Todd Bowles: There Are “At Least 10” Quality Inside Linebackers In The Draft
April 12th, 2026
The bad news is the Bucs lost a legend at inside linebacker and spent last season discovering their other starting inside linebacker is really a quality No. 4 at the position, rather than a No. 2.
The good news is the Bucs have a many quality inside linebackers to choose from in next week’s draft to install alongside new top-dog inside linebacker Alex Anzalone, their big-money free agent from the Lions.
Joe sat next to Bucs head coach Todd Bowles at the NFC Coaches Breakfast in Arizona 13 days ago (no, Joe and Bowles didn’t watch the sunrise over the mountain tops). It was there that Bowles very calmly and confidently praised the 2026 inside linebacker prospects and explained what the Bucs seek when they’re scouting.
“I feel like there are some [inside linebackers] in this draft that can really play. There’s are quite a few of them – at least 10 or 12 of them, for sure,” Bowles said.
“The trait we look for the most is probably instinctiveness. You look for instincts right there, how they read, how they scrape and how they go. And I think there’s a bunch of those in this draft.”
Joe knows the Bucs will find an inside linebacker next week that they would like to start as a rookie. That rookie is coming to Tampa, whether that’s in Round 1, 2 or 3. Take that to the bank, and he’ll start competing immediately with free agent inside linebacker Christian Rozeboom.
However, Joe is a little nervous about the Bucs’ scouting of inside linebacker talent.
After years of studying the guy, Bowles and the front office deemed K.J. Britt a worthy starter alongside Lavonte David in 2024, and the same goes for the 2025 edition of SirVocea Dennis. Neither panned out.
April 12th, 2026 at 4:35 pm
We need a lb that is fast enough and takes proper angles(!!!) to stop Jahmyr Gibbs from running around him on the sidelines and a sure tackler that plays great pass defense. That list is a lot shorter than 10-12.
It’s actually much shorter than that.
April 12th, 2026 at 4:41 pm
One thing for sure SVD can’t cover, has poor angles and gets torched on the outside. Hopefully, the Bucs can get a faster ILB that can cover. So frustrating watching him and the CBs to be honest. Is it poor communication, lack of skills, or a bad defensive scheme? 3rd and 28 and 4th and 14 can’t be allowed to happen this year.
April 12th, 2026 at 4:43 pm
There’s some really good ILBs in this draft
Some are a good fit with the Bucs, some are not
The Bucs are looking for a MIKE ILB
There’s not many good ones in this draft
KJ Britt wasn’t a good MIKE at Auburn, that’s why he was a 5th round draft pick
And Voc Dennis was drafted to be a Strong Side LB, Lavonte backup
The Bucs were counting on getting 10 MIKE years from Devin White
But it didn’t work out like that, so they were forced to start KJ Britt
Then they were forced to start Dennis at Mike, replacing Britt
They should just draft a true young MIKE
Instead of trying to convert a Strong side LB into a MIKE
This my opinion
April 12th, 2026 at 4:46 pm
Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez set a record for the fastest top speed in the backpedal & react drill at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine, according to Next Gen Stats.
**EXACTLY** why we need this guy. He was over a mph (18.43 mph) faster than any linebacker in the draft in the last 4 years. He moves almost as quickly backwards and sideways as he does forward.
April 12th, 2026 at 4:47 pm
After moving on from Britt, the Bucs chose SVD to be the man in 2025 – after passing on Jihaad Campbell in the draft.
Campbell was named to the PFWA All Rookie Team. His overall PFF grade was 76.2.
With PFF’s fifth highest coverage grade of 78.6, do you think that Campbell could have made a game winning difference in certain situations – like maybe in 3rd and 28 and 4th and 14?
Set the arrogance aside and forget looking for that 10th or 12th ILB. Take a solid shot at finally fixing this ongoing disaster and select Rodriguez or Hill in the second.
April 12th, 2026 at 5:07 pm
I like Rodriguez a lot, but Hill is also very good. And a much better pass rusher. Obviously not the number one need from an inside linebacker, but a bonus. And he’s got plenty of tfls as well. If we don’t get Rodriguez I’d be comfortable with hell. But there are others obviously. All depends on who we take in the first round.
April 12th, 2026 at 5:07 pm
Bucs should draft at minimum 2 ILBs. SVD should be pushed down the depth chart.
April 12th, 2026 at 5:10 pm
Voc Dennis had no business starting as a MIKE LB
He was beaten out by an UDFA (Nick Jackson) during training camp
He was named the starter because he’s a Jason Licht draft pick.
