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Pewter Report analyzes the highest gamers within the 2024 NFL Draft with its place previews – energized by CELSIUS, the official energy drink of Pewter Report. Bailey Adams continues the previews with the skin linebacker/defensive finish place, with a complete take a look at what the Bucs have and what they want on the place.
Adams additionally supplies an in depth record of this yr’s high exterior linebackers. As well as, Scott Reynolds affords up the Bucs’ draft wants and the annual Pewter Report Bucs Greatest Bets – the probably edge rusher for the Bucs to pick in Rounds 1-3 and in Rounds 4-7.
What The Bucs Have At Outdoors Linebacker
Bucs OLB Yaya Diaby – Picture by: Cliff Welch P/R
What the Bucs have at exterior linebacker is a variety of guys. In different phrases, there’s a superb little bit of depth on the place, with YaYa Diaby, Randy Gregory, Anthony Nelson, Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, Markees Watts and Jose Ramirez presently filling out the depth chart.
With the Bucs moving on from veteran Shaq Barrett this offseason, Diaby — who notched 7.5 sacks as a rookie in 2023 regardless of not changing into a starter till November — seems to be the one one who has a beginning position locked down for 2024. That’s to not say he doesn’t nonetheless have some creating to do, as he’ll look to enhance upon his 7.5% cross rush win fee and get within the backfield with extra consistency.
After Diaby, the Bucs have veterans in Gregory and Nelson (who’s extra of a rotational participant), in addition to a fourth-year participant in Tryon-Shoyinka, who will get one final probability to ascertain himself in 2024 after the crew declined to choose up his fifth-year choice for 2025.
After which there are a few intriguing younger exterior linebackers in Watts and Ramirez. Watts, an undrafted free agent in 2023, flashed in his minimal taking part in time on Sundays. In truth, he posted a team-best 23.1% cross rush win fee and made a strong case to get more snaps. As for Ramirez, Bucs basic supervisor Jason Licht and head coach Todd Bowles have been fast to level out the work he did on the follow squad as a rookie towards offensive tackles Tristan Wirfs and Luke Goedeke and proclaim their pleasure to see him proceed his growth.
What The Bucs Want At Outdoors Linebacker
What the Bucs don’t have at exterior linebacker is a real alpha-type. Diaby, who’s a methods away from being a completed product as a cross rusher, is presently slotted in as their No. 1. And whereas there’s a variety of depth on the place, there isn’t a participant who appears like an entire shoe-in for the opposite beginning position reverse Diaby.
The Bucs want an edge rusher who will be counted on to place up large sack numbers yr in and yr out whereas affecting video games on a constant foundation. The crew went effectively over a decade with no double-digit sacker, then it had one in three out of 4 years between 2018 and 2021 (with Jason Pierre-Paul falling simply quick with 9.5 in 2020). However within the final two years, Tampa Bay hasn’t had anybody come near 10 sacks. Vita Vea led with 5.5 in 2022 and Diaby led with 7.5 final yr.
If the Bucs are capable of finding that clear-cut alpha cross rusher within the 2024 NFL Draft, it will do wonders for that place group as an entire. As a result of they might then have their two starters, and it will enable Gregory, Nelson, Tryon-Shoyinka, Watts and Ramirez to spherical out the room in essential depth roles quite than banking on certainly one of them to emerge as a viable starter. Remember the fact that Gregory, Nelson and Tryon-Shoyinka aren’t beneath contract in 2025.
High Outdoors Linebackers In 2024 NFL Draft
*Vital Word: These gamers are NOT listed within the order of Pewter Report’s rating for them. Quite, the numbers are offered to point out you the tough order during which we anticipate them to come back off the board in the course of the draft.
