Bucs Looking For Pass Rushers Today
April 26th, 2025
Former Emeka Egbuka Ohio State teammate, edge rusher Jack Sawyer.
Joe heard two things yesterday that made Joe think a Big Ten edge rusher could be coming to town.
Maybe.
Bucs’ first-round pick Emeka Egbuka, meeting in a sidebar with the local pen and mic club, said he wants the Bucs to pick more Bucks today. His Ohio State team has talented players he wants to see in pewter and red.
This is actually smart. Ohio State won the national title this past season for a reason: They had a roster full of talent. Why wouldn’t the Bucs want more winners on the roster and in the locker room?
Last night, Bucs vice president of player personnel Mike Biehl said the Bucs will be looking for pass rushers today when Round 4 of the draft kicks off at noon.
So why not draft Egbuka’s teammate from Ohio State, Jack Sawyer?
Last year in the semifinals, Sawyer may have made the most clutch play of the entire 2024 college football season.
Ohio State led Texas by seven with just over two minutes left. Texas had the ball on the Ohio State-8. Fourth down.
Texas QB Quinn Ewers dropped to pass and floated left. Sawyer broke free on the Buckeyes’ defensive left side. He blasted Ewers, jarred the ball loose and scooped it for an 83- yard sack-fumble-return to send Ohio State to the championship game.
Why not get a guy who is that clutch of a player? What would be the harm in drafting him? Of course, Sawyer has more than one play on his resume.
Since Biehl said the Bucs are looking for pass rushers, Joe offers the edge rushers on Daniel Jeremiah’s top-150 list that are still on the board.
At the top of the list is Sawyer.
70. Jack Sawyer, Ohio State
87. Bradyn Swinson, LSU
112. Que Robinson, Alabama
115. Barryn Sorrell, Texas
140. David Walker, Central Arkansas
As you can see, all but Walker play for big-time winning programs. Think that might be a coincidence? Not very likely.
Go get Sawyer!
Jack Sawyer's 92 yard scoop-and-score against Quinn Ewers and Texas in the CFP semifinal Cotton Bowl. pic.twitter.com/b014ldQk4D
— David Cone (@davidadamcone) February 5, 2025
April 26th, 2025 at 8:02 am
Riley Mills is a mountain of a man and a dawg in the middle of a defensive line, Vita cant play forever and he’d be great rotation right now
April 26th, 2025 at 8:18 am
Will Sawyer be around by the time we pick?
That is the question. Also, is he on our big board?
Who’s left on our board at our picks is all that matters.
BPA for sure on day 3 or you just throw your pick away.
Remember, JL&Co picked Bucky and Jalen last year on day three!
April 26th, 2025 at 8:19 am
That clip of Sawyer’s 92 yard scoop and score. I mean, really, does it get any better than that? The greatness that is big time college football, right there. Look at that OSU sideline as their boy races down the sideline and takes it to the house.
April 26th, 2025 at 8:19 am
David Walker from Central Arkansas looks dangerous if we can’t get Sawyer
April 26th, 2025 at 8:20 am
Antwaun Powell-Ryland, Edge Va Tech by way of UF
April 26th, 2025 at 8:22 am
There are still far too many talented defensive tackles available. I only have Fadill Diggs and Johnny Walker as legitimate pass-rush rotational options alongside Sawyer left. In my opinion, Sawyer stands head and shoulders above the rest. His play style is reminiscent of Max Crosby—or, as much as I hate to say it, Joe Tryon-Shoyinka. What do I know though this is just my opinion.
If Sawyer reaches his ceiling to me, he could develop into a more power-based version of Crosby, with similar leadership intangibles, or a more consistent version of Tryon-Shoyinka, especially in run defense and overall reliability. The key difference here is that we’re talking about a fourth-round prospect, not a first-rounder, which makes him well worth the gamble.
That said, he’s much better suited for a 4-3 defensive front. His impact would likely be maximized by the Buccaneers in sub-packages, particularly in nickel and dime looks, where his burst and motor can shine without the burden of two-gapping responsibilities. I have made the same argument about Joe Tryon-Shoyinka however. So I guess we’ll see if he can make an impact in Cleveland this year, now that he’s in a system better suited to his skill set.
April 26th, 2025 at 8:22 am
Guys seriously. Go look at David Walkers film, especially at the senior bowl and combine. I think he might be a steal if we can’t get Sawyer
April 26th, 2025 at 8:23 am
It’s ILB time. That’s where the value is in the later rounds. Bucs will be targeting LB depth. Maybe a flier on an edge rusher, but not a focus.
April 26th, 2025 at 8:34 am
All in on Sawyer. Good list of possibilities today 🏈😊
April 26th, 2025 at 8:45 am
@ KA Bucs
That’s not true. Jalen McMillan was a 3rd round pick. That’s day 2.
April 26th, 2025 at 8:49 am
Captain Jack all the way!
April 26th, 2025 at 8:51 am
“This is actually smart. Ohio State won the national title this past season for a reason: They had a roster full of talent. Why wouldn’t the Bucs want more winners on the roster and in the locker room?”
