Buccaneers NFL Draft Preview: Linebackers/EDGE

The NFL draft is quickly approaching, and as the combine winds down it’s time to start preparing for whom the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will announce as their selections on that stage at Lambeau Field. To simplify this process, I’ve ranked seven of the Bucs needs:

Inside Linebacker has consistently been a strong point for Tampa Bay over the last decade thanks to the surefire contributions of future Hall of Fame field general Lavonte David. While he has had some relatively successful pairings in the past including Mason Foster, Kwon Alexander, and Devin White, the last two seasons, including Devin White’s struggles, have seen the Bucs struggle to cover the middle of the field effectively, and in some games in 2024, at all. Despite his highlights, White struggled to acclimate to the NFL, and his replacement, KJ Britt, was graded by PFF as one of the worst Linebackers in the entire league (ranked 171st out of 189).

SirVocea Dennis was a bright spot at the beginning of the season before season-ending injury, and his value is still a virtual unknown. They also brought in Anthony Walker Jr. from the Miami Dolphins, who also graded poorly, but was borderline elite in 2022 before falling off over the last two years. Hopefully he can find that spark again this season, but until we’ve seen evidence of that, Linebacker remains a priority in the draft for Tampa Bay. Finding someone young for Lavonte David to pass knowledge to, and lead for the next one or two seasons, is paramount for the future of this team, especially a player with great physical traits willing to learn.

Rather than just listing drills and a bunch of numbers, I’ll be using the RAS system, created by Kent Lee Platte (@mathbomb and @mathbomb.bsky.social on Twitter and Bluesky). RAS, or Relative Athletic Score is a composite scale that factors height, weight, speed, and agility drills to spit out one number that can be viewed as a percentile. For example, QB Mac Jones had a RAS of 7.15, meaning he is just below the 72nd percentile for physical traits among QBs, while former WR Calvin Johnson’s 2007 combine and Anthony Richardson’s 2023 combine scored them a perfect 10.00 for their respective positions.

Until pro days finish, I’ll be using combine measurements as well as available film to break down each prospect, which means if they didn’t test certain drills at the combine, their RAS may be incomplete.

What makes a good fit at Linebacker for the Todd Bowles defense? The way I see it, there are three major categories to consider: pass rush, run defense, and pass defense. While ideally, a linebacker is at least average in all three aspects, but this is obviously not the case for most prospects. Lavonte David is a significantly better run stopper and pass rusher than anything else, while Devin White was an elite pass rusher and struggled elsewhere. Should the Bucs lean into their run stopping tendencies, or look for a better pass coverage linebacker to complement Lavonte David? There are drawbacks and benefits to both strategies, but first we have to know which prospects are available.

Additionally, this week will also be coverage of edge defenders as a whole, and going into the offseason I believed it was the number one priority. With the addition of Haason Redick, it might be of slightly lower priority, but I still believe an early pick could be warranted to shore up the position group. The current front 7 looks something like this.

Starting OLBs: Haason Redick, Yaya Diaby

Backup OLBs: Anthony Nelson, Chris Braswell

Starting DEs: Calijah Kancey, Logan Hall

Backup DEs: Greg Gaines, ???

Starting NT: Vita Vea

ILBs: Lavonte David, Anthony Walker Jr., SirVocea Dennis

There’s just a lack of clarity at defensive end, which is not necessarily an interior lineman position with the Bucs, as they play with a ton of different fronts, and in a five-man front, seeing Logan Hall draw starter level snaps would be disappointing. While he’s not the worst defender in the world, there are significant upgrades in the first round, and plenty of guys that could be successful as rotational defenders in the short term.

Listen. I know it and you know it. The Bucs have taken some swings and misses on early-round edge rushers in the last four years. Joe Tryon-Shoyinka was a much better cover linebacker than pass rusher, which is what they needed from him schematically. Logan Hall has not lived up to anywhere near his 2nd round pick hype. Diaby has been too injury prone to truly judge, but he’s been productive when healthy. Chris Braswell barely saw the field last season which is saying something with all of these disappointing players. All of this to say, that just because you’ve missed in the past doesn’t mean you should discount the idea of drafting an early edge rusher once more. Licht and Krewe should not let these past misses dictate draft strategy such that they miss out on a really good prospect just because of their past misfortunes.

