Florida Bettors Loading Up On Bucs Drafting An Edge Rusher/Defensive Lineman
April 23rd, 2026
Ready for new defensive blood.
The lines have been moving for days at Florida’s legal sportsbook.
On the Hard Rock wagering platform, “this Joe” pulled the trigger a week ago on the Bucs drafting a “defensive lineman/edge” with their first selection in the 2026 NFL Draft. Back then, the odds were +300. That means a $100 wager pays out $400.
As of this afternoon, the odds are down to +110, meaning a $100 wager pays $210.
That’s a steep drop.
At +300 is Tampa Bay picking tight end as the “playing position of Tampa Bay Buccaneers first drafted player.” At +350 is offensive lineman and at +400 is cornerback. The latter might be a reasonable value pick.
Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht has never drafted offensive players in three consecutive years with his first pick of a draft. So based on that alone, Joe highly advises not wagering on that to happening. And that’s in addition to the Bucs being desperate for an infusion of defensive talent.
Fantasizing is fun, but reality (and your money) is a very different animal.
April 23rd, 2026 at 2:17 pm
Joe … ‘Fantasizing is fun, but reality (and your money) is a very different animal’.
Now you tell me Joe after two months of fantasizing. HOPEFULLY Licht & Bowles come to thier senses and invest heavily in fixing this defense. Moving the deck chairs around on the Titanic doesn’t solve anything.
April 23rd, 2026 at 2:18 pm
I think the Bucs go Edge Rusher with their 1sr pick
I look at the ILB position, it’s not as bad as it seems
Alex Anzalone, Christian Rozeboom are new additions
And Sirvocea Dennis didn’t play as bad as advertised
Devin White rookie season
Tackles 91
Sacks 2 5
TFL 4
INT 1
PD 3
Sirvocea Dennis 1st season starting
Tackles 101
Sacks 3
TFL 10
INT 1
PD 5
To be fair to Dennis
LVD had a bad year also
He didn’t get much help from the Defensive Front or the SS
April 23rd, 2026 at 2:19 pm
Bucs not going edge in round 1. Bucs are taking Vega Ioane. He is best Offensive line in this draft.
April 23rd, 2026 at 2:21 pm
I think Sirvocea Dennis come to camp with a chip
And will impress the coaching staff
Dennis is a keeper in my book
April 23rd, 2026 at 2:24 pm
You just might have a gambling problem Joe.
I can think of a ton of better ways to spend money than this.
A gym membership comes to mind.
Some good walking shoes perhaps.
A nice mattress to improve sleep quality.
Invest in yourself. That bet always pays off.
1) Joe has an annual gym membership.
2) Joe has comfortable sneakers.
3) And Joe sleeps like a rock on a very average bed and 1 very expensive pillow. –Joe
April 23rd, 2026 at 2:25 pm
trade down a few spots and still land Ioane…..
April 23rd, 2026 at 2:26 pm
Wow I would have put a couple thousand down on 3:1 on my money. It includes edge and DL so that’s an awesome bet price-wise.
April 23rd, 2026 at 2:28 pm
If Mesidor didn’t have the ankle/foot injury history, I’d be pumping the drum for the guy. The most mature and pro-ready pass rusher of the class imo. But the foot/ankle injury history has me tapping the drum instead of pounding it. Still playing though 🥁!
But I just want BPA. If that’s a trade back to get McDonald, I’m cool. If the Penn State guard. Cool. Both great for the trenches and I’ll never complain about investing highly there. I want an edge rusher bad, but don’t force it over BPA in round 1.
The only trade up I want is for Sonny Styles. Otherwise stay out or trade back.
And I’d love to end up with JRod at ILB this Draft. If him or CJ Allen somehow falls to Bucs in 2nd, I’d love it, although not getting hopes up and unlikely. But if not, Rounds 2 & 3 are still good rounds to draft one. I like the younger Trotter out of Mizzou too. Hill, Lawson & Louis are great options there as well.
