Risky, But Can Bucs Afford To Be Picky?
March 24th, 2026
Still out there.
Beggars can’t be choosers. That’s the way Joe looks at the Bucs’ edge rush.
Sadly, Joe has a hunch that unless the Bucs can find/beg/borrow/steal a legit edge rusher to play opposite YaYa Diaby, the Louisville product won’t reach his ceiling for sacks that he set as a rookie, 7.5.
(But YaYa gets pressures! That really screwed up quarterbacks last year, didn’t it? Good ol’ pressures — BOO, I see you!)
Now the signing of Al-Quadin Muhammad is very interesting, but Joe has to see AQM with pads on in person before Joe gets too worked up. Having 11 sacks and nine tackles for loss last year is a great start, especially for a backup.
Something tells Joe that isn’t enough. Over at CBS, Zachary Pereles seems to think too many folks are sleeping on brittle but talented Joey Bosa.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: EDGE
Free agent fit: Joey Bosa
Draft fit: Keldric Faulk, Auburn
Todd Bowles loves to dial up pressure, but he’d love it even more if his team could get pressure when not blitzing. Tampa Bay was 20th in pressure rate when not blitzing in 2025. Enter Bosa, whose 14.6% pressure rate in 2025 was his best since 2022. He also played in 15 games, his most since 2021. Bosa also had a nose for the ball with five forced fumbles. Faulk, meanwhile, is a huge EDGE (6-foot-6, 285 pounds) with some high-upside athleticism.
Yeah, Bosa is brittle, injury-prone, whatever phrase or word you want to choose. If Bosa didn’t have so many question marks, he wouldn’t be unemployed right now.
But dang, if you could bring in a guy like Bosa and he could play in, say, 12 games, you can’t tell Joe that Bosa wouldn’t help the Bucs defense.
Again, beggars cannot be choosers. And unfortunately, as Joe types this here post, the Bucs are begging for help.
March 24th, 2026 at 9:10 am
The Joe(s) would flame out as personnel guys in the NFL.
March 24th, 2026 at 9:11 am
‘Beggars can’t be choosers.’
Must be the owners mentality about HC position!
March 24th, 2026 at 9:11 am
No to Bosa, no to Faulk.
March 24th, 2026 at 9:14 am
I looked at a mock draft yesterday and I was amazed on how many Edge Rushers are projected to go in 1st round. So the Bucs are not the only one with the problem, yes to Bosa just because Licht has missed so often on drafting a decent Edge who can understand the Bowles insanely genius defensive schemes.
March 24th, 2026 at 9:21 am
Yes -go get Bosa. You cannot count on a 1st year pass rusher out of college. Faulk is 20 years old. It will take him a while to get there, if he ever does.
In the 1st take best player available.
March 24th, 2026 at 9:22 am
Yes Joe, the Bucs can’t be picky but they are. Hence the EDGE is still a problem. I mentioned in a post in Ira’s column, surely Ira your are not counting on the guy from Detroit who is 31 years old to solve the edge problem. I admit like many to being frustrated and surely don’t see the Bucs plan for this defense. We now have the worst corners maybe in the leaugue , Morrison and McColumn, wow . This reminds me of last year when Bowles said Dennis was incredible and he liked the teams depth at LB. Then the EDGE Guy we bring in a 31 year old rotational guy who is going to save the day and another rotational LB. I mean sure it helps. However it seems like adding a one foot brick to cover a 30 foot hole in the wall. I guess they are rebuilding at this point or think the offense can score 40 points a game.
I don’t know , but more and more I see why Evans left , sorry still bothers me. Anyway all I see is more 3/28 for next year.
If somebody sees the logic for this defense please let me know.
Anyway ,yes they are being picky with the EDGE and doing nothing
March 24th, 2026 at 9:36 am
You guys are all over the place.
-Yaya
-AQM
-Nelly
-David Walker
-Mo Kamara
-Rookie
Bosa is just another name, fact is he’s been banged up the last 2-3 seasons and he hasn’t been an impact player since 2021.
Get a young guy, with some bend and more than one rush move in here.
March 24th, 2026 at 9:49 am
I wish the Bucs would focus on the Offensive Line like they do at Edge
You would think a team with 3 O-Line starters with a Bum Knee
And another with concussion concerns, and other issues
Would make this a top priority going into the season
It’s a Buc life, you wouldn’t understand
😍😍
March 24th, 2026 at 9:50 am
Boss is slow as molasses these days, we signed our vet edge hope in Muhammad who is far more in form than present day Joey Bosa.
March 24th, 2026 at 9:51 am
New DL coach, Marcus West, came from Buffalo so knows Bosa from last year. His numbers last year look similar to YaYa but with sllghtly fewer snaps. Five forced fumbles and 5 sacks isn’t bad. Bosa was moved around the Bills front last year and was productive from the left side where the Bucs are very week.
However, Spotrac has his market value at $13.7M so the ‘thrifty’ Glazers won’t want him.
March 24th, 2026 at 10:00 am
“However, Spotrac has his market value at $13.7M so the ‘thrifty’ Glazers won’t want him.”
First, that’s too much money for Bosa.
Second, as 1 player at this point of his career is he worth twice as much as AQM?
Doubt it.
March 24th, 2026 at 10:05 am
No to Bosa and Faulk. Enough of the old guys and reaches for potential. Don’t we have a scouting staff?
March 24th, 2026 at 10:19 am
Look at the contract the Patriots gave to OG Alijah Vera-Tucker. Huge portion of his compensation tied to per game bonuses and performance. Bosa’s been hurt way too many times not to make his deal heavily incentive laden.
March 24th, 2026 at 10:29 am
Faulk is a tweener and I don’t see it with him
March 24th, 2026 at 10:30 am
Joey Bosa is more 4-3 DE than 3-4 OLB. There’s no way he can cover passes 20 yards down field. Besides, the guy probably wants $30 million.
March 24th, 2026 at 10:34 am
Need competition across the board. Great competition creates quality depth, quality depth creates a good team. Not one position on this team should be guaranteed other than Wirfs & Goedeke. Everyone else should be competing for their job
March 24th, 2026 at 10:41 am
sign him. Let’s see what sticks. Anything can help this Putrid Pass Defense.
March 24th, 2026 at 10:49 am
JPP is coming back. He was the difference last year, for sure. He proved the Bucs don’t need a pass rush to perform the way Todd wants.
3rd and 28
2-7
61-74
1-3
March 24th, 2026 at 11:00 am
Why?
We have 5 OLBs already…
– Diaby
– Muhammad
– Nelson
– Walker
– Braswell
Plus the Bucs may add another throught the draft.
How many mediocre pass rushers do you need Joe?
Ridiculous.
March 24th, 2026 at 11:03 am
Bosa is a decent risk. It’s only Glazer money and if the contract is written correctly, low risk, high reward. At least he had a track record of getting to the QB.
Faulk? God no. 10 sacks in 3 years? No thanks. If he didn’t do it in college, the chances he’ll do it in the pros is even lower. Another JTS in waiting.