Bucs NEED TO ATTACK Edge Market | Free Agent Positional Previews: Edge, Defensive Line, Tight End

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Our final positional preview ahead of free agency is the one most of you have been waiting

for as we dive into the range of edge rushers that Jason Light could look to in order to

help this defense.

You are locked on Buccaneers.

Your daily Tampa Bay Buccaneers podcast.

What's up and welcome into this episode of Locked On Bucks, your daily podcast covering

the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, part of the Locked On podcast network now, the number one sports

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I'd like to thank you for making Locked On Bucks a first listen review every day.

I am your host James Yarco right or over at Bucks report.

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a look at tight ends and defensive line and coming up in a little bit to round out all of

our positional previews before I drop a full free agency prediction preview tomorrow ahead

of the negotiating window opening up.

But all the talk this offseason has been about the edge rushers from Bucks desperately need

one and they need one that's going to make an immediate impact.

Now, there was the pipe dream of trading for Max Crossby with the Las Vegas Raiders.

He ends up going to ball the more in exchange for two first round picks.

Number 14 this year and a 2027 first, but here's the thing.

And I know, I know a lot of Bucks fans were really upset when the trade went down and all

of that.

But Jason Light was never going to give up two firsts on top of paying Crossby's salary.

We're talking over 30 million dollars a year on top of two first round picks.

It just wasn't ever going to happen.

If he could have done a package that had, you know, this year's first, a day two, maybe

a player, then they might have been in the running.

The two first was too rich, not just for Jason, but for a lot of GMs in this league.

That's why he ended up going to ball the more.

And I don't want to be Mr. Doom and gloom.

But let's say the things in 2026 are as bad.

It's not worse than they were in 2025 now that you put yourself in a situation where you're

likely looking at blowing it all up, doing a rebuild.

And if that is indeed the case, how is that going to go when you don't have a first round

pick in a loaded quarterback class and you're likely going to need to draft a quarterback

to build around at the end of the day, it just wasn't going to happen for that price.

It is what it is.

You have to move on.

So where do the bucks move on to when they look for their edge Russia?

We've talked a lot about tray Henderson over the last week.

I still believe the bucks are in on that at the right price.

It's going to cost them close to $20 million a year, maybe more in order to land them.

Now, are they willing to go that high?

I think that's the biggest question in all of this.

I think if they can talk Henderson into taking a little less than 20 million a year,

then maybe add in some incentives, talking games, played, sacks,

reaching the pro bowl, a bonus for every round of the playoffs they get to so on and so forth.

I think they can get it done.

$17 million in Florida is more than $20 million if he goes to New York or California or Illinois.

That's where the no-state income tax does really help out.

But don't get your hopes up.

If we start to hear that these conversations are reaching $22, $25, $28 million a year,

it's going to be way too much and the bucks are going to walk away at that price.

So if they miss out on Hendrickson, where do they turn?

Now, we've talked endlessly about the tear below him, Bradley Chubb,

a Daffy, oh wait, boy, hey, Moffe, any of these three guys,

I think are legitimately in play for the bucks.

They're not going to cost as much as Hendrickson.

But at the same time, they won't be as productive if Hendrickson is healthy and plays like he did in 2023 and 2024.

Those guys are though a significant upgrade over what they had.

Probably the last couple of years.

It's an upgrade over Hassan Reddick.

It's an upgrade over, you know, Yadiyabi being the alpha.

The problem that we're going to see developing is that the chargers really kind of screwed up the edge market

in a big way by giving Creole Mac $18 million guaranteed on a one year deal.

That's going to drive everyone's price up and now agents are licking their lips.

At that number, if they represent an edger usher that's hitting the market this off season.

So what that boils down to is it's a situation where Moffe is getting what we thought was going to be Hendrickson money.

Hendrickson is going to end up getting crossed be money.

Everyone that hits the market as an edger usher is going to have their salary elevated because of that deal.