He definitely didn’t earn it
April 12th, 2026 at 5:12 pm
Well, if Todd says so…
April 12th, 2026 at 5:15 pm
I’d rather have Egbuka than Campbell. But J-Rod had a 93.3 PFF grade with a 92.7 in coverage. That sounds like a cure for our ills in the middle of our zone defense if I’ve seen one. Would be a huge step forward.
April 12th, 2026 at 5:16 pm
Calling bull$#it if he’s using the actual definition of the word “quality”.
April 12th, 2026 at 5:30 pm
My only problem with Rodriguez is that the film shows a guy that makes play because he is never blocked over to see him shed a blocker. Last thing we need is another Barrett Rudd aka king of the downfield tackle
April 12th, 2026 at 5:36 pm
Normal fans have called out the Britt/Dennis BS for 3 years. If these guys had a normal professional job like doctor/accountant/lawyer they would be in jail for malpractice.
April 12th, 2026 at 5:47 pm
SVD was given the starting LB job.
He didn’t earn it. Licht forced his draft pick into the starting lineup.
Benenoch was gifted the starting OG position because of his draft status.
JTS was gifted a starters job.
Vernon Hargreaves was given his job.
I’m tired of players starting because of their draft position.
It sets a really bad example for the team.
April 12th, 2026 at 6:03 pm
That means that there are 10 linebackers in the draft that Bowles can ruin just like Devin White and others.
April 12th, 2026 at 6:30 pm
How do you know how or why starting jobs were won or lost? Were you at every practice and preseason game?
April 12th, 2026 at 6:45 pm
Bull no 5th rounder is guaranteed a roster spot let alone starter. VOS has shown the skills in camp and games. He face some of the top receiving backs in the league. I think some of you are going to be disappointed if VOS is replaced
April 12th, 2026 at 6:57 pm
Hopefully Bowles is talking like this to reduce other teams’ senses of urgency to take Inside Linebackers trying to get someone to drop to us. I still think we should take J-Rod in the first and Lee Hunter in the second. Fills 2 big needs and we can take a CB in the 3rd and a guard in the 4th.. most likely pattern to work out successfully. Or an edge in the 3rd, corner 4th and guard 5th.
April 12th, 2026 at 6:58 pm
Lakeland – Britt WAS a good MLB at Auburn. A downhill thumper and a RD5 draft pick. Not a starting NFL ILB that can cover. That’s where he failed. But that’s all we could afford. Same with Dennis.
April 12th, 2026 at 6:59 pm
I like CJ Allen because his skill level is high.
With a high football IQ, high motor, and leadership skills
And he’s been the MIKE for Georgia for 3 years, starting as a true freshman
And 11 Georgia defenders was drafted in 2024-2025
Probably another 4-5 defenders get drafted this year
So he’s coming from a big time college program, with a pro style defense
April 12th, 2026 at 7:06 pm
Britt was a good thumper at Auburn, he was a solid tackler
But he was poor in coverage, he couldn’t stay with RBs
He was a big slow MIKE LB, he lacked quickness, he had short range
He was a good backup MLB, and solid ST player
April 12th, 2026 at 7:10 pm
If he thinks there are at least 10 quality ILBers that just shows another aspect of the Bucs primary problem. There aren’t 10 ILBers in this draft who will go on to play more than 3-4 seasons and have any significant impact in the NFL.
April 12th, 2026 at 7:13 pm
Todd Bowles … “I feel like there are some [inside linebackers] in this draft that can really play. There’s quite a few of them – at least 10 or 12 of them, for sure.”
Todd’s probably right that there are a number of ILBs in this draft who can really play. However, I think he’s exaggerated the number (10-12) by probably as much as a 50% factor. Once you get past Reese, Styles, Allen, Rodriquez, Hill, Golday, and maybe Elliott, you move into a different ‘tier’. And I’m not even sure how well each of those fits Todd Bowles’ 3-4 scheme.
Strange thing is that you never really know what you’ll be getting from the draft. Example: whent back & relooked at the 2012 draft where Bucs picked Safety Mark Barron with our Rnd 1 #7 pick, and then LB Lavonte David with our Rnd 2 #58 pick.
The first ILB picked was Luke Kuechly (Rnd 1 #9). The second ILB picked was Dont’a Hightower (Rnd 1 #25). The third ILB picked was Michel Kendricks (Rnd 2, #46). The fourth ILB picked was Bobby Wagner (Rnd 2, #47). The fifth ILB picked was Zack Brown (Rnd 2, #52). THEN Lavonte David in Rnd 2, #58 … the 6th ILB taken.