1. Alabama EDGE Dallas Turner – Junior – 6-2, 247 – 4.46
After splitting his highschool profession between American Heritage and St. Thomas Aquinas, Turner made a right away affect as a freshman at Alabama. He racked up 8.5 sacks and 10 tackles for loss in his first yr, incomes Freshman All-American and All-SEC Freshman honors. That set the stage for a three-year profession with the Crimson Tide that noticed him tally 23.5 sacks and 33.5 tackles for loss. Turner is explosive and makes use of his arms effectively, plus he boasts spectacular play energy. All these traits make him the highest EDGE on this yr’s class.
2. Florida State EDGE Jared Verse – Redshirt Junior – 6-3, 254 – 4.58
Florida State EDGE Jared Verse Picture by: USA At the moment
Verse was amazingly a zero-star tight finish recruit out of highschool and commenced his school profession at Albany earlier than transferring to Florida State in 2022 and persevering with his domination. In 40 collegiate video games between the 2 colleges, he posted 32.5 sacks and 50.5 tackles for loss. Verse has an important construct and possesses an distinctive get-off, which he combines with good energy and excessive motor. Verse is a probable High 20 decide and had a High 30 go to with the Bucs.
3. UCLA EDGE Laiatu Latu – Senior – 6-4, 259 – 4.64
Initially at Washington, Latu suffered a neck damage throughout a 2020 follow that brought about him to briefly medically retire. After lacking the 2021 season, he transferred to UCLA and put the neck situation behind them. Over two years with the Bruins, his manufacturing was off the charts, posting 23.5 sacks and 34 tackles for loss. He has an important cross rush transfer set and exhibits elite hand utilization. Any questions surrounding Latu can be about his medicals – not his traits, tape or manufacturing.
4. Penn State EDGE Chop Robinson – Junior – 6-2, 254 – 4.48
Robinson has a constantly explosive first step and good athleticism, however he nonetheless wants some sprucing as a cross rusher. He doesn’t have ultimate size, neither is he constant sufficient together with his arms. Robinson’s numbers for the Nittany Lions weren’t precisely eye catching both, having totaled simply 11.5 sacks and 20 tackles for loss over three years. However he did solely begin 11 of the 35 collegiate video games he performed in and even when the manufacturing hasn’t at all times been there, the potential is obvious for the Penn State product.
5. Western Michigan EDGE Marshawn Kneeland – Redshirt Junior – 6-3, 267 – 4.75
One of many risers on this yr’s EDGE class, Kneeland has drawn comparisons to longtime Saints defensive finish Cameron Jordan. He has NFL measurement and size with the twitchiness wanted to achieve success. He’s bodily and converts his velocity to energy effectively sufficient to win, however he’s additionally nonetheless a piece in progress with a few of his cross rush strikes. Kneeland is coming off his greatest collegiate season, however it very a lot seems like the very best remains to be but to come back for him as he transitions to the subsequent stage.
6. Missouri EDGE Darius Robinson – Grad. – 6-5, 285 – 4.95
Robinson has prototypical measurement. His physique sort goes hand in hand with how he wins as a cross rusher. His bull rush has spectacular energy behind it and his size helps in a giant approach. He also can line up in quite a lot of spots. His 40 time on the NFL Scouting Mix confirmed what everybody already knew, and that’s that he received’t win with velocity. Robinson additionally doesn’t have an entire lot of bend to his recreation, however so long as he continues to show the kind of play energy that led to an 8.5-sack 2023 season at Missouri (which included a seven-game sack streak), he’ll have a excessive flooring within the NFL.
7. Penn State EDGE Adisa Isaac – Redshirt Senior – 6-4, 247 – 4.74
Penn State OLB Adisa Isaac – Picture by: USA At the moment
Isaac was truly extra productive than Penn State teammate Chop Robinson was. A two-year starter, he totaled 11.5 sacks and 27 tackles for loss between 2022 and 2023. He has nice arms, each by way of quickness/violence and placement. That helps his cross rush profile in a giant approach, and it led to a variety of his success with the Nittany Lions. He may stand so as to add on some weight and if he does, there are many athletic instruments there for him to develop right into a high-upside NFL cross rusher.