Good point. Only a crazy person would argue with that.
I’ve seen a few other highlights of Sawyer. If he’s available we should snag him.
I’ll also put forth that we should be looking for a DT/NT similar in size and ability to Vita. A Vita clone.
Not knocking Vita, but he’s at his best when he plays about half of the defensive snaps, and he’s been in the league for a while.
We were thinking ahead when we drafted Emeka. We should think ahead re: DT/NT.
That leaves ILB. I originally called for us to draft ILB in round 1. It was my top priority. It still is in some ways.
SVD flashes but hasn’t been able to stay on the field and while hope is never a good strategy, I’m hoping he stays healthy this year and Anthony Walker turns out to be a great FA signing.
April 26th, 2025 at 8:52 am
Would have to trade up for Sawyer. Might be worth it.
April 26th, 2025 at 8:58 am
updated depth chart on ourlads.com is pretty interesting
April 26th, 2025 at 8:59 am
LVD is likely to retire at the end of the season, so in ‘26 the starters will be SVD and Anthony Walker?
April 26th, 2025 at 9:03 am
I am ok with whoever Licht picks, but I would like the following:
DT: CJ West, Tonka Hemingway, Thor Griffith
LB: Smael Mondon Jr, Jack Kiser, Jeffrey Bassa
Edge: David Walker, Tyler Batty, Elijah Williams, Johnny Walker
April 26th, 2025 at 9:12 am
Everyone seems to want more Edge rushers, but without those beasts in the middle of the DLine to push the pile back, QBs will continue to pick us apart with the short quick passes near the middle of the field. The best way to prevent that is to push the pile back into the QB’s lap real fast.
It takes beasts to do that. We’ve got one: Vita Vea. On those 40% of the def snaps when he’s not out there, we don’t push the pile anyplace. We NEED another beast to provide a more consistent pass rush.
April 26th, 2025 at 9:16 am
ZERO chance any of the above listed players will be around when the Bucs pick! Maybe there will be a much injured player still available!!
April 26th, 2025 at 9:16 am
Farmer or Sawyer….
April 26th, 2025 at 9:20 am
Wishful thinking to think you can find a good pass rusher after the second round.
April 26th, 2025 at 9:25 am
Beastly man meat, I say! And ILB please. I’m guessing Licht will also grab an O-line at some point.
What a heck of a play by Sawyer in a huge game. Kinda reminds me of the James Harrison 100-yard pick-six TD return in the Super Bowl some years back vs the Cardinals.
April 26th, 2025 at 9:27 am
Walker Sawyer or Kennard at edge
Paul Bassa orCarter at LB
Strong if another DB
Thor round 5 if DT
April 26th, 2025 at 9:30 am
As a lifelong Wolverine, the idea of two Buckeyes in one draft is kinda hard to take, but I can’t fault the logic.
April 26th, 2025 at 9:34 am
I’m all in Jack Sawyer—Deone Walker as a consolation prize as you can’t teach 6’7″, 350 pounds, but you can’t coach heart or love for the game either. So which is more valuable: a massive talent who quit on his team when things got tough, or the high-motor, high-character guy who won a national title and produced without the elite measurables?
April 26th, 2025 at 9:55 am
Dying to see if someone draft that huge dude from FLA
April 26th, 2025 at 10:28 am
Defense Rules, another way to stop those is to jam the receivers on the line of scrimmage. Our new corners may help with that. There’s coverage sacks too.
April 26th, 2025 at 10:46 am
Maybe this is when White gets traded for an early 4 th round pick
April 26th, 2025 at 10:46 am
Totally agree – center cut roast beast. But somehow I think Jason and Todd are going in a different direction.
April 26th, 2025 at 10:47 am
KABucs Says:
April 26th, 2025 at 8:18 am
McMillan was picked in the 3rd round, so day 2.
April 26th, 2025 at 10:48 am
Deone Walker would make a great 3-4 DE, I think! Sawyer 4th, Walker 5th, or vice versa would be sweet. I also like Chris Paul at LB, however.
April 26th, 2025 at 10:51 am
SB~LV Says:
April 26th, 2025 at 10:46 am
That would be a complete waste unless his replacement is available in round 4. Why do people want to trade this guy? Just because he’s in his final contract year? He’s one of our most productive offensive players, and Bucky isn’t built for 30 touches per game. I know we have Sean Tucker, but his game still isn’t as well rounded as Ra White. And we need to be 3 deep there.
So please tell me why giving away Ra White for a 4th round pick makes any sense.
April 26th, 2025 at 10:59 am
Bassa ILB Oregon might be in play.
April 26th, 2025 at 11:04 am
Hoping he last til our pick. Would be a great addition to our D
April 26th, 2025 at 11:06 am
Beastly NT/DT.
April 26th, 2025 at 11:08 am
Not smart. The time to get D-Line rushers is t G e 1st and 2nd round. Need ILB in 4th. Safety or Walker in 5th.