Of those first 6 ILBs. Luke Kuechly is the only one to make the HOF … thus far. All but Bobby Wagner have now retired. Fully expect that Wagner & David will both make the HOF, meaning that 3 out of those first 6 ILBs taken in Rnds 1 & 2 of the 2012 draft could very well end up in the HOF. That’s a key reason I believe ‘you never really know what you’ll be getting from the draft’.
April 12th, 2026 at 7:28 pm
I hope SVD turns it around and at least becomes a quality backup. But yeah. Get one in RD2 at least.
April 12th, 2026 at 7:30 pm
I think KJ Britt and JJ Russell was two of our best ST players
When we lost them our ST suffered
April 12th, 2026 at 7:33 pm
Where is Mark Dominic when you need him. He drafted LVD who turned out pretty good.
April 12th, 2026 at 7:47 pm
But l really don’t think Voc Dennis played that bad last season
I seen Dennis make some really good tackles behind the LOS
His only weakness was covering RBs, and he wasn’t getting much help from the SS
It’s hard to cover a RB, and it’s even harder to tackle one in space
I believe the Bucs should keep Dennis, and play him at WILL LB
April 12th, 2026 at 7:59 pm
DE Bain Jr. slipping back in draft? Might shake things up a bit.
April 12th, 2026 at 8:11 pm
There is a reason why Reuben Bain Jr is slipping,…. he has legal issues
The best move the Bucs can make is trade up for Jeremiyah Love
The Bucs really don’t have a #1 running back and drafting Love could resolve that!!!
Also, if the Bucs want a Tight End!
TE Darren Waller Unlikely To Return To Dolphins; Team Extended Offer To TE Julian Hill
If the Bucs want a DT
Giants Willing To Entertain Dexter Lawrence Trade Offers
Lastly if they want a CB
Colts To Seek CB Kenny Moore Trade
I don’t know if the Bucs have the assets tom do all of this, but I would give it a go!!!
PS If I am the Bucs, I would not acquire anyone defensively in trade, but I would not do a darn thing, until I secured Jim Schwartz as DC and make Bowles just the HC
I know, I know,….. I don’t ask for much!!!
April 12th, 2026 at 8:19 pm
He might be- but I still don’t think he makes it to us…
April 12th, 2026 at 8:20 pm
They thoight Dennis was quality too and turned out to be poverty
April 12th, 2026 at 8:25 pm
I think our defensive front was also a huge problem
They got pushed around too much, they were too soft.
They couldn’t keep blockers off our Inside Linebackers
April 12th, 2026 at 8:35 pm
Britt and Dennis were both 5th round picks.
Selecting Allen, Rodriguez or Hill late in the 1st or early/mid 2nd round would be a completely different scenario…..
April 12th, 2026 at 9:12 pm
Anyone who thinks Dennis played well in 2025 needs to share their medications.
April 12th, 2026 at 9:37 pm
Would be just like Todd Bowles Bucs to draft an LB in round 5 and expect him to push for minutes.
I don’t know all these college players but it seems to me that if you bypass round 1 which would probably be reaching, and Allen, Rodriguez and Hill go before the Bucs pick in round 2… the Bucs are left with an undersized Kyle Louis. If he goes before the 3rd pick… you missed the boat.
Of course some kid could surprise but Bucs scouting hasn’t produced that at defensive positions. 4-5 LBs out there for us… not 10-12 haha, Cripes.
April 12th, 2026 at 9:56 pm
Sask, spot on. Bowles ruined Devin White,
Russell Britt and Dennis all regressed under the Bowlesgression. When you get a young kid and give him 74 different things to think about every play and the buffoon believes his defense isn’t complex….well it explains everything about where the Bucs are and why Mike Evans gave him the flick.
April 12th, 2026 at 10:16 pm
First thing you always look for is speed, because if you’re not fast enough to play, it doesn’t matter how good your instincts are. But, after that, instincts / ability to react quickly, is generally the second most important thing.
April 12th, 2026 at 10:17 pm
I’ve been coping with Bowles defensive failures by researching defensive prospects to draft but these past few years I’ve also been taking advantage of the wealth of whiteboard surfing Youtubers breaking down the x’s and o’s of darn near every system out there. It makes it a little easier when I have a notion of what they Bucs were trying to do when they fail and how to better assess prospects.
