Best Defensive Players Available
February 17th, 2026
Challenge.
The Bucs have so many holes on defense, a screenshot from an All-22 video of the defense looks like the surface of the moon.
The Bucs need defensive help in such a way that on SiriusXM NFL Radio last week, Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht was encouraged to draft defense only no matter the position.
In a Bucs discussion heard on “Movin’ the Chains,” co-host David Moulton suggested on the first two days of the draft, Licht shouldn’t go by the outdated philosophy of “best player available,” but instead go best defensive player available.
“Thursday and Friday should just, every time they’re on the clock, they should take the best defensive player on the board,” Moulton said. “Seriously. I mean, if by chance you can get a [pass] rusher, and if by chance you can maneuver up a couple spots in the first round and get a pass rusher, well then by all means, do it.
“But I would have no problem if the first four picks for Tampa Bay are just the four best defensive players on the board.”
That’s probably a pretty smart move if you ask “this Joe.” What’s the only position on defense where the Bucs don’t need help? Joe would suggest safety.
And really, if a defensive coordinator is savvy enough and creative enough, he could concoct a defense using three safeties or at least use a safety at nickel and move Jacob Parrish to full-time corner.
Sure, the Bucs have two decent tackles but there are asterisks by both names. Vita Vea is 31 and he wasn’t exactly dominant last year. Joe loves Calijah Kancey, but let’s be real: He’s never been healthy for a full year. So it’s not like adding a tackle would be an outrageous move.
Yeah, Joe likes Moulton’s thinking: First four picks? The four best available defensive players on the board, regardless of position, when the Bucs are on the clock, isn’t a bad move.
February 17th, 2026 at 7:09 am
If Love is there at 15 you have to take him-PERIOD.
February 17th, 2026 at 7:26 am
Licht might grab a few place kickers in the first two days because he is so bold and savvy
February 17th, 2026 at 7:37 am
Licht rocking the Kurt Rambis glasses. Makes him seem smarter a la former presidential candidate Rick Perry. The rest of the league doesn’t stand a chance against this mastermind.
February 17th, 2026 at 7:40 am
Is Kyle Trask still available? Maybe trade our first for him.
Right Rod?
February 17th, 2026 at 7:52 am
The Bucs D is clearly that bad. The Bucs could justifiably use every draft pick on d. We have a 5th round player starting at MLB that has no business on the field, and Todd should have seen that last year, but still brought him in as the starting MLB. The only position the Bucs truly need on offense is a backup guard. That can be found with a late day 3 pick.
February 17th, 2026 at 7:56 am
First player has to be defense. Trade up or down. Just get a player that can play right away.
February 17th, 2026 at 8:06 am
The Putrid Pass Defense needs to drastically improve, or this team will continue to toil in mediocrity. WE need Edge Rushers and LB’s that can cover.
February 17th, 2026 at 8:10 am
Yes ,hard to disagree with this. However, yes I think we need a TE, Otten maybe gone. There is not much behind him and Otten himself is average. We also need depth at the OL guard position and Tackle. Last year the backups were not very good. With that said the defense is in dire shape!!. I don’t think it can be completely addressed in one year. Hopefully , we can get 1 solid Edge Rusher and 2 really good MLB’s that would at least get the defense to average. Yes with a good offense an average defense may work well enough .
February 17th, 2026 at 8:12 am
Trade Winfield and Godwin for picks….we need to reload reload roster with youth and free up cap space to get guys that can impact the game. Winfield isn’t a game wrecker and frankly with no pass rush, the dedicating money to the secondary is a waste of resources. Godwin is on the perpetual decline, his style of play will only see him accumulate more and more injuries while missing even more games. This is what contenders do, they make tough decisions for the sake of remaining competitive.
February 17th, 2026 at 8:23 am
If we move Parrish to outside corner it’s acknowledging that the #2 last year on Morrison was wasted
February 17th, 2026 at 8:23 am
Too many 1st round blunders on defense and it scares me. I wouldn’t mind if they traded out of the 1st for a couple of extra 2 and 3 round picks. Crazy as that sounds.