Now, that's a huge problem because it puts the box right back into the situation that they were in last year when they paid Hassan Reddick for the kind of production that he had.

You're going to pay $15 million a year for someone like Joseph O'Si and that's just way too much for the production that they're actually going to offer.

That leaves Jason between a rock and a hard place. Do they overpay for an edger usher because it's what the market dictates or do they put all of their eggs in the draft basket take multiple edgers and then hope that one of them works out to become that alpha that they need.

That's a real risky proposition considering they have to have an upgrade there to help to both defense work.

Edger usher has not been a success story in the draft for Jason Light over the years.

And then to top it all off it's going to be really hard to commit to Mike Evans that you're going all into compete when you don't address the team's biggest weakness in free agency.

And that could be the final straw for him and you see him walk away.

So the box miss out on Henderson, Chubb, Mafe and Oway, where do they turn that will actually help them at the position, but still won't kill them financially.

The first name that comes to mind is of course going to be Joey Bosa.

Not one of my favorite options. He's about to turn 31. He hasn't played a full season since 2021, which was also the same year that he last had double digit sacks.

Last year he finished with five sacks and 15 games above low, but he also had a lead leading five forced fumbles.

So you do have that to kind of lean on a little bit.

The most sacks that he's had since 2021 was six and a half back in 2023 when he played nine games.

Somehow he made the pro bowl in 2024 after playing 14 games and finishing with five sacks, five tackles for loss and 13 quarterback hits.

This is the move that you make when you want that better in presence in your room.

You want someone that you can send out there in sure passing situations and that can help bring along whatever rookie you draft because you definitely still have to draft at least one.

In the edge rotation of Bosa Diabi and then Yakis or young or I'm sorry, Ackis or young or our Mason Thomas, that's something that definitely could work.

It's high risk, but it also could wind up being high reward.

An interesting name to keep an eye on if the bucks have to go with the bargain signing that could pay off in a big way is Samson of Buka.

A Buka was with the Rams for four years, the 49ers for two years and the Colts in 2023 with the Colts.

A Buka finished with nine and a half sacks started all 17 games and then in 2024, he ruptured his Achilles and missed the entire season.

He returned last year, only started one game finished with two sacks, but played 43% of the snaps coming off of that injury.

So now another year removed, probably hopefully being back to being himself again, he could be an impact guy given the opportunity.

It's not the perfect situation, but if the edge market gets out of control, that's a name that the bucks could be interested in and trying to capitalize on on a one year deal if the medical's check out other than that anyone that they bring in isn't going to be what they were likely looking for.

And especially not what fans were looking for, it'll be a rotational guy that might be a couple of sacks on the season.

Clowny, Leonard Floyd, Gross Motto, AJ FNSA, they're not going to be expensive.

They're arguably an upgrade over Hassan, right, reddit and they provide better depth within the rotation if you find a starter in the draft.

But then they're going to have to come out of this draft with a top tier guy or at least one that has the makings of being a top tier guy.

We've mentioned a lot of those day two names already, but it could be caches how out at 15 out of Texas, say it and it could be Ruben Bain if he falls because of the arm length, it could be a key message or.

But you can see the bucks go hard after an edge rusher at the beginning of this draft that they don't land one of those top four edge rushers in free agency.

It's all going to boil down to whether or not the money is there and that's where I will remind you once again that there's only so much to go around.

So you have to ask yourself if you're willing to spend $20 million a year on a receiver that you remove the emotion, you can live without, but you cannot live without and you cannot complete without upgrading this defense if you want to have a chance at really making a run.

Who can help in the trenches next to Vita Baya and collage a can see that is coming up next on today's episode of locked on box part of the lock on podcast network your team.

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If you've been thinking about joining the every day or club or the all access tier but haven't told the trigger yet now is the time news promo code free agency.