ILBs are tough to scout because they spend a good portion of time standing for a few beats most plays. The same goes for DTs. Is he a slow processor or being patient? Is he slow off the snap or managing three or four gap responsibilities or waiting to follow another rusher’s stunt? Tape doesn’t lie but it doesn’t tell the full story either.
Bowles is right- there are 10 ILBs I would love the Bucs to draft and another 8 I’m excited to watch play for other teams or be limited, darn-it Licht and Bowles did their dumb spit again-type Buccaneers. The ILB cup runneth over in this historically weak draft class. I hope the Bucs take advantage.
Here is my top 10 based on prospect talent/performance and scheme fit with an emphasis on physical tools. Specifically, quick trigger, fluid hips and long and/or active arms. Long, active arms shrink windows/triangles in zone, win at the catch point and bat down passes. They also stack and shed better and create a wide tackling strike zone so I want a pain of pterosaurs to deploy in subpackages at a minimum.
1. Anthony Hill Jr- most pro ready ILB in this class. He won’t hit-stick tackle anyone but his depth of run stop is the best in college football and he has eyes in the back of his head working in zone that he combines with his trigger and closing burst to make Ed Reed type plays in coverage. He and Mesidor both terrorize QBs every way they can on every snap. Not just on the few they get a sack.
2. Jacob Rodriguez- add a beard to that mustache before you hurt somebody or at least keep your helmet on. He lacks the length to win at the catch point and like Hill Jr. is no “thumper” but he gets it done in the run close to the line of scrimmage. Other sabermetic wizards say he is better than Hill in that regard. His tackling style creates highlights but also whiffs a lot. He isn’t top 200 in missed tackle percentage but the turnover trade-off makes that acceptable.
3. Harold Perkins Jr.-LSU- This fella may be the steal of the draft. Injuries after a freshman phenom debut combined with scheme changes that made him a lowly cog have LSU boosters lavishing him in gifts and apologies heading into this draft. He stayed loyal to LSU and perhaps was mis/underused, perhaps was recovering from his injuries, but his 2025 tape is tip-top.
4. Jake Golday-Cincinnati- He is 6’4″ with fluid hips and young LVD click and close pursuit talent. He bites stupid in zone and vs the run but will stay with TEs in man all the way down the field with ease. Reuniting him with his old partner in crime David Walker could drop a needed spark to this defense.
5. Lander Barton-Utah- He is 6’5″ with fluid hips and young LVD click and close pursuit talent. His closing speed jumps off the screen, so do his ball skills but short arms and block shedding issues have him a day 3 guy. If the Bucs must draft a TE, let it be Barton. He did line up at TE for the Utes in 2025 and was a boss. He isn’t Liam Coen’s two-way wonder but his all kinds of interesting with his NFL pedigree(has 2 brothers in the league.)
6. Josiah Trotter-Mizzou- He is a thumper who is a little undersized and I fear is overrated due to his NFL pedigree. Coverage limitations all but have him off my board for the Bucs but if they can combine his pop with another fresh ILB’s length and coverage skills Bowles might just be cooking with bear grease all of a sudden on defense.
7. Erick Hunter-USC- Another pterosaur with a motor and mouth that just don’t quit. He would be a subpackage moneybacker whose length is a proven asset on special teams.
8. Erick Hunter-Morgan State- This guy is actually my personal #2 on this list. He is basically Anthony Hill Jr. but a little lighter and a little faster. Character? This dude has been composing symphonies since high school. True genius processor and he finishes tackles like a true artist. I might need him to be a Buc more than any of these guys. Might be a UDFA but I’d use the Bucs round 5 pick on him.
9. AJ Pena-Rhode Island- His tape reminds me of LVD Nebraska tape+Kyle Louis take it to the house ability. The only reason Louis isn’t on this list is because I see him as a big slot. Another likely UDFA but I’d do the Bucs sixth.
10. Tony Rojas-Penn St- I love his tape and his testing numbers. I feel like he is coming out too early. If he didn’t declare I think he could play his way to a day two pick in 2026.
April 12th, 2026 at 10:23 pm
DR and Saskbucs. When I saw that “10 or 12” my heart jumped a beat. DR, you pointed out the 2012 draft with 3 possible future hall of fame inside linebackers. That’s an outlier. Bowles has to understand that this defense needs more than a guy with the “instincts” to get the job done. This defense needs a few young guys to upset the apple cart, so to speak. To make things a little uncomfortable on those not taking accountability seriously. Anzalone and Robinson? Meh. Better, but meh. Rodriguez and McDonald? BOOM! Sorry, we’ve got about 26 defenders, and not a single one with that Boom. And our coach thinks 10 or 12 inside backers could do the job. We’ve got 26 defenders who aren’t getting the job done, Coach. We’re in need of a superstar or two. And there are only 1 or 2 capable of turning this horse cart around. Not 10 or 12.