February 17th, 2026 at 8:34 am
“Best player available” is somewhat a false pretense, since every team grades differently. But usually a common range emerges for each player. In that respect, you always stay true to that. If your own needs don’t line up with the current board, you trade back. Otherwise you’re spending “top dollar” on a pick with no competing bids (i.e., wasting “money”). Does not computer.
February 17th, 2026 at 8:35 am
*compute (stupid phone)
February 17th, 2026 at 8:37 am
Be willing to trade down from 15, collect an additional pick. It’s going to take some time to get these rookies up to speed, so quantity over quality might be crucial. We need an edge, a MLB, a 5 technique end and a backup NT. All of these spots can be filled with a combo of free agents and the first three picks of the draft. Later round picks need be to depth at IOL, TE, CB and another LB
February 17th, 2026 at 8:47 am
My advice for Jason Licht – draft players that are good. Don’t draft players that are bad…
February 17th, 2026 at 8:56 am
Todd Says:
February 17th, 2026 at 7:09 am
If Love is there at 15 you have to take him-PERIOD.
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Right on. Have to do it notwithstanding the need for defense help everywhere. Browns have won 8 games in 2 years with Myles Garrett.
February 17th, 2026 at 9:14 am
LOL Maxx Crosby, everyone’s hearts desire was a 4th round pick.. no trading up.
February 17th, 2026 at 9:17 am
All defensive draft – yes, but the top 4 picks should be on the front 7. You could have the best corners and safetys of all time – who would massively struggle with zero pass rush. Front to back. The game is won or lost in the trenches. Please tell me Licht knows this.
February 17th, 2026 at 9:31 am
The Coach Hole is the biggest.
February 17th, 2026 at 9:48 am
Take all offense in draft. With Bowzo as HC/DC defense is a waste of time we need to score 40 a game at least to keep our defense on the sideline with The Stiff.
February 17th, 2026 at 9:49 am
Edge > ILB > IDL > CB right now, but could change drastically between now and the draft.
Good thing for us is, the CB class mirrors the WR class where you’ve got your blue chip guys at the top, but there’s also a ton of player with the way the game is played. I’m seeing guys like CB Domani Jackson out of Bama with a 4th rd grades, and on the other side a player like Skyler Bell is being talked about as a 3rd rounder at best.
Talent density fluctuates at every position, during every round and after every single selection. Keep that in mind.
February 17th, 2026 at 9:49 am
Get all offense FA’s. Start Air Mayfield.
February 17th, 2026 at 9:52 am
1st 5 picks use on the defensive front 7
Last 2 picks use on OL
Re-sign Otton. Our TE room is fine
RB – free agency ( Algeirs as the #1 target)
Backup QB – free agency
Resign ME13 but don’t break the bank. May be time to move on here.
February 17th, 2026 at 10:18 am
Best defensive players in the front 7*
February 17th, 2026 at 10:31 am
FA center linderbaum ravens, draft max breederson tight end /fullback..Then Dts/ edge
February 17th, 2026 at 10:57 am
@Steve V
So you want to spend a draft pick on a 6’2 fullback? He is way too undersized to be a TE plus he has 10 catches in his Entire collegiate career. That’s what you want as our TE? And spend a draft pick getting him? Otton is waaaaay more valuable than that. Same with Durham. Same with Culp. Same with Kieft. We have 4 TEs on the roster that are better. I’m worried about you man…..
February 17th, 2026 at 11:06 am
“”Trade Winfield and Godwin for picks….we need to reload reload roster with youth and free up cap space to get guys that can impact the game.””
I would have no problem with that whatsoever.
February 17th, 2026 at 11:14 am
LOL @Marine. You must not have been in the draft room the last 5 years.
February 17th, 2026 at 11:24 am
He can block
February 17th, 2026 at 11:31 am
Trade a couple “way better TEs” . For a DT, edge. Gotta run the ball makes life easy
February 17th, 2026 at 11:32 am
Move up move down just don’t trade away the 2027 draft pick. It should be a to 10 pick.