All caps all one word and you're going to get one month free if you sign up for an annual membership you're going to get one month removed from the cost of that membership lots coming through free agency I have some draft plans in the works trying to figure out the logistics of that you are not going to want to miss out.

The bucket years do still need some help in the trenches on the defensive side you're not bringing back Logan Hall not not at the price that it sounds like he's going to be able to get on the open market you could bring back great gains i'm all in favor of that but you still need a starter now there's some great options in the draft will get to those over the course of the next couple weeks once we get through the initial.

um free agent rush and you start gearing up towards the draft but you don't want to have holes on your roster when you go into the draft you want to be able to feel the team before the draft so that means you should address defense of line ahead of time then when you go into the draft now you're in a position where you're best player available because you already have a roster that you're comfortable starting.

you know we're not talking about the kind of money that you're going to spend an edge and a linebacker if they start to dive into that but you can get a starter out there on the field for a reasonable price the first player that I look to is DJ reader out of Detroit I really like when he brings to the table he's going to cost about the same as Sean Tucker's offer would have restricted offer would have so reliable and run defense he's solid not great.

in past rush but at his spot when you have beta and then hopefully a healthy can see you don't need him to really be elite at past rush you don't need him racking up eight sacks a season yeah he had no sacks last year but he had three in 2024 he had two in 2023 you want this guy to plug the lanes you want him to come in and collapse the pocket and allow the actual past rushers to get into the backfield and he's someone that I think would be good.

be a great addition to complete the defense of line can be a reliable starter that you have confidence in to go out there and produce but you can still look to the draft of somebody like Peter Woods false to you with 15 you're not going to pass on a player of that caliber to continue to upgrade the defense of line because of the money that you've invested now on the defensive line you know it's it's a starter without the restriction.

that free agent money can often create just because you you have that heavy investment now the next one that I would look at would be Jonathan Allen from Minnesota now he's getting $8 million from the Vikings this season regardless so he can be had for chief since Minnesota is basically on the hook for such a big chunk of the seller this does come with some risk though and and talking to to your friend and my David Harrison probably not the best idea.

But you know someone's going to take a chance on them I can see the box being that team he's an older player and from what I understand he isn't quite a bucket year man in terms of personality but I do think that the box can absorb that for a year they can absorb you know a small handful of those personalities because of the leadership that they have in that locker room the other knock is going to be that he isn't great at run defense and if I'm looking for someone to complete my.

defense of line as far as starters are concerned I want them to be a little bit more reliable in that aspect of the game he is one of the better past rush defense of lineman on the market so it goes back to his ability to win one on ones and collapse the pocket i'm mostly intrigued by the price tag there to get a starter cheap could mean that he winds up being slaggy Baker could wind up being a huge difference maker there is a very broad spectrum of how that could end up.

Andrew Billings is another guy that I like hit and miss in in run defense he's reliable as a past rusher but he brings sides now he's 61310 you're getting more bulk up front than you had with Logan hall I mean hall had way more height but I think with Jason light and Todd bowls were talking well specifically Todd bowls were we're talking at the combine about wanting to get bigger I don't think they were talking about height I think they were talking about size and billions brings that.

big time a couple of other names that i'm going to throw out there that would make sense to me to Sean hand from the chargers make one Jones from Houston Derek naughty from Kansas City and the never deal more from Indianapolis and the thing that I want everybody to keep in mind is you're you're not looking for a splash player the way that you are at edge lineback you're looking for reliability and you're also looking for things that don't always show up on the statute they show up on the fill.

you know can they dominate the man in front of them to clear blitzing lanes are they creating one-on-one opportunities for the other guys around them are they a big enough threat.

you know to allow more one-on-ones for be da vea and collage you can't see who you know can get those sacks off of the defense of line can they clog the run lights so while the guys that they bring in may not get you five or six sacks they can indirectly impact up.

other players that are on the roster to get into the backfield and get those sacks you know that's kind of the role that the bucks need to fill and then you still look to some of the guys in the draft Jason lights that they don't love the depth at defense of line the same way they they do the depth and linebacker head rusher in this draft class that can mean they prioritize the defense of lineman in the first round because they aren't as deep but they also may wait until day three or not address it at all.

that's all based on how they feel. You know you do still have Elijah Roberts who played well last year you're looking for him to make a improvement from his working year to the second year and that's something that you still having the back pocket as part of the rotation but if you don't get one of those top defensive line guys a Peter woods a caden McDonald you know that kind of player the bucks may not draft one at all which is why it's important to address the position in free agency with someone that you try.

