Tipping pitches or bluffing?

Someone isn’t listening to Todd Bowles.

If the Bucs select just about anyone other than an edge rusher or an inside linebacker at No. 15, then it is high time to start giving Bowles respect and heeding his words.

A year ago at the NFL owners meetings, Bowles said with a straight face, but to many non-believers, that he was on board if the Bucs wanted to go offense in the first round. This came at a time when most who don’t pull a check from Team Glazer believed the Bucs would draft an inside linebacker in the first round.

Instead, the Bucs drafted receiver Emeka Egbuka.

This offseason, Bowles again said he believes in picking the best player available in the first round and drafting for need after that.

This is something Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht reinforced yesterday at One Buc Palace about Bowles’ philosophy. But it seems SI.com NFL scribe Gilberto Manzano didn’t get Bowles’ memo.

Manzano is of the mind Bowles’ dream would be to select an edge rusher at No. 15.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Dream Scenario: Top edge rusher being available at No. 15

Coach Todd Bowles desperately needs an impactful edge rusher. That hindered his defense last year and didn’t allow Bowles to be as aggressive with his play calls.

Drafting Reese, Bailey or Faulk would certainly be a dream come true for Bowles. Maybe Tampa Bay can take Bain, but there’s plenty to unpack from the report that emerged from him being involved in a fatal car collision in 2024.

The two Joes are split. One Joe believes, no matter what Bowles and Licht are saying (or more importantly, not saying) the Bucs will indeed pick an edge rusher at No. 15, barring a trade down.

The other Joe doesn’t believe Bucs fans can dismiss the arrows pointing at Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq but leans toward the Bucs going defensive tackle if Licht can trade down, possibly Ohio State defensive tackle Kayden McDonald.

But really, who knows? That’s the beauty of the draft: drama and suspense.