February 17th, 2026 at 11:40 am
Stevie v – so can 3 of our 4 TEs… who aren’t 6’2”.
February 17th, 2026 at 11:45 am
Don’t use a 2nd round pick on a corner coming off hip surgery. Even if you did play with his dad.
February 17th, 2026 at 12:17 pm
as Joe mentioned DT needs to be addressed….
see what the asking price is for Jeffrey Simmons…
if its too high, trade down the and select an OG in the 1st round and then defense the rest of the way
GO BUCS!!!!
February 17th, 2026 at 1:10 pm
As long as Todd Bowles is coaching this team, we will go nowhere. It doesn’t matter who you draft, or pick up in FA. The sample size is to large to show he is anything other than .500 at best.
February 17th, 2026 at 1:18 pm
I agree with the first 4 picks best player available to the defensive front 7.
I was thinking earlier about the Bowles situation. I honestly think they can win the division next year, but I don’t think he’s a Super Bowl coach. I guess that’s why I’m struggling that he’s still here.
February 17th, 2026 at 1:26 pm
Bucs are so lucky to have Todd, it really doesn’t matter. Whether he is coaching the 1985 Bears, or the 1986 Bucs, Todd’s steady defensive hand will get the same performance out of whoever is on the field. The players don’t matter. It’s all about Todd. The performance will be exactly what Bucs fans have grown accustomed to seeing.
February 17th, 2026 at 1:30 pm
There are some very possible ready to bloom young free agents on defense and one on offense in Pittsburgh.
Line backers Herbig,Queen and Payton Smith are all possible and can be put in play.
TE Freimuth who catches the ball all over the field blocks and almost always passes the 1st down line when he comes out of his breaks.
Herbig lines up all over the field and hunts the QB and the ball relentlessly and with speed.
Just sayin. Go Bucs
February 17th, 2026 at 1:37 pm
Edge and LBs. Rinse and repeat until you get at least 4 starters
February 17th, 2026 at 1:56 pm
@westernpennafan – Freiermuth not a free agent until 2029. So, there’s that….
February 17th, 2026 at 2:50 pm
Aqualong gets the point….Draft and FA’s all offense. Build the best Offense possible. Keep the D on the sidelines.
February 17th, 2026 at 2:56 pm
Styles if he’s there or even go up a couple slots ahead of the Cowgirls. If that ain’t there Best OLB possible. If there still isn’t anything, Stud Guard. We really need a pro bowl caliber ILB. It makes everything work from run stopping to coverage. RB? Unless he’s Bijan Robinson good, no thanks. I like Love, but we won’t utilize him properly. Once we start to lose OLs, and there will be injuries, we already know what that looks like if we don’t invest in some actual backups, not just practice squad bodies. Both guards are coming back from injury and Bredeson is decent but great. Drafting an RB, not matter how good is an accident waiting to happen.
February 17th, 2026 at 3:45 pm
Offense – ranked 21st overall
21.4 points per game
320.4 yards per game
Defense (allowed) – ranked 19th overall
24.2 points per game
337.2 yards per game
February 17th, 2026 at 4:01 pm
Not chippn ,biggie! I mean snot bubbling blocking
February 17th, 2026 at 9:25 pm
Get vea some help and bounce kancey outside to DE. Might be able to stay a little more healthy that way too
February 17th, 2026 at 10:20 pm
I’m down with the 4 best defensive players no matter their position Joe. That’s kinda the best way anyhow getting the best on the board,unless you’re picking in the top 5.
February 18th, 2026 at 4:12 am
We absolutely need a 3rd DT/NT.
We need a DE/DT who is as good or better than Gholston.
We need a 10 sack OLB who looks like Yaya or Pearce Jr.
We need 2 middle linebackers.
We don’t need a safety.
We don’t need a CB.
We don’t need a WR.
We don’t need a backup LT (Chukwuma is Him)
We need a legit OG/C who can start.
We need much better players on special teams.
February 18th, 2026 at 11:55 am
It’s a copy cat league so everyone is going to be chasing a defensive model this offseason. Look at the teams that had success in the playoffs last year. All defensive squads.