April 12th, 2026 at 10:25 pm
#7 is Eric Gentry-USC- I let my Erick Hunter love get the better of me. Those two Eric(k)s picked up in 2026 and developed for two years could be the best 3-4/cover 2 prime ILBs in the game.
April 12th, 2026 at 10:26 pm
HopeIn1Hand:
Good research there. Thanks for putting in the time and effort.
April 12th, 2026 at 10:38 pm
@ admin: How else can I stay sane? Been doing this compulsively since Vinny T threw 35 INTs. I thought the Bucs were set after they brought him in from Miami… haha! I was a rather gullible child but I got wise by the time the Bucs drafted Dilfer at #6? I think it was. I love the draft. Its a healthy outlet for our human judgmental impulses.
April 12th, 2026 at 10:49 pm
Arod will be gone by our 2nd….so Hill jr hopefully, then Jack Kelly in the 5th…grab two if we trade back somewhere and have extra picks.
April 13th, 2026 at 12:14 am
Not sure what to make of everything after the headline.
Britt and Dennis were late rounders. Longshots. White was drafted too high relative to position priority
I like a2nd or 3rd rounder for this need not first or fifth.
Alexander at a high 4 was ok but a car wreck got him. Lavender at 2 was great. Brooks at a really low 1 was great. Jts and hall at brooks level was too low to expect for the importance of the position. Forgive my poor wording im just saying best available player at that level. Lb is a 2nd day pick not first. Same as rb te and safety
April 13th, 2026 at 2:39 am
HopeIn1Hand… is onto something good with LSU’s Harold Perkins.
Recent big boards rank Perkins at 85, 106, 112, 131, 135, 211 and 221. He is not even on a lot of big boards. I watched a complete game and some highlights from 2025.
At 6′-5/8″and 220# Perkins ran a 4.38 and a 4.4 at his Pro Day.
In 2022 at LSU, he played OLB/Edge and produced 8 sacks, 13 tackles for loss, 4 forced fumbles, 1 interception, and 2 passes defended.
In 2023, he moved to off ball LB and produced 5.5 sacks, 13 tackles for loss, 3 forced fumbles, interception, and 5 passes defended. I wouldn’t call it ILB because he was often lined up outside the tackles five yards deep?
He missed almost all of 2024 with and ACL injury.
But, in 2025, at LSU, he produced 4 sacks, 8 tackles for loss, 1 forced fumble, 3 interceptions and 3 passes defended.
The thing is that much of that production did not really come from lining up at ILB. He blitzed from the slot and the edge and ILB. He lined up and played coverage as an outside cornerback and as a nickel back and as what looked like safety to me and as an ILB.
He sometimes played between the tackles, but I didn’t see him wrestle any guards to the ground or drive RBs backwards. But, he played his gap and held it against RBs. And he shot through gaps well creating tackles for loss.
He is a great player to use to disguise the defense because he is fast with good height and good weight and can play so many different positions.
The Bucs would do well to add two ILBs and a CB in this draft. I think that the Bucs could take Perkins in the third round at 77 and fill both the second ILB need and the CB depth need with one pick. In the fourth round with pick 116, Perkins looks like he would be an absolute steal.
April 13th, 2026 at 3:00 am
Id really like to see the Bucs down to acquire another 3rd round pick minimum, so late in the 1st we can select CJ Allen, a strong DE in the 2nd round (Malachi, Romello, Sutton, Young) and then select Deontae Lawson in the 3rd with the extra pick. This would give us 2 ideal ILB who are both smart, mature, quick and ready. Both can cover while Allen brings better pass rushing and Lawson brings better run stopping
April 13th, 2026 at 7:38 am
I would just draft all defensive players with our picks. Svd have no business playing in the NFL the dude is straight garbage.
April 13th, 2026 at 7:43 am
Voss DID have one good game—in he Niner’s game he was assigned to shadow CMC–pretty much shut the guy down
April 13th, 2026 at 7:48 am
Todd should respectfully bow out of any LB talk. Mr Diva “White is my best player” has no credibility!
Go Bucs!
April 13th, 2026 at 12:25 pm
If there’s depth at linebackers in the draft who will the Bucs pick at # 15. Is this a misdirection by Bowles? Or is it something 🤔 else.