1st round

In terms of inside linebackers there are really only two prospects worthy of first round consideration. This is partially due to the function of positional value. Inside linebacker is a fickle position. Prospects like Devin Bush and Devin White have gone very early in the draft and flamed out very quickly, while Payton Wilson was one of the first linebackers off the board last season in the third round, and ends up being a Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate.

ALA Jihaad Campbell ILB

6’2” ⅞ 235 lbs

40 yard dash: 4.52s

Broad Jump: 10’7”

RAS: 9.87

Jihaad Campbell has all the physical traits to succeed in the NFL. Size, speed, and tackling are his strongest traits, but due to his development as more of an edge rusher, he doesn’t have the killer instinct and anticipation you want in a field general Mike linebacker. Luckily Tampa Bay would be a perfect place for him to develop those skills under one of the best linebackers of the last generation in Lavonte David.

Fit Grade: A+

UGA Jalon Walker ILB/EDGE

6’1” 243 lbs

RAS:???

Jalon Walker is in a similar position. Walker played all over the place at Georgia, including edge rusher and middle linebacker. Walker does not have the off-ball and coverage experience necessary to be confident in his ability to be an off-ball linebacker at the next level, but his versatility is incredibly intriguing. The blitz packages you could play with having both Walker and Lavonte David would be very intriguing, and he could simultaneously fill the edge rush hole.

Fit Grade: B

MAR Mike Green EDGE

6’3” ⅛ 251 lbs

Bench: 28 reps

Shuttle: 4.25s

3-cone: 6.85s

RAS: ???

Mike Green is the consensus 2nd best Edge rusher in the class, given that Penn State’s Abdul Carter is a consensus top five pick (if not top two), but I reckon if Mike Green’s name was cooler than it is, he would be in discussions for the top five in this draft. His tape is amongst the most impressive in the draft of any position, his physical measurements in the bench press, shuttle, and 3-cone are all in at least the 90th percentile, and his counting stats are very impressive even against relatively weak competition (17 sacks!!! Pressure rate over 20%!!! Run stop rate of 9.4%!!!). And yet his name rarely cracks the top fifteen picks in most mock drafts. While it’s unlikely Green slips past edge rusher hungry teams like Atlanta, Cincinnati, or Dallas, the top defender on the board was not taken until pick number 15 last season. If the trend even slightly carries into this draft, there’s a solid chance Green is wearing Red and Pewter next season.

Fit Grade: A+

BC Donovan Ezeiraku EDGE

6’2” 4/8 248 lbs

Bench: 22 reps

Vertical: 35.5in

Shuttle: 4.19s

RAS: 8.15

Ezeiraku had a stellar 2024 at Boston College, headlined by his 14 sacks. He’s got great pass rush skills, and he rarely misses tackles. He will likely look to add weight in the offseason. He’s got a high motor and a nose for the ball. His pursuit speed and explosiveness is lackluster, and his lack of weight can definitely hinder his ability to turn his quick first step into a truely powerful bull rush. Ezeiraku could be a solid contributor from day 1 and his ceiling is about as high as they get if he can manage to add weight and strength. Ezeiraku is most likely going to be available when the Bucs are selecting at 19, and it would be a solid selection.

Fit Grade: B+

TEN James Pearce Jr. EDGE

6’5” 2/8 245 lbs

40-yard dash: 4.47s

Vertical: 31in

RAS: 9.40

James Pearce Jr. is an athletic freak of nature, and his floor is perhaps one of the highest in the entire draft. His technique is top-tier, and he figures to make an immediate impact in his rookie season. So why has his value fallen towards the second round? There are whispers about his motivations that surfaced during the combine, and there are some character questions as well. These rumors limit his ceiling in the view of many, as does his limited snap count at Tennessee (roughly 920 snaps over the last two seasons, compared with Mike Green’s 1000+, Ezeiraku’s 1200+). I still think he’s worth kicking the tires on at 19 overall if they don’t like the other players available, and I’m surprised he wasn’t featured on the top-30 visits list for Tampa Bay.