We also need CB help. Would love to move Parrish outside. If so, Keionte Scott is a plug and play Nickel who plays an old school brand, ain’t allergic to tackling or contact and brings juice & tenacity to this D. But there’s good Day 2 options on the outside. Terrell has a bit of Brent Grimes to him. Ponds is a Dawg and ultra competitor. Isn’t afraid of contact either. Cisse is intriguing. Many intriguing options here.
Can’t wait to see what IOL addition Jason Licht adds this Draft. Gennings Dunker seems like a nasty flowing red hair type of JL guy. His Iowa teammate Beau Stephens, Notre Dame transfer Coogan & Casey aren’t bad IOL line options either in Draft. Either way, I always get excited to see what JL deems a good O-Lineman.
Can’t wait for tonight!
April 23rd, 2026 at 2:28 pm
SVD is too slow to catch up to NFL RB’s. And he takes bad angles on top of it. He played a bit better later in the season but by then we had already been shredded by big plays almost all season.
April 23rd, 2026 at 2:31 pm
1. DT/OLB
2 DT/OLB
3. CB
4. ILB
5. OG
6. WR
7. TE
This without a trade down
With a trade down
8. OLB/DT
9.S
April 23rd, 2026 at 2:34 pm
Lynchmob and Joe says this: You just might have a gambling problem Joe.
I can think of a ton of better ways to spend money than this.
A gym membership comes to mind.
Some good walking shoes perhaps.
A nice mattress to improve sleep quality.
Invest in yourself. That bet always pays off.
1) Joe has an annual gym membership.
2) Joe has comfortable sneakers.
3) And Joe sleeps like a rock on a very average bed and 1 very expensive pillow. –Joe
Lynchmob don’t mess with Joe lol!
April 23rd, 2026 at 2:43 pm
1. If Zac was HC material he would have replaced Raheem.
2. The reality is that Bowles is likely gone after this year.
3. Baker is the question mark.
4. Jason has to be concerned that an overhaul may include himself.
5. If indeed it all falls apart then what becomes important is the core players left that are essential to rebuild around.
6. If I was the GM and wanted to keep my job I would make sure that the next coaching staff had solid essentials to rebuild around.
7. Baker could be collateral damage.
8. The solid essentials for a rebuild would be the following:
O line
D line
Corners
9. The O line only needs some depth.
10. The D line needs to be built to fit both a 3-4 and a 4-3 if a new regime wants change.
11. We have safties.
12. RB’s can always be found.
13. We have receivers.
14. Odds are in my opinion they need to draft a QB next year.
I’m thinking Jason will get Mesidor and a linebacker then go heavy D line and corners.
April 23rd, 2026 at 2:47 pm
The good news is no matter what happens or who they draft, Licht and Bowles will tell us they got their “guy” and said player was #1 on the draft board!
April 23rd, 2026 at 2:51 pm
I think Zyon is a trade candidate and perhaps Kancey as well.
April 23rd, 2026 at 2:52 pm
@Joe, got a request. Can y’all post a thread that opens when the Bucs are on the clock. Only allow commenters to post the name of the player the Bucs should draft and turn the comments off prior to the actual selection? It would be cool to see what fans would do in the moment with players that are actually available. If the Bucs trade down run it again when they pick!
April 23rd, 2026 at 3:03 pm
Go Ohio State DT in the first then Hunter out of Texas Tech…. Double trouble🤷
April 23rd, 2026 at 3:03 pm
They think it’s more likely the Bucs pick an offensive lineman as opposed to a corner? That’s interesting. I know personally that if I could draft the top guard in the draft, which upgrades the line (might give you the best offensive line in football in fact) AND gives you a very good backup with Ben moving to a C/G reserve role like Hainsey played, that single move could be the biggest win-now move available, and would be very difficult to pass up. In particular when a lot of the EDGE and LB’s are sort of clustered together more as late 1st or 2nd round selections and some of them will still be there in the 2nd.
