Intel Joe Heard At The Combine Last Week
March 2nd, 2026
As Joe has typed many times, Joe has no use for the combine sideshow/indoor track meet NFL Network televises. Just on face value, it may be more boring than a godawful golf match.
At least with golf, if you are hungover enough, you can enjoy the green grass and blue sky before dozing off.
Combine times, pumping weights and jumping mean nothing to Joe if you can’t block, can’t tackle, can’t catch and can’t throw. Quarterbacks throwing with zero pass rush against no defensive backs — wearing shorts tossing indoors does not shed any light on a prospect.
Warren Sapp summed the combine up perfectly. “You don’t pump weights on the 50-yard line.”
(To be fair, Joe has heard more than once that 40 times seem to predict a quality offensive lineman better than a skill position player, oddly enough.)
What the combine is great for is information and intel and access at the combine’s beehive, the Indiana Convention Center in downtown Indianapolis. Scouts, coaches and suits loosen up and share intel freely after a few beers at Hooters or maybe following some cocktails and perhaps a medium-rare ribeye at St. Elmo.
(Way underrated menu item: Shaved ribeye sandwich at Harry and Izzy’s, which is next door to and owned by the famed St. Elmo steakhouse. Even better than the pastrami sandwich at Shapiro’s Delicatessen, an Indianapolis institution since 1905.)
And of course, coaches will talk to you away from a microphone in a relaxed atmosphere after they go through the media carwash.
For Joe, *that* is the meat and the heart and the nerve center of the combine.
Here are just a few rumors Joe can publish that might intrigue readers:
Quay Walker To Hit Free Agency
Joe spoke with a Packers media type. Joe asked about the talented linebacker Quay Walker, the 2022 first-round draft pick. He’s led the Packers in tackles the past four years. Joe thinks he is a good player and had a hard time believing the Packers would let the guy walk.
The Packers are very much willing to let him walk.
From what Joe was told, the Packers expected a lot more from Walker. The issue for the Packers is they expected Walker to be an A-level player but Green Bay believes it is getting B-level and sometimes C-level play. Walker wants the Packers to show him A-level money and the Packers have their heels dug in that Walker deserves nothing more than B-level money.
Is that a red flag to Joe for the Bucs? Perhaps, but Joe will ask you this: Would you rather have Quay Walker playing B-level ball for the Bucs or SirVocea Dennis playing F-level ball?
Tremaine Edmunds And Bears Headed For Divorce
The Bears last week told linebacker Tremaine Edmunds he can seek a trade if he wishes. So on face value, it appears that the Bears are done with him.
The head-butting appears worse than it actually is. The Bears are jammed up on the cap. The Bears like how the soon-to-be free agent Edmunds has played and would like him back. But Edmunds, who has never had fewer than 100 tackles in a season, wants the Bears to show him the money. The Bears don’t have the loose change.
So unless a team trades for Edmunds, it appears he will be available when the free agency dinner bell rings March 11, the start of the league year. (Yes, Joe is aware legal tampering begins two days prior.)
Zac Robinson Intel
Joe spoke with an Atlanta media type who has mixed feelings for Zac Robinson, the new Bucs offensive coordinator who previously was Atlanta’s offensive coordinator. This same source lauded Robinson for his first year with the Dixie Chicks when they finished sixth overall in NFL offense.
The next year, defenses, which had all offseason to pick apart Robinson’s tendencies, adjusted and Robinson did not. Atlanta’s offense dropped off.
Then Robinson, Joe’s source said, began leaning on Bijan Robinson, which turned Atlanta into a predictable offense. So Joe was told there is a good Robinson and a bad Robinson. Which one will the Bucs get?
Blazing 🏃🏿♂️💨
But how important is that?
I looked at 17 yrs worth of WR data to get that answer. ⬇️ https://t.co/AMcuCMqrqv pic.twitter.com/p8gNv6JpGZ
— Lindsay Rhodes (@lindsay_rhodes) March 1, 2026
March 2nd, 2026 at 7:20 am
Joe … ‘Would you rather have Quay Walker playing B-level ball for the Bucs or SirVocea Dennis playing F-level ball?’
Can we simplify that question Joe to something like … ‘Would you rather have any other ILB playing and SirVocea Dennis sitting on the bench?’
SVD is in his 4th year, has game experience, but isn’t a starting caliber ILB. For right now he’s fine as DEPTH, but hopefully our starting ILBs stay healthy all year. We also have Nick Jackson under contract, but he hasn’t shown me a thing (18 def snaps plus 35 on S/Ts in 2025 doesn’t exactly scream ‘This guy is a keeper’). Jones (31) & Walker (30) are both UFAs & don’t look to be the future either. LVD is also a UFA & should only be re-signed IMO as an extra, part-time 5th ILB at a reduced price. Use the majority of our def snaps for players who represent our future.
I think we need to sign a quality starting-caliber veteran ILB to provide some LEADERSHIP for our ILB position group. Obviously being a top-performer is an essential trait in who we look at. We should also draft TWO starting-quality ILBs in the Top-4 Rnds (what you typically get in Rnds 5-7 are the SVDs of the world). Quality costs … either in terms of $$$ for FAs or in terms of higher draft picks.
