market price is $8M, and is a little pricey for me, but I don’t see anyone on the roster who could step up and replace Hall.”
Sir, both Elijahs, Simmons & Roberts cut into Logans’ snaps last year and performed pretty admirable. Roberts imo should be the move DLmen we test out on the edge, not Kancey who doesn’t the length or strength to contended with OTs nor set the edge on a consistent basis. Sounds good if rushing the passer is all he had to do, but I wouldn’t bank on Kancey being as valuable a run defender from the edge position.
Still, I think if the opportunity presents itself we should 100% go after Landon Robinson as somebody who can eventually spell Kancey while providing what Kancey can as a gap shooter.
We should really be looking for an IDL that fits that Tommy Kelly/Akeim Hicks 2-gapper opposite of Vita that can occupy the OGs & C while providing the edge talent more 1on1’s.
March 3rd, 2026 at 9:13 am
until the bucs draft who they need vs who is available they will continue to have coin toss drafts. they need defense and best avail is offense in the first two (or more) rounds this will continue to be the outcome.
March 3rd, 2026 at 9:21 am
When it comes to defense , Licht just never learns. Quit banking on hope for unproven players. Walker is a joke at this point. Go after Crosby Jason.
March 3rd, 2026 at 9:26 am
Try Braswell at ILB
March 3rd, 2026 at 9:41 am
The franchise is only banking on hope they kept bowles despite what their eyes saw hope let’s see where that takes them.
March 3rd, 2026 at 9:55 am
Warren Brooks Lynch Says:
“Sir, both Elijahs, Simmons & Roberts cut into Logans’ snaps last year and performed pretty admirable”
I agree — I do not mind the Buc’s picking up a thick guy DT in this years’ draft but there is certainly no one close to be a 15th pick in the first round.
For those clamoring for the Ohio State defensive tackle there — get ready for a disappointment.
We actually have some thick run stopping dudes.
Obviously, Vita Vea
But let’s look at other’s:
The UDFA, Elijah Simmons (330lbs) looks very capable of handling the Greg Gaines spot for the next 3 years that we control him.
I am not anointing Elijah Roberts (295lbs) as anything but a part time starter rotational player but he already showed he could be that guy as a 5th round rookie with pretty good beef.
We certainly have the smaller Kancey (280lbs) but that isn’t nothing when it comes to bulk when you have the other three guys.
Personally, the under the radar Defensive line free agent for me would be Sebastion Jason-Day (310lbs). He would fit well and IMO be an upgrade on Logan Hall and probably even Will Gholston.
Then we use the draft to focus on our speed linebackers and edge types (who this year have the speed but are clearly undersized as a group).
Instead of overspending on a free agent rush guy this offseason.
March 3rd, 2026 at 10:38 am
They put alot of work into research & scouting? I don’t know sometimes it just seems like they just draw names out of a hat & just randomly pick.
March 3rd, 2026 at 10:41 am
2026-Braswell’s breakout year!
March 3rd, 2026 at 10:59 am
Sign either Bradley Chubb or Owen if the Chargers release him…..
That will be decent edge starters with Yaya..
Will see what we got in David Walker in OTA’s and TC….
Still like Anthony Nelson as a backup if he’s not too expensive…..
This should be final year to see if Braswell can give is anything….
If you can’t produce by year 3, cut the leash and move on…
March 3rd, 2026 at 11:00 am
Oweh, not Owen 🙂
March 3rd, 2026 at 11:10 am
“Personally, the under the radar Defensive line free agent for me would be Sebastion Jason-Day (310lbs). He would fit well and IMO be an upgrade on Logan Hall and probably even Will Gholston.”
Jason-Day would be a good pickup, but I’ve said on here before if we wanted to replace Hall with somebody from FA we could also target John Franklin-Myers who I keep reading is done with the Broncos and looking to start over elsewhere.
“I agree — I do not mind the Buc’s picking up a thick guy DT in this years’ draft but there is certainly no one close to be a 15th pick in the first round.”
