Todd Bowles Clarifies Combine Value
March 1st, 2026
“Jason, I need to see this guy in shorts.”
Don’t tell Todd Bowles the NFL Scouting Combine is of little worth. Bowles isn’t there to carouse in downtown Indianapolis at the NFL’s winter carnival.
Bowles values the Combine and it’s more than about meeting players.
Bowles feels it’s important to see players up close and out of pads.
“Obviously the tape has a lot to do with it earlier [at One Buc Palace,] as we put these [prospects] together, then it’s a position of need depending on what you want to draft, and things you look forward to. But coming to the Combine, you get a good feel for the body type,” Bowles told SiriusXM NFL Radio.
“You know, you see [players] in pads but because you don’t see ’em in person — you get to see’em in pads and then you get to interview them and get their personalities. So we get to see their personalities. We get to see what they’re like out of pads and you get to see then move around a little bit and you try to put the body with what’s on tape.”
The Bucs’ head coach emphasized he was not referring to receivers and defensive backs. Those bodies can be misleading in person, Bowles said, and they’re all about film study.
Joe heard how Bowles answered this player-evaluation question and immediately thought he sounded like a coach who’s been watching a lot of front-7 players.
Joe wouldn’t cry if the Bucs drafted a defensive tackle, assuming the Bucs address linebacker in free agency. At least a few solid ones should be there in Round 2.
Vita Vea is 31. Calijah Kancey is injury-prone, and Logan Hall might command too much cash in free agency.
March 1st, 2026 at 2:48 pm
Well, Todd’s got it right in that description. Thats why Ive always loved the combine. Watching O line guys now…..
March 1st, 2026 at 2:51 pm
JTS looked like G.I. Joe, but he was too weak and soft to take on offensive tackles.
Sideshow Hall is really fast and has an amazing body.
But he gets pushed around by offensive tackles.
“Appearances can be deceiving”
Draft rock hard and violent defensive linemen and edge players from
Now on.
JTS, Hall, Reddick and Braswell are NOT violent linemen.
Draft nastier defensive linemen from now on please.
#99 aka The QB Killah was scary.
Suh, JPP and Gholston were VIOLENT.
No more drafting “Mr Nice Guy” on defense.
March 1st, 2026 at 3:31 pm
Fair enough points Teacherman. But really it is more easy than not to miss on edge guys that you take around 28 to 40 than for them to become significant sack guys.
I really love the large set of edge guys available in this year’s draft. But you look at a bunch of them and they are not elite in size — you are betting that even those that lack the size somehow will get it done because of their speed.
——
By the way, there is a free agent Defensive lineman out there I think would be a wonderful replacement for a bigger Gholston type. That is Sebastian Joseph-Day at about 310lbs. Clearly bigger than having any speed. But seems to play every game — every year. Was on a 7.5 million contract last year and would love the Bucs to spend 2 years 12 million total on him this off season.
Then go get the linebackers and edge guys in this draft instead of reaching for an Ohio State Kayden McDonald at 15. Or whatever other DT you think is special in this class — I’m not seeing great defensive tackles for the Bucs. But if you have one you like — I’ll take a peak at his film.
March 1st, 2026 at 4:31 pm
Rather than seeing guys half naked I’d rather see production on the field to gauge who to draft. JTS is an example.
March 1st, 2026 at 4:58 pm
Center cut prime beef. Vita help and depth. We know LB isn’t a need, Todd said so last year and looks for Sir Vocea to really blossom, as we all expect he will do.
March 1st, 2026 at 5:55 pm
I’ve got the Bucs picking a DT in rd3. Bowles seems to like the ideas from new DL coach Marcus West. Will West and Bowles play more one gap schemes to finally get a pass rush?