Trust to start again may not blow up the stat sheet, but their impact will be taken advantage of by the other players around them. We are going to wrap up these positional previews with tight end that is coming up next on today's episode of locked on bucks.

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Grab and things up here on this positional preview bonus episode of locked on bucks first and foremost favorite to ask of all of you send your good your good vibes your well wishes to our buddy Rick he's going through some tough things right now long time connection with the bucket years long time.

He and I have been chatting quite a bit via text message hammer I hope you get better soon buddy you're you're getting all the good vibes from the listeners and the viewers of this show we are looking for a fun turnaround from you.

I think we are all well aware that K dot is probably go I think too many fans are excited about that because he's been a solid tight end over the last few years and as we pointed out on the last episode with Evan Klosski you know he has a better catch percentage than Mike Evans cuts you know despite a couple of bad drops last season he's been a pretty reliable weapon for Baker on third downs and in the red zone that said the bucks are going to have to address the tight end position in some way.

I'm going to run through a list real quick of guys that make sense to me I don't know that many if any of them are going to be true upgrades over what K dot does because again his impact is more than just to receive.

He's the he was the best blocking tight end on this team and losing that is going to hurt what their offense is capable of.

He was a big fan of the idea of bringing in Tyler Pigby he signed an extension with the Rams just a couple of days ago that's off the table he's going to be in Los Angeles for two more years.

We also know that David and Joker would be an ideal signing to reunite him with Baker Mayfield who was his quarterback during his best season you know he's coming off of his worst season in terms of past blocking where even at his best you know he was never quite as good as K dot was.

He's a little bit in that aspect and then of course you have the price back you know if if you're going to spend that much on in joku.

You might be able to bring back K dot and for the same price sounds like out and might actually command a little bit more in free agency but I don't know that the bucks are looking to invest that kind of money in tight end so.

I look and I know I've mentioned him before but I look to Adam trout as a guy that I really like a lot he is solid and I mean solid.

In the blocking game both in run and pass hasn't gotten a ton of opportunities as a pass catcher but he's done really well with those limited chances he comes obviously from Denver via New Orleans he's a guy that shop patent has love and just seems like every time he appears to be kind of the number one tight end someone overtakes him that's that's been an ongoing problem but he doesn't complain about it.

He is a team first guy and when his number gets called he makes sure that he's not a liability will disly big Montana for those of you if you know you know that's another guy that I really like he's been another tight end that has produced and limited opportunities he did have 481 yards of two touchdowns in 2024 with the chargers over his career over 60% of his receptions have resulted in a first down that's what you want out of your tight end in this type of offense he's not going to be able to.

He's not going to be a major part of the past game that's why we were talking about how Kyle pits doesn't fit you know he's going to be the fourth or fifth option on any given play but when disly's number is called he converts he keeps the chains moving and that's someone that the bucks to use that isn't going to cost cost a ton.

One that will cost a bit more probably kind of in that in joke you range is John who Smith who recently became available he is more of that past catching tight end he can pass block he has been a liability over the course of his career and unblocking and I think that's part of the reason you've seen him bounce around a little bit four teams over the last five years.

But if you do need to stop gap guy that can produce in the passing game he may be of some interest from not sure that the bucks would look to spend that much on a tight end his market value was estimated to be around 7 million which at that point you might as well spend a little bit more and go get in joku who is a better all around tight end then John who Smith is but he is an option nonetheless now the last one that I'm really going to talk about here is Mo Ali Cox.