Not saying I would draft a guard – but if you can make a move that gives you, perhaps, the best offensive line in football, upgrades your run game and passing game, then I wouldn’t dismiss it.
And no, Ben making $7M a year shouldn’t block a move like that. $7M in 2026 is not some outrageous number as middling starters make like $12M, good guards make like $15M, and your top ones make over $20M. Also with Cody’s deal up … well I’m bringing him back, but if the cap is too tight, having a top guard ready to go would help should he not be back.
April 23rd, 2026 at 3:13 pm
The Bucs need to go to a 4-3 defense and eliminate the constant need to find a “tweener” sized specialty player to fit the OLB profile.
Build a D line with steam snorting wooly mammoth types.
April 23rd, 2026 at 3:14 pm
The photo shows why the draft will be a huge blunder.. I grade it an F- pre draft.
April 23rd, 2026 at 3:16 pm
Sal should get a job at 1 Buck but he makes too much sense for this franchise and the Glazers.
April 23rd, 2026 at 3:27 pm
HC Grover Says:
April 23rd, 2026 at 3:16 pm
^^^
WOW. Thanks for that HC.
April 23rd, 2026 at 3:29 pm
The more I think about it, the more I think the following will happen.
If the Bucs stay at 15, they’re going to shock us with an unexpected pick. Maybe Ioane, maybe Jordyn Tyson, Saadiq and maybe even Jermod McCoy.
If they trade back, they’ll take a guy like Cashius Howell, Zion Young, Jacob Rodriguez or CJ Allen.
My thinking is they want to trade back, but if they can’t, they’ll go BPA, which at 15 will almost all be offensive players.
If they manage to trade back, they’ll get someone young and athletic for the defense.
Call me crazy but I really don’t want Saadiq. Seems boom or bust and more of a luxury pick.
April 23rd, 2026 at 3:34 pm
The 3-4 is a great defense.
Our problem has been drafting undersized players
The 34 defense is excellent with the right personnel
Big mean, nasty bullies on the Frontline
Powerful, aggressive, quick Edge Rushers
Fast, good tackling, high football IQ, high motor ILB
We haven’t been drafting those type of players
April 23rd, 2026 at 3:35 pm
If the Bucs trade back and come away with Mesidor, Rodriquez and Ponds, I will sleep happy tomorrow tonight.
Throw in the other Ohio State TE for blocking, Kacmarek and Stribling and Saturday, I’m drinking celebratory beer.
April 23rd, 2026 at 3:37 pm
I’ll put $1000 on the line that Bowles will figure out a way to have a bottom 10 pass defense in 2026.
That’s easy money.
April 23rd, 2026 at 3:38 pm
1st pick -Defense
2nd pick – Defense
3rd pick – Defense
4th pick – Consider offense, but still leaning Defense
Edge, ILB, DT and CB are the highest needs.
I like and trust JL, but if he goes O tonight, the Glazers should fire him before breakfast time tomorrow for malpractice.
April 23rd, 2026 at 3:40 pm
Last time I caught a king salmon it was a keeper. The salmon would ply better linebacker than Dennis.
Dennis is a keeper!😂🤣🤡
April 23rd, 2026 at 3:48 pm
Cho, you are not crazy. Sadiq is far from a sure thing and JL is drafting to keep his job. If they don’t trade back it will be Ioane or McDonald. All the other players left at 15 have issues/red flags for first round picks. You cannot go wrong with a #1 OL or DL . Trenches…
April 23rd, 2026 at 3:53 pm
The problem with the 3-4 defense IS THE OLB position.
It is no secret that very very few players are successful at that position.
The offense side of the ball has never really changed. Run the ball or pass the ball that’s it.
But the 3-4 defense mad scientists like Bowles believe that by designing a defense like a pinball machine they can overcome and defeat the basic nature of the game.