March 2nd, 2026 at 7:48 am
BTW Joe, Quay Walker & Tremaine Edmunds are both quality ILBs, but they’d cost an arm-and-a-leg (which is why the Packers & Bears are willing to let them walk?). We’ve got too many other FA NEEDS to be sinking huge $$$ into ILBs.
One player we can afford (I think) is Cleveland’s Devin Bush (he’ll be 28 this summer). He’s played both Left & Right ILB for Pittsburgh (4 yrs), Seattle (1 yr) & Cleveland (2 yrs), averaging 14 games/year. He’s not very tall (5’11” & 235 lbs), but he’s FAST (4.43 sec 40) and has proven to be VRY GOOD in coverage (69.4% Completion Percentage Allowed in his 7-yr career). Just as impressive, he’s only allowed 10 TDs in those 7 yrs, and his career Missed Tackle Rate is only 6.8% (LVD’s is 8.0% for a comparison).
He’s the player BTW who was drafted by the Steelers in Rnd 1 #10 when we drafted Devin White in 2019 at Rnd 1 #5. He was initially considered to be ‘a bust’ by some, but he’s transformed himself & was rated as a Top-3 performer last season. Spotrac shows his current Market Value as $8.9 mil based on a 3-year contract (Browns have stated that re-signing Devin Bush is a ‘top priority’ for them right now, so signing him could cost more).
March 2nd, 2026 at 7:53 am
Of the two, I’d MUCH rather have Tremaine Edmunds. Walker doesn’t seem any better in pass coverage than Voss
March 2nd, 2026 at 9:19 am
Malik Benson – Oregon – ia a solid WR.
March 2nd, 2026 at 9:44 am
We need linebackers. Whether we bring back Lavonte or not, signing/trading for a LB and drafting one will help bolster the LB room. Gives Dennis a rookie to accompany him on the bench, and a starter to make him compete and ultimately lose to in training camp.
March 2nd, 2026 at 10:32 am
The Bucs can afford any ILB they want to sign in FA. Don’t fool yourself into thinking they can’t. It all depends on what the FO wants to prioritize FA resources on.
March 2nd, 2026 at 10:37 am
What diff does it make? He and Bowzo will begone in 27
March 2nd, 2026 at 10:39 am
When you have 2 mediocre QB’s in Penix & Cousins, of course the offense will be predictable.
March 2nd, 2026 at 10:47 am
Trade up for Sonny Styles or trade for Crosby.
Fill the other hole in FA. Let’s rock.
March 2nd, 2026 at 12:17 pm
I would trade up for Styles even if you have to throw in a player. Such as Godwin or someone else. I wouldn’t touch Crosby he has to many injuries.
March 2nd, 2026 at 12:19 pm
Defense great points. I remember when both Devins were coming out of college. Several were saying bush was better that white. It really sucks white didn’t turn out good for us with such a high pick but he did help us win a SB. he played like ray lewis that post season. I was hoping he would take over for LVD so much for hoping haha
March 2nd, 2026 at 1:11 pm
“Would you rather have Quay Walker playing B-level ball for the Bucs or SirVocea Dennis playing F-level ball?”
Please ask Bowles this question the next time you interview him. Worded exactly the same way.
Because it’s highly likely that Dennis is coming back again. Bowles likes him.
Just like the Glazer kids like Bowles and his F- level coaching.
March 2nd, 2026 at 1:12 pm
Trade Buster Kancey and go get Caleb Banks somewhere in the first round.
March 2nd, 2026 at 1:13 pm
Oh, Dennis is coming back. But the way Bowles framed the subject, he’s not promised a starting role. Yet.
March 2nd, 2026 at 1:32 pm
I’d pay up for Lloyd before Walker. Bears may have to cut Edmunds and we might get a deal for a year. Bush is probably our best bet and Chenal could help us too. I think we need to get two of the FA ILB and a couple picks. DL is more iffy. FA is not as promising. We better go early in the draft for at least one guy. LBs and DL for 4 of the 1st 5 picks. MacDonald or Banks should be priority. FSU kid might work later.
Licht has work to do in FA before the draft or he will be reaching. Got to get an edge if you can too which may take a genius pick. Let’s go JL.
March 2nd, 2026 at 1:56 pm
Robinson reports to the best head coach in the business, so expect Robinson to be great. No swoons or collapses in 2026.
March 2nd, 2026 at 2:25 pm
The combine is obviously combined with what you see on the field. It answers questions about guys who look great on tape, but to the eye look too slow for the NFL, or too weak, etc. A lot of times it’s just about confirming the tape. If it was truly worthless, then it wouldn’t be a thing.
March 2nd, 2026 at 2:48 pm
Incredibly unimpressed with Robinson as an OC. Maybe he had to compensate for a young quarterback who is not actually that talented. But I wouldn’t have gambled the dice on him seeing as Bowles is on the hot seat now.
March 3rd, 2026 at 2:18 am
“Would you rather have Quay Walker playing B-level ball for the Bucs or SirVocea Dennis playing F-level ball?”
Very valid point Joe! Walker’s TFLs and passes defended? Hmm Edmonds too? That would make Jason’s draft board alot easier to decider me thinks! Give us a chance to fill more holes.
Go Bucs!