Gotta think outside of the first, value picks are there. Guys like Darrell Jackson from FSU intrigue me.
Liked Caleb Banks, but he just boosted his stock and is now being projected late 1st to early-mid 2nd, but I think he’s gone by time our 2nd pick at 46th overall.
DeMonte Capehart is probably my favorite of this group of players, because not only is he ridiculously athletic, but fits that profile at 6’5 313lbs just needing to further refine his game from a technical standpoint. Also comes with positional versatility we currently don’t have on the interior.
Chris McClellan out of Mizzou is another one I wouldn’t mind seeing drafted day 2 as well as Rayshaun Benny out of Michigan, who Bowles should have a little inside info on. Deven Eastern out of Minnesota too.
To me, it just depends on how these guys fall on others’ boards and whether or not we’d need to use 1 of our 3 picks in the top 100 to select them or who’ll be available at our 4th pick at 116th overall.
March 3rd, 2026 at 11:34 am
Thanks for the reply Warren Brooks.
I agree it depends on how the draft falls — but generally in the mocks I tried, I’m not seeking a DT type in either the 1st round or 2nd round.
Don’t follow college football much (just FL and Michigan a little) as much as the pros.
Banks in 2nd though would be fine as would the Florida State DT in the 3rd. The Michigan one not at all (except maybe as a 7th rounder).
The other guys, I don’t know enough to share in the conversation.
March 3rd, 2026 at 1:03 pm
Riddick was an awful move. Jason doesn’t get a pass. Money has to ve earned
March 3rd, 2026 at 2:40 pm
I REALLY hope the Bucs get the right players. Go Bucs!
March 3rd, 2026 at 5:19 pm
Licht plays the everything is going to go perfect game and doest pull out all the stops . Bucs have to have 3 new quality front 7 starters on D ……. you have got a look at who you can cut and you have to look at what deals you can redo super aggressively even if it’s only saving you half $1 million-$1 million………. There is no way to get this team competitive unless you’re spending 50 million in free agency on three new front seven defensive starters………. It’s not happening with what’s on the roster and it’s not gonna happen in the draft at 15 . A stud defensive end is so much more important to the team than Mike Evans.Sad to say but simply true !! Ya Ya is a 3 rd rotation guy , not an offense affecting / feared starter …….. Wake Up Jason !! You really are Brady away from being let go with Todd and You both will be let go at years end if you don’t stop celebrating at the 15 yard line .
You have your team in bad cap shape with a discounted QB and You have Zero different makers in the front 7 on defense . Stop it with your delusional thinking Vea is younger than he is and Kancey can play a full or even half a season ( he won’t ) . Stop being delusional Jason !!
March 3rd, 2026 at 5:45 pm
DefenseRules,
You nailed it on Reddick. When I heard Bucs signed him for a king’s ransom, that it was really foolish and said so on these pages. Reddick more or less quit on his former teams preferring to take the money and run the other way. Leopards don’t change their spots. He got the last laugh at Bucs expense. Does anyone think he ‘ll be back at any price in 2026?
March 3rd, 2026 at 5:46 pm
Defense Rules,
Regarding AWjr—-> See Reddick above.
March 3rd, 2026 at 7:25 pm
Gipper … Bucs’ defense desperately needs at least 2 or 3 guys with not just muscle, but really bad attitudes. I loved watching Suh when he played for us; kinda reminded me of some of the Viking movies I’ve seen over the years (except that Suh didn’t carry a battle ax).
I have absolutely no problem using this year’s #15 pick on a DT named Kayden McDonald from Ohio State (6’2″ & 326 lbs). He’s got the beef & attitude that I’m looking for to eventually lead our DLine. That’s our greatest NEED, followed by Edge, ILB & CB.
March 3rd, 2026 at 9:33 pm
I totally agree Hope has never won a game yet. I listed to TKraz who interviewed a well-known sports writer. The guy floated the idea of trading the 19th pick and a 2nd pick, AND #67–Goedeke for Mad Max. Thoughts?