Fit Grade: C-

SCAR Shemar Stewart EDGE

6’5” 267lbs

40 yard dash: 4.59s

Vertical: 40in

Broad: 10’11”

RAS: 10.00

Stewart has the size and physical traits to be successful in the NFL, but his technique needs some tweaks and tune-ups. He struggled to be statistically relevant as a pass rusher with just 2 sacks in each of the past three seasons. He was a borderline elite run defender, and I suspect in the right scheme, surrounded by better pass rushers, he can be relatively successful in the NFL, because there aren’t many offensive linemen that will be able to hold their own all alone against an imposing physical threat. His size and athleticism will also provide some versatility, allowing him to swap anywhere between a 4i and 7 technique (shading the inside of the Tackle vs outside of the tight end). Stewart would not be the worst case scenario in the first round, but there are hopefully more complete prospects available at 19 overall.

Fit Grade: B-

UGA Mykel Williams EDGE

6’5” ⅛ 260 lbs

40-yard dash: 4.77s

RAS: ???

Williams projects as more of a true defensive lineman partially due to his size, but he’s certainly athletic enough to play outside linebacker as well. His run stopping ability and physical traits are what make him worthy of a late first round pick, because his every-down pass rushing ability is shaky at best. He’s developed some crazy pass rush moves, but they’re often mistimed and imprecise. Although his first step is explosive, he sometimes seems to be the last lineman moving on the field. His floor as a run defender will likely guarantee a high snap count as a rookie, and if he gets marginally better as a pass rusher he could be an exciting piece for the Bucs defense. Regardless, drafting a defender from Kirby Smart’s Georgia is perhaps one of the safest bets on the planet.

Fit Grade: B-

2nd/3rd round

SCAR Demetrius Knight

6’1” ⅝ 235 lbs

40 yard dash: 4.58s

Bench: 22 reps

Vertical: 31.5in

RAS: 8.17

Knight is one of the oldest players in the draft, and it will limit his ceiling, but it also means his floor is very high. He doesn’t have many true weaknesses to his game, the questions come from how much better he can get, and so he likely won’t be a first round pick. He’s a great tackler, his coverage and anticipation are among the very best of any defender in the draft, with his anticipation and nose for the football giving him one of the highest PFF run defense grades among this class. His aggression can sometimes get the best of him leading to an occasional bad angle, but Knight figures to be a first year contributor in the NFL

Fit Grade: A-

UCLA Carson Schwesinger

6’2” 4/8 242 lbs

Bench: 21 reps

Vertical: 39.5

RAS: ???

Schwesinger’s floor is also very high, but he was limited by his size in college (listed at 225), but he measured 242 lbs at the combine. He’s quick both physically and mentally, and though he won’t be a heavy hitter, he’s got a very high motor and his pass rush skills are off the charts for an off-ball linebacker. His footwork is nearly perfect in run defense and against play action (doesn’t overcommit in either direction), which should translate very well to the NFL. He does struggle to get off blocks in run defense, and doesn’t manage to turn good pass reps into deflections or interceptions (just 2 INTs in his only year as a starter). Schwesinger would be my fourth ranked off-ball linebacker and the last one before talent drops off significantly. Knight and Schwesinger are the last picks before the bus leaves the station on drafting a solid LB.

Fit Grade: B+

ARK Landon Jackson EDGE

6’6” 264 lbs

40-yard dash: 4.68s

Vertical: 40.5in

RAS: 9.78

Jackson is a massive human being and he uses every ounce and inch to his advantage. His height, weight, and arm length all rank in the 90th+ percentile. His pass rush win rate won’t knock your socks off but he’s a big body who will eat blockers alive especially in the run game. He rarely misses a tackle and he always seems to be in the right place at the right time. His injury history is mildly concerning (torn ACL in high school and in college), but his athletic profile is off the charts. He’s a little slow in his first step but Jackson figures to be an early second round pick with high upside.

Fit Grade: C

UCLA Oluwafemi Oladejo EDGE

6’3” 2/8 259 lbs

Bench: 20 reps

Vertical: 36.5in

RAS: ???

