Did The Trey Hendrickson Interest Tip The Bucs’ Draft?
April 22nd, 2026
Edge rushers Yaya Diaby (right) and Chris Braswell.
Back in January, when Team Glazer had a postseason conversation with Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht, it’s a safe bet the following question was asked: “Jason, what’s our plan to fix our weak edge rush?”
Joe also thinks it’s a safe bet that Licht’s reply wasn’t, “Raise a glass of schnapps, guys. We have David Walker coming off major knee surgery and we’re going to bag Al-Quadin Muhammad in free agency.”
But that’s where the Bucs sit today on the cusp of the NFL Draft when it comes to their offseason edge rush enhancements. They added Muhammad on a mysteriously inexepensive contract and Walker comes back for his second season after not making it through a practice in pads during his rookie year.
Various reports had the Bucs making a run at stud edge rusher Trey Hendrickson in free agency. Joe patrolled the NFL owners meetings in Phoenix and talked to several Bucs big shots. Nobody hinted that the report was nonsense.
So that’s why the Joe typing here is extremely confident the Bucs are targeting edge rush talent in tomorrow night’s Round 1 of the draft. It’s just too obvious — the need and the desire. Whether the Bucs can get there guy may be the only variable.
A year ago, the Bucs pounced on Haason Reddick in free agency and coughed up $12 million plus unreached incentives. The edge rush need was great then and it may be greater now.
April 22nd, 2026 at 11:47 am
Good. R1 edge and R2-R4 ILB/DT/CB feels like the right mix of need and value depending on who we can get in R1.
LFG
April 22nd, 2026 at 11:50 am
At 15 do you want the 5th best edge, or the highest rated player at a different position? Let’s say it’s the LG from Penn state? Bredison is coming off injury, and so is Mauch. Our guards were a revolving door. Imagine this kid next to Wirfs, and Barton? Want to help your defense? Keep them off the field by converting 3th, 4th and short. Baker also has trouble with pressure up the middle. You’re always rolling the dice with an edge. Bucs need an every down player at 15. Even if it’s O line.
April 22nd, 2026 at 11:54 am
Hodad:
You make a lot of sense and if they have a guard as the top rated player when they pick, then they should pull the trigger.
I just think as much as JL likes to go BPA, the glaring needs on defense is where they go.
April 22nd, 2026 at 11:56 am
I mean, if that’s the case not re-signing Haason Reddick is a tip of he hand as well. Yes, we bought in AQM, but that’s a 1-year deal and you can get him, A DT/NT, and 2 more OLBs on the field at once.
April 22nd, 2026 at 12:00 pm
Jason will stay true to his board. So whomever that guy is at 15. If we stay there, will be the guy. We have no idea who that might be.
April 22nd, 2026 at 12:03 pm
Bowles won’t use his edge rushers to rush the passer, it’s a waste of a pick to go Edge, trade back and get the D tackle.
April 22nd, 2026 at 12:13 pm
I’m with Hodad- our guard play was awful post injuries to our starters.
Haven’t heard a peep about Cody – shouldn’t he be at one Buc rehabbing ???
Kinda hard to miss that red hair!
April 22nd, 2026 at 12:28 pm
Lessismore:
Cody is at OneBuc and said he’s ready for OTAs.
April 22nd, 2026 at 12:28 pm
“I’m with Hodad- our guard play was awful post injuries to our starters.
Haven’t heard a peep about Cody – shouldn’t he be at one Buc rehabbing ???”
Cody stated in an interview with another Bucs site he’s been done with the rehab program since around the season finale. Highly likely he gets a shot to earn a new deal as opposed to being replace by a rookie, and he’s a better move blocker than Ioane is who’s alot stiffer and plays more upright than either of our projected guards.
“Rehab was good, it’s just such a slow and boring, monotonous process. Rehab’s not fun. You feel like you’re hardly making progress and then you finally start to. Long story short, everything’s all healed up now, [I’m] excited for offseason stuff to start next week. I should be good for OTAs.
Also, there’s a reason you don’t see as many OGs picked in the 1st round as you do OTs, a good reason.
IDK what it is with some fans who feel like we need to put a hat on our hat lol
April 22nd, 2026 at 12:40 pm
Has Reddick signed anywhere yet?
April 22nd, 2026 at 12:44 pm
Bet they draft something else besides edge rusher with their first pick
April 22nd, 2026 at 12:50 pm
@ Hodad
I agree.
Fix the trenches and draft ILB in round #2.
We already have 6 mediocre edge rushers on this team…
April 22nd, 2026 at 12:51 pm
If the BPA is O-line they get him, both trench’s need work, just the D-line needs are more. IF they can trade back that is a way better scenario to go DL, OL, LB and get some quality players. In no particular order.
April 22nd, 2026 at 12:53 pm
Joes; how do u feel about Baldys love of us drafting the huge guard from Penn St.!? It would be an interesting twist to the draft gurus having Sadiq or Messior going to us in the first and the left side of the line would be close to the best in the league if kid pans out….bet Baker and Bucky would be on board!
April 22nd, 2026 at 12:54 pm
Fix the edge mesidor welcome to the bucs
April 22nd, 2026 at 1:18 pm
I’m good with whoever Licht draft
As long as it’s not a kicker