TAMPA, Fla – The Tampa Bay Buccaneers may have had one of the most mind-blowing offseason of any NFL team signing Tom Brady and trading for Rob Gronkowski, but what about their defense ? Did they make enough moves to be a legitimate contender for the playoffs despite adding few new players?
Here’s a position-by-position look at whether the Bucs are better, worse, or the same as the 2019 squad in defense, and the key areas to watch.
And in case you missed it, here’s a look at the offense.
Defensive line
Additions: Khalil Davis (sixth round, draft), Benning Potoa’e (not draft)
Losses: Beau Allen, Sam Acho
Return: Ndamukong Suh, Vita Vea, Will Gholston, Rakeem Nunez-Roches, Patrick O’Connor, Jeremiah Ledbetter
Snaps played in 2019: Suh (826), Vea (717), Gholston (470), Nunez-Roches (276), O’Connor (25), Ledbetter (0)
Better, worse or even? same
The Bucs will miss the depth and leadership provided by Allen, but Davis has a great chance to play this role – he moves really well for a guy who is 6-foot-1, 308 pounds, with a time of 4.75 40 in. the NFL. combine. Ledbetter had a strong camp last year before injuring his ankle. Potoa’e (6-3, 295 pounds) played with Vea in Washington, starting 23 games with the outside linebacker before moving inside the defensive line.
Outside linebackers
Additions: Michael Divinity Jr. (undrafted), Cam Gill (undrafted), Nasir Player (undrafted)
Losses: Carl Nassib
Return: Shaq Barrett, Jason Pierre-Paul, Anthony Nelson, Kahzin Daniels, Quinton Bell
Snaps played in 2019: Barrett (836), Pierre-Paul (556), Nelson (146), Daniels (3), Bell (0)
Better, worse or even? Same, but maybe worse
The Bucs’ biggest goal this offseason in defense was to bring back Barrett and Pierre-Paul – both capable of hitting double-digit sacks – and they accomplished it. They will also benefit from a full season from Pierre-Paul, assuming he remains in good health. But they have an unproven depth behind it. Who will step in as a key player in the rotation in the absence of Carl Nassib? Nelson could be the one, but that’s a lot to ask of a player who saw limited action in 2019. It’s quite possible that the Bucs are looking to the waiver thread for an addition here. Kahzin Daniels suffered a knee injury and spent part of his rookie season on the practice squad, while Bell – a wide receiver converted with a 4.38 speed – is still learning the nuances of position.
Inside linebackers
Additions: Russell Chapel (seventh round, draft)
Losses: No
Return: Lavonte David, Devin White, Kevin Minter, Jack Cichy, Noah Dawkins
Snaps played in 2019: David (1067), White (782), Minter (260), Dawkins (3), Cichy (1)
Better, worse or even? same
David and White will continue to start, with Minter serving as a backup for both spots. Cichy, a player of great effort and an excellent player of the special teams, has just suffered an elbow injury that ended the season. Russell has an incredible story, having overcome two torn ACLs in the same knee in college, deportation and his father’s death from cancer. The Bucs love his aggressiveness and instinct and believe he can carve out a role for himself on special teams.
Cornerbacks
Additions: Parnell Motley (unedited)
Losses: No
Return: Carlton Davis, Sean Murphy-Bunting, Jamel Dean, Ryan Smith, MJ Stewart, Mazzi Wilkins, Herb Miller, John Franklin
Snaps played in 2019: Davis (884), Murphy-Bunting (653), Dean (350), Stewart (296), Wilkins (11), Franklin (2), Miller (0)
Better, worse or even? same
Davis, Murphy-Bunting and Dean are expected to all return to their starting roles, so any improvement will come from another year of coaching. Davis doesn’t have great speed (he ran a 4.53 in the 40) or ball skills, but he’s got length (6’1, 205 pounds) and he’s physical at the line of scrimmage. When he got his hands on receivers, that’s a problem, and he’s done a lot better over the season in reducing penalties. Murphy-Bunting is instinctive, intelligent, and can handle both exterior roles and nickel roles, while Dean has a very rare mix of height (6ft 1in, 212lb) and speed (he ran a 4.3 to the NFL combine). Smith isn’t much of a press corner, but he has great catching speed and can play. Wilkins has spent much of the past year on the practice squad. He doesn’t have a great test speed, but he plays faster on the pitch and has a work ethic like the coaches.
Security
Additions: Antoine Winfield Jr. (second round, draft), Deiondre ‘Hall, Javon Hagan (not draft)
Losses: Darian Stewart
Return: Jordan Whitehead, Mike Edwards, Justin Evans, Andrew Adams
Snaps played in 2019: Whitehead (866), Edwards (584), Adams (582), Evans (0)
Better, worse or even? Better
Whitehead came to the Bucs as an undersized thumper but showed his effectiveness in cover. Winfield brings a ball peddling ability to a group that only got two picks last year; he had seven in his last college season at Minnesota. Edwards was slowed down by a hamstring injury early last season, which hampered his development. Evans is a big question mark as he missed all of last season with foot and ankle issues – issues he struggled with in 2018.