K.I.S.S.
April 23rd, 2026 at 4:00 pm
Ioane or Proctor!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!!
April 23rd, 2026 at 4:08 pm
Think about it. What happens to a 3-4 defense if their primary OLB pass rusher gets injured ? The resulting adjustments that have to be made in scheme affect the other positions because that one player can’t be replaced. One players loss leads to total dysfunction.
In a 4-3 the loss of a player only requires a substitute player. The talent and skill level may drop off some but no big adjustments to scheme need to be made.
April 23rd, 2026 at 4:21 pm
Any chance Bowles is a draft day Trade candidate? He stinks and we’ve gotta find a way to rid ourselves of his stench.
April 23rd, 2026 at 4:27 pm
Rod Munch urges Licht to give up #15 pick for Shedeur Sanders.
April 23rd, 2026 at 4:28 pm
We started out with the 3-4 Defense in 1976
And by 1978, we had a Top 10 Defense
Tom Bass was one of the best defensive coordinators in the NFL
And we were a small, but very quick defense
People think Leroy Selmon was the anchor of our defense
But it was Dave Pear, he was the first to make All- Pro
He made first team All-Pro in 1978,
He was a 250 lbs 3-4 NT, l never seen a player like him
He had 9 sacks in 1978
The 3-4 is the defense that put us on the map
It’s the defense that define Buc Ball
April 23rd, 2026 at 4:29 pm
If only the Bucs had a talent as HC and another talents as DC to train these new guys to be top talent….
April 23rd, 2026 at 4:31 pm
I knew someone would go to Google and counter my argument.
April 23rd, 2026 at 4:33 pm
Lakeland Says:
April 23rd, 2026 at 4:28 pm
^^^^
Try having an original thought.
April 23rd, 2026 at 4:35 pm
How about drafting a Guard? I’m slowly warming up to the idea. If Ioane is there, maybe i’d take him. Build an absolute powerhouse OL, become one of the best all around offenses in the league and manage by on defense.
Seemed to work well the last few years for us… until last year, when our offense fell completely flat.
April 23rd, 2026 at 4:43 pm
Before someone tries to counter my statement that the offense side has never really changed I ask; How did the wildcat work out ?
How many offenses regularly line up in the spread ?
The only basic change that has lasted is the elimination of the fullback. I think that happened as a result of the 3-4 defense.
But that’s just my opinion and just like you know what we all have one.
April 23rd, 2026 at 4:43 pm
And who would trade up to 15 for as the Bucs trade back to attempt another sprint toward mediocrity?
A. The team with a smart GM who sees something in a player the Bucs do not.
Or
B. Another GM, probably a newbie, who doesn’t know what he’s doing.
Last year, Licht passed on Campbell and Pierce (10.5 rookie sacks) who Atlanta traded UP UP UP to get at 26. We needed defense, so Licht took Egbuka.
Perhaps if Licht had picked one of these two, Mike Evans wouldn’t have been screaming “3rd and 28” and still been a Buc.
Trading back gets you nowhere. Same goes for best available player if he doesn’t fill a need.
TRADE UP UP UP or buy a home in .500ville!
April 23rd, 2026 at 4:47 pm
Without Egbuka, we would have lost 3 or 4 more games. So he had a far bigger impact.
April 23rd, 2026 at 4:49 pm
I do want to thank Lakeland. Even though I was following the Bucs from the start 50 years ago I had no idea they were running a 3-4 back then. I need to take memory supplements.