He's one of the more well rounded tight ends in this class you can get for a cheap price he's a solid solid blocker in both the run and the past game and he has a decent catch percentage you know it's it's not as good as Kate often says.

But you know Ali Cox is a player that you can plug and start you know and again being the fourth or fifth option you know he can make a few plays here in there his career high and touchdowns in a season four back in 2021 had just one in each of the last two seasons but last year he didn't have a ton of opportunity after the cold strapped the Tyler Warren and you know he was one of the best tight ends in the NFL so when you're looking to replace hate out and.

You're looking to replace hate out and you're looking for a guy that can do it all you have your your tight ends that are more of the receiving tight ends the Kyle hits the Tyler warrant although Tyler Warren is pretty good in in blocking you know you're you're not going to get that.

A whole generational Travis Kelsey level of tight end and I think a lot of people are trying to tie Kenyans to the bucks in the first round because you see the need there and I've said my piece on that there's a world on in which it makes sense.

But the bucks have to spend big and other places in order to make it feasible on top of that.

Sadie really isn't that can't miss prospect he's not rock ballers he's not Tyler Warren and he doesn't even have the best hands in the draft at the tight end position I think Eli Stowers out of Vanderbilt is a better overall tight end in this class and he's going to go on day two.

You have Max Claire out of Ohio State Justin Holy or or Jolie out of NC state Jack injuries out of Texas I think all of these guys are better options and better value than said deep given the draft cost and I'll dive more into what I think the bucks are actually going to do in tomorrow's free agent primer.

I am working on trying to lay at a fun guest for that it doesn't work out it doesn't work out I'll have them on anyway, but just a word of caution okay.

I don't think that they're going to spend the money that most people are hoping they do now I would like to see them spend some some money in free agency I've talked endlessly about these players that I think immediately put them back into that contender category.

But I'm starting to get the feeling that it's going to be much like it's been over the last couple of years it's going to be very calculated it's not going to be any of the big splashes that we're going to see in the first couple of hours of the negotiating window opening and it's going to make a lot of people Matt.

What I will say here and I'll probably say it again on the next show let it play out don't over react to a player that you want to signing elsewhere don't over react it's the bucks do something that you think isn't good enough much like the draft you have to wait and see the collective losing Mike Evans is going to be easier to accept.

If they do make a big splash and they get 300 or they get Devon Lloyd but I'm not sure that this is the time that Jason is going to do that they love the depth of those positions of need in the draft and they may look for players there that will be more affordable another contract for a longer period of time than any of those free agents will.

You have to do something to improve this you have to make moves but I don't know if we're looking at a situation where they're going to spend trade hindricks and money or Bradley Chubb money or you know Devon Lloyd money maybe not even Devon Bush money so.

You got to wait you got to see how it all plays out you never know what could end up happening in the draft maybe they're going to ease off the spending they're going to get more of these value guys I brought up Leo Chanel on the linebacker episode people will view him as a value signing I believe he's a guy that steps in and immediately out places contract you would be that big of an impact player.

But we'll have to wait and see that is going to do it for this episode please check out everything on Twitter at locked on bucks at J our co underscore bucks Instagram and Tiktok at locked on bucks and both of those places subscribe on YouTube with the notifications turned on as well as wherever you get the podcast becoming every day or club member check out the all access here you can click the link in the show notes you can go to locked on bucks dot super cast dot com don't forget to use promo code free agency all one word.

We're going to get one month free you want to support the show but you don't want to join the every day or club it's real simple like this episode on YouTube leave a five star review wherever you get podcasts it does help other book years fans find the show hope you all have an absolutely outstanding day stay safe stay healthy fire the cannons I want to thank you so much for joining me right here on locked on bucks part of the locked on podcast network your tea.

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