Get An Inside Linebacker Who Can Cover
February 4th, 2026
Inside linebacker blues.
Joe’s going to get in trouble typing the following sentence. Blame the caffeine. Or blame it on the cold weather that has turned Joe surly. Or the lack of football this past weekend.
No team serious about making a run in the postseason has SirVocea Dennis as a starting linebacker.
Dennis might be good as a special teams guy. He might be good in spot duty for a few snaps to highlight his best skillset, whatever that may be.
Joe questions Dennis’ ability as a run stopper (go back and rewatch the loss to Philadelphia, if you can stomach it) and Joe has seen enough to know Dennis cannot cover passing targets. At least he can’t do it in the formidable Todd Bowles defense.
(Sarcasm alert.)
Joe had high hopes for Dennis in the limited time he was on the field prior to this past season. Those hopes were splattered this past season (see the aforementioned Philadelphia game).
It seems Kevin Patra of NFL.com is of the same mind as Joe. Patra typed how it is painfully clear what the Bucs need to add to the roster this offseason. And that is a linebacker who has an idea of how to play pass defense.
Add a coverage linebacker
The Bucs’ defensive issues up the middle were evident as the linebacking crew struggled. Lavonte David is a free agent and could ride off into the sunset, coming off a down campaign at 36 years old. SirVocea Dennis struggled mightily in coverage, getting picked on repeatedly. The two Bucs starting linebackers combined to allow 106 catches for 1,052 yards in 2025, per Next Gen Stats. Adding a coverage linebacker is critical for Todd Bowles’ defense in 2026.
Joe really is fixated on Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles. Joe, however, has strong doubts if he will be available at No. 15. But there are ways to address this issue without rolling the dice on the draft.
Go after a proven guy in free agency. And Joe isn’t talking about an Anthony Walker kind of guy. Get someone in here who has started in the league and demonstrated he can stay on the field and make plays.
February 4th, 2026 at 4:22 am
what about an edge rusher who can cover?
February 4th, 2026 at 4:44 am
Deonte lawson could be there when we pick 3rd rd….probably wont be bad for a 3rd, bit yeah, we also need to sign someone.
February 4th, 2026 at 5:06 am
We need a Bobby Wagner-type LB.
I’m not saying we need to get Bobby specifically, just someone with a pedigree similar or close to his.
In fact, I’d be fine with it if we went out and picked up two LBs in free agency, rather than taking a chance on the draft. Other than LaVonte, we’re in a bad way there, and there’s no guarantee LaVonte will be back.
I think we all had higher hopes for Voss, based on what we saw in 23 and 24.
Recent history suggests Voss will play out his full rookie contract here, regardless of how well or badly he performs. JTS anyone?
Two proven LB starters in free agency is asking for a lot. Wishful thinking, probably. But, after LaVonte, we’re so bare at LB that I’d simply prefer we not take our chances via draft picks.
February 4th, 2026 at 5:47 am
MLBs are not usually drafted in the 1st round.
We may be able to trade back.
And still get 2 great MLBs in rounds 1-4.
February 4th, 2026 at 6:14 am
Kyle Louis! We’re going back to Pitt for an LB
February 4th, 2026 at 6:36 am
Joe … ‘Go after a proven guy in free agency. Get someone in here who has started in the league and demonstrated he can stay on the field and make plays’.
Yea verily Joe, we desperately need a PROVEN VETERAN to anchor our ILB group. I have serious doubts that LVD will be back next year, and even if he is, it should only be for a part-time role for part-time pay (Father Time has caught up with Lavonte).
Bucs typically keep 4 ILBs and 4 OLBs, although it’s prudent to have a 5th of each ‘waiting in the wings’ because of injuries. The ILBs are critical to Todd Bowles’ Pass Defense AND Run Defense; BOTH ILBs need speed, excellent tackling skills, solid pass coverage skills & tremendous instincts at ‘sniffing out plays’. We saw last year what happens when those are missing.
Right now, under contract, the Bucs only have TWO ILBs: SirVocea Dennis & Nick Jackson. I’d keep Dennis for now … as a backup. Jackson’s fine … on the Practice Squad, not on the active roster unless injuries require a filler. So the Bucs actually need THREE ILBs on the active roster … 2 starters & another backup. That’s a tall order, but that’s how far we’ve fallen. Bad planning by our GM IMO.
