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The offseason is a time for teams to regroup, make a plan, and do what they feel is needed for them to get to the promised land: A Super Bowl.
Most changes often start with coaching staffs, the Bucs didn't do that with the head coach but with assistants. As they are now a few weeks into the thick of it, a plan is now able to be formed. That plan is them looking in the mirror and asking, "Do we fix things through free agency or the NFL Draft?"
PFF's Ryan Smith tackled that same question for the Bucs, and he leans towards the draft having the answers for them. Specifically, at the linebacker position, he highlights that Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles is the man to fix things in the middle of the Bucs' defense.
He writes, "Lavonte David is a future Hall of Famer but is on the downswing of his career, finishing 2025 with a career-worst 52.6 PFF overall grade. His 85.1 mark in 2022 ranked third among 81 qualifying linebackers but has steadily declined in the three years since. While retirement may be in consideration, David is heading toward free agency should he opt to continue playing. Tampa Bay’s linebacker unit finished the year ranked 28th in PFF overall grade, so the issues at the position go well beyond David. Possessing a rare combination of size, speed and physicality, Styles would provide an immediate boost to the unit. He is one of the best pure tacklers in this year’s draft, missing just two of his attempts in 2025. "
There is still a chance that David will come back in 2026. But even if he does, they need to pair him up with someone, the way they attempted to with Devin White a few years back. Styles has the athletic, rangy type to fit ther need so it would be a match made in heaven for the two.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Should the Bucs use the draft or free agency to fix their roster?
Continue reading...
Most changes often start with coaching staffs, the Bucs didn't do that with the head coach but with assistants. As they are now a few weeks into the thick of it, a plan is now able to be formed. That plan is them looking in the mirror and asking, "Do we fix things through free agency or the NFL Draft?"
PFF's Ryan Smith tackled that same question for the Bucs, and he leans towards the draft having the answers for them. Specifically, at the linebacker position, he highlights that Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles is the man to fix things in the middle of the Bucs' defense.
He writes, "Lavonte David is a future Hall of Famer but is on the downswing of his career, finishing 2025 with a career-worst 52.6 PFF overall grade. His 85.1 mark in 2022 ranked third among 81 qualifying linebackers but has steadily declined in the three years since. While retirement may be in consideration, David is heading toward free agency should he opt to continue playing. Tampa Bay’s linebacker unit finished the year ranked 28th in PFF overall grade, so the issues at the position go well beyond David. Possessing a rare combination of size, speed and physicality, Styles would provide an immediate boost to the unit. He is one of the best pure tacklers in this year’s draft, missing just two of his attempts in 2025. "
There is still a chance that David will come back in 2026. But even if he does, they need to pair him up with someone, the way they attempted to with Devin White a few years back. Styles has the athletic, rangy type to fit ther need so it would be a match made in heaven for the two.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Should the Bucs use the draft or free agency to fix their roster?
Continue reading...