April 23rd, 2026 at 4:55 pm
Sal,
That was a long, long time ago
But it is hard to imagine we had a top defense in 1978
And it’s harder to believe that Dave Pear was our 1st All-Pro
April 23rd, 2026 at 5:04 pm
Sal,
And the 3-4 wasn’t our original defense
Abe Gibron was our first DC in 1976
And he ran a 4-3 defense, but we stunk
So John McKay hired Tom Bass after the season
But he didn’t fire Gibron, him and Gibron was college teammates
He made Gibron the defensive line coach
So Tom Bass made the change to 3-4 in 1977
And the following year, we were a Top 5-10: defense
April 23rd, 2026 at 5:19 pm
Find out who Mike Tomlin likes. He’s going to be HC next year
April 23rd, 2026 at 5:23 pm
Lakeland, the 3-4 may have worked then but it isn’t working for the Bucs today. It is just too dependent on having a quality OLB rusher and there are just too few of those around. If the offense knows the defense must blitz to get to the QB they work around it. And when you add in the complexity of Bowles system there is no room for error or injury. If the defense requires speed of play and the system requires this or that adjustments to rapidly be made the players have momentary decisions to make with no margin for error. The player may be a superior athlete but if his intelligence and reaction time isn’t up to the task he fails.
Players still talk about the game slowing down for them after time but I think Bowles is asking too much of his players and that may be the result of having to compensate for the lack of an OLB pass rusher and depend on complex blitz schemes.
K.I.S.S.
April 23rd, 2026 at 5:24 pm
For once it would be nice for them to take a first round edge rusher. They’ll probably draft offense so Bowles continues to have some type of excuse.
April 23rd, 2026 at 5:26 pm
No offense Lakeland but what does any of what you have said have to do with the price of bread in Denmark?
April 23rd, 2026 at 5:26 pm
Fire Bowles Now!!!
April 23rd, 2026 at 5:32 pm
Sal,
That 3-4 Defense got us into the playoffs in 1979
After we gave up over 400 points in 1976
In 1979 we had the top ranked defense in the NFL
Giving up less than 15 points a game
Doug Williams was an ok QB
But it was our defense that got us over the hump
April 23rd, 2026 at 5:33 pm
We just need to draft better defensive players
April 23rd, 2026 at 5:35 pm
Our 3-4 defense was so good
We didn’t leave the TV until the offense come out
April 23rd, 2026 at 5:38 pm
OK Rainman you win.
April 23rd, 2026 at 5:56 pm
The Bucs should be on the clock at 10pm
April 23rd, 2026 at 6:10 pm
Joe; remind me not to take Lynch mob 50 to Vegas! Love the bet
April 23rd, 2026 at 6:16 pm
The Bucs aren’t drafting a nose tackle, even after a trade down in round 1.
I’ll stick if Ioane or Mesidor if they pick at 15.
If they trade down, Im going Lawrence or J Rodriguez
Be happy with any of those guys after the first round.
April 23rd, 2026 at 6:16 pm
For the old schoolers …
Yes, Pear was the first Bucs player to make the Pro Bowl because every team had to have at least one player chosen.
Selman was and will forever be the best Bucs player from that generation.
And back when the Pro Bowl meant something, Leroy Selman had 4 sacks in the 1982 game.
The history lesson? It’s called being a true fan.
And we’re far from haters when we expect more from Baker and an ownership and GM stupid enough to extend Todd Bowles when the entire Bucs world wanted him fired and Liam Coen hired.
We want wins, not love affairs with the inept.
April 23rd, 2026 at 6:17 pm
If Jason picks Mesidor in the first round and he doesn’t prove to be a force it’s lights out for his job. Therefore Jason is banking on Bowles and his staff to “coach him better”.
Remember Lurch from the Addams family ? “UUUUUUGGGGGHHH”
Jason must know that. While it seems likely that he may try to trade down and still get him I would not be surprised by some really unexpected pick.
April 23rd, 2026 at 6:23 pm
Reuben Bain if he’s there??? What do you guys think?
April 23rd, 2026 at 6:29 pm
Reuben Bain has little more chance of being there at #15 as Miles Garrett. That said, would take either in a heartbeat.
April 23rd, 2026 at 6:35 pm
SVD is hot garbage, gimme a break.