Signing a FA PROVEN VETERAN who also has strong leadership skills is critical. Guys like Brooks & LVD have been critical to the success of our defenses for the past 30 years. Bucs NEED a player who can become the next Brooks or LVD for a number of years. In addition, we NEED to draft a quality ILB with exceptional instincts who can pair with that proven veteran to provide the critical ILB capabilities that this defense has to have to function. Personally I’d use either our Rnd 1 or Rnd 2 pick to get our guy.
February 4th, 2026 at 6:36 am
Where’s Dewey Selmon?
February 4th, 2026 at 6:52 am
Sounds like you are talking about the NFL’s leading tackler and known great cover LB Jordyn Brooks of Miami that was dangled in front of Licht at the Trade Deadline like a steak in front of a starving man.
Thanks Joe’s for making my point for me that a GM who does NOT make deals at the trade deadline EVER-is not a REAL GM.
February 4th, 2026 at 7:02 am
Licht should be on notice too along with Bowles, the worst HC/DC in the league.
He’s a big part of the problem here. Then add a pinch of Glazer’s unwarranted extensions then cowardness after it blew up in their faces and you get a team in free fall. I don’t ever want to hear the word accountability from any of these failures again.
February 4th, 2026 at 7:15 am
It was painfull watching Dennis at times. I’d see wide recievers block him out of the frame. He got pushed around more than a skinny kid wearing thick glasses, and braces in jr high school. We need two new staring ILBs. David is going to want 8 to 10 million. Take that bag, add to it, and get an upgrade. Draft another early, one late, add another second tear FA. Do the same at edge, and DT. Our front seven is garbage. Morrison pick should’ve went up front. Drafting two high was over kill. Draft all the corners you want, without a pass rush the best will fail. I have no faith Licht, and Bowles will get this fixed.
February 4th, 2026 at 7:23 am
Go out and get a Quay Walker or Devin Bush in free agency. Pick up a solid edge like Oweh or Mafe. Then go get a DT like Franklin-Myers or one of the Detroit guys. Draft the best available edge rusher at 15 and trade up in the 2nd to get ILB Rodriguez. Draft another corner and guard in the later rounds
February 4th, 2026 at 7:42 am
Bond
Beckwith
Licht
White
Russell
Britt
Stuart
Dennis
Licht has no business drafting an ILB. He and Bowles even broke the ringer, White. Ring of Honor, my foot
February 4th, 2026 at 7:43 am
Cichy*, not Licht.
February 4th, 2026 at 7:46 am
Chenille or Bush. Young, cheaper than Lloyd, and better coverage than Quay Walker. I like Quay as a tone setter, but if you want cover skills, pass. I get a lot of GB games in my neck of the woods and Quay is very burnable underneath
February 4th, 2026 at 7:47 am
Chanel*
February 4th, 2026 at 7:50 am
Do not let Bowles pick ANY of the groceries. He should have no say in FA or the draft..but we all understand that won’t happen. He will tell Licht what players he needs or doesn’t need for his complex scheme. Then when Lichts offensive players continue to work out and his defensive groceries go rotten time and time again, the same old morons will continue to blame Licht.
Get rid of Bowles and his scheme that only confuses his own players, not opposing offenses. Bring in a real DC who knows the type of players he needs and how to develop those players and poof, like Magic JL groceries list will look different and they won’t spoil.
February 4th, 2026 at 8:12 am
Vet free agent ILB, draft Rodriguez for the Mike, stud OLB in round 1 but if that fails, a stud Guard in round 1 (since Bredsen is only ok and the jury is still out on Barton at Center. We proved DEPTH matters last year!).
February 4th, 2026 at 8:14 am
Go for an edge rusher in free agency, but draft Jacob Rodriguez and develop him. Bowles has shown he CAN develop inside linebackers, not outside linebackers. Use you free agent capital on an proven edge rusher.
February 4th, 2026 at 8:17 am
Beckwith was a solid pick, too bad a car accident ended his career before it started. White was a no brainer and proved it until his 3rd year when David got hurt for a stretch, was asked to do some different things he didn’t want/like to do and went and pouted. If you want great players you have to draft them, you can score a few in FA but they are far and few between. At most you could want is solidity in a FA. Both Ohio State LB’s are fantastic, Downs is talked a lot about and played great but wasn’t really tested. Like Miami’s defensive guys too, both those clubs gave Indiana a hard time this year.
February 4th, 2026 at 8:25 am
Jacob Rodriguez, love that guy. Apparently he’s projected in second or third, not sure why