Oladejo has a bit of an odd path to the draft. Oladejo played off-ball linebacker for two seasons at CAL, one season of off-ball linebacker at UCLA, and then two games this season before switching to full time edge rusher. As a result he’s a pretty raw pass rusher, with lots of room for improvement. He’s also pretty undersized, but it’s not the size of the dawg in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dawg. Oladejo is certainly a dawg that plays through the whistle. Occasionally to a fault, sometimes overplaying his run gap and exposing an extra cut back lane for runners. His upbringing as an inside linebacker gives him refreshing athletic advantages, though he can’t quite throw his weight around. Oladejo will likely be on the board for the Bucs in round 3, and his upside makes him a very worthy pick.

Fit Grade: C-

4th round+

PSU Kobe King ILB

6’0” 6/8 236 lbs

40 yard dash: 4.67

RAS: 8.03

KIng is likely to be a late 5th round or sixth round pick. He’s undersized, and he’s not providing much in coverage or in pass rush sets, and his IQ is not quite what you want in a true middle linebacker, but his run defense is off the charts. He could be a nice special teams piece as he develops, but won’t be much more than a depth piece. Still, his athleticism is intriguing.

Fit Grade: C-

UGA Smael Mondon ILB

6’2” 2/8 224 lbs

40 yard dash: 4.58s

RAS: 9.42

Mondon’s explosion and speed are top notch. His tackling is sound. He’s not terribly strong, and his anticipation and instincts could use work. If the processing can catch up to the rest of his body, Mondon could be a contributor alongside a good linebacker. Until then he’s a high upside special teamer.

Fit Grade: C

IU Jailin Walker ILB

6’0” ⅜ 219 lbs

40 yard dash

Bench: 4.40s

Vertical: 35in

RAS: 7.81

Jailin Walker’s size will keep him in the seventh round at best, but his speed, explosion, and strength are amongst the best in the draft at his size. His RAS jumps to a 9.98 as a Safety, but he doesn’t have the coverage chops to make that switch. He plays with a lot of heart and he’s loyal, following Indiana Head Coach Curt Cignetti from James Madison to Bloomington, Indiana. He’s not a household by any stretch of the truth, but if I had to pick a seventh round deep sleeper in this draft, he would be my bet.

Fit Grade: C+

BSU Ahmed Hassenein EDGE

6’2” ⅜ 267 lbs

40-yard dash: 4.77s

Bench: 27 reps

RAS: 7.08

Hassanein has an interesting path to the NFL. He was born in the United States, moved to Cairo to live with his dad at 6, then moved back to California to live with his brother at the age of 16, when he first started playing football. Hassanein could be the first NFL player of Egyptian heritage in the history of the NFL, and he’s certainly earned it. Hassanein is very, very strong, and he plays relentlessly. His agility is not ideal, nor his length, but should he add some pass rush moves to the toolkit, he could turn into a nice rotational defensive lineman.

Fit Grade: C

VTECH Antwaun Powell-Ryland EDGE

6’2” ⅝ 258 lbs

40-yard dash: 4.69s

Vertical: 36.5in

RAS: 9.18

Powell-Ryland is pretty undersized for the NFL, but he could fit nicely in the Todd Bowles 3-4 scheme as a stand up OLB. His pass rush bag is deep, led by a spin move and some clubs and rips. He’s going to struggle more than an average front line defender against the run due to his size, and at 23 years of age, he’ll be one of the older rookies next season, but he could be a dangerous rotation piece in a platoon-ish system if whatever team drafts him as a sizable stable of pass rushers. His size is the ultimate knock on his game, from arm length to stride length to weight.

Fit Grade: C+

With the draft less than 24 hours out from writing this, I can truthfully say that neither I nor any other keyboard warrior have any clue what will happen on Thursday night, and I’m fairly certain most NFL teams are expecting the unexpected. This is one of the least consensus driven drafts I can remember, and mock drafting feels futile. One can only hope that Matthew Golden is off the board before the Bucs pick. In all seriousness, the Bucs could very well leave this draft with Mike Green, Shavon Revel, and Demetrius Knight in the first three rounds and I might not even blink. Offense is the premium side of the ball as proven time and time again, but it’s time for the Bucs to invest in the defense.

Join us Thursday night on whichever platforms you view content to watch myself and the rest of the RBLR krewe breakdown the first round of the draft!