8. Alabama EDGE Chris Braswell – Redshirt Junior – 6-3, 251 – 4.60
Braswell will get overshadowed a bit of bit on this class partly due to his personal teammate at Alabama (Dallas Turner), however the explosiveness that he performs with is difficult to overlook. He has the velocity and energy to win, and with extra growth inside his cross rush repertoire, he can elevate his ceiling even additional. Because it stands now, he already has a fairly excessive flooring as a rotational rusher. He performed behind Turner and 2023 Defensive Rookie of the Yr Will Anderson Jr. for some time, however regardless of beginning simply two video games final yr, he racked up eight sacks and three compelled fumbles.
9. Kansas EDGE Austin Booker – Redshirt Sophomore – 6-4, 253 – 4.77
Booker hasn’t performed a variety of soccer, first redshirting in 2021 at Minnesota earlier than taking part in simply 18 video games (one begin) between 2022 (Minnesota) and 2023 (Kansas). He solely performed 505 snaps in school, and his inexperience can typically present on the sector. Regardless of that, he’s trending upward and has the athletic profile to achieve success. When he provides some extra to his body and rounds out his recreation as a cross rusher, he has the potential to soar previous the eight-sack, 12-TFL season he had for the Jayhawks in 2023.
10. Washington EDGE Bralen Trice – Redshirt Junior – 6-3, 245 – 4.72
Washington EDGE Bralen Trice Picture by: USA At the moment
Trice began for 2 seasons at Washington and confirmed a penchant for physicality irrespective of the place he lined up on the road. He had 16 sacks and 23.5 tackles for loss over the 2022 and 2023 seasons, displaying good arms and competitiveness that coaches and teammates love. His edge velocity and size are lower than ultimate, however his first step is fast and he can overcome his weaknesses to be disruptive.
11. Utah EDGE Jonah Elliss – Junior – 6-2, 248 – N/A
Elliss went from being an off-ball linebacker in highschool to a two-year starter at defensive finish for Utah. He isn’t the very best within the run recreation and lacks size, which may restrict his ceiling within the NFL. Regardless of that, he does use his arms effectively and has good bend that would serve him effectively in situational roles. His 2023 All-American season was a superb launching pad for his draft inventory, as he put up 12 sacks and 16 tackles for loss in simply 10 video games.
12. UCLA EDGE Gabriel Murphy – Redshirt Junior – 6-2, 247 – 4.68
Murphy has actually good technical potential, with fast ft and good hand utilization. That helped him overcome his lack of ultimate size from the skin linebacker place, and he proved to be disruptive as a cross rusher all through his school profession. He began out at North Texas and after breaking out with a seven-sack season in 2021, he transferred to UCLA. In 26 video games (all begins) with the Bruins, he put up 9.5 sacks and 20 tackles for loss. Murphy is prone to be an early Day 3 decide.
The Greatest Of The Relaxation
13. Houston Christian EDGE Jalyx Hunt – Senior – 6-3, 252– 4.64
Hunt began his profession at Cornell as a 6-foot-2, 195-pound security, spending three years with the Large Crimson from 2019-2021. Nonetheless, the pandemic value him his 2020 season, so it wasn’t till he transferred to Houston Christian in 2022 that he moved to a hybrid exterior linebacker position and reworked his physique. In 11 video games that yr, he notched seven sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss. The DeBary, Florida, product then added 6.5 sacks and 9 TFLs as a senior. Hunt has good athleticism and foot velocity and with extra time to develop, his explosiveness may flip into sustained success on the place.
14. Ole Miss EDGE Cedric Johnson – Senior – 6-3, 260– 4.63
Ole Miss EDGE Cedric Johnson Picture by: USA At the moment
The younger brother of Bucs wide receiver Cephus Johnson, Cedric Johnson has the kind of athletic body and size that may serve him effectively on the subsequent stage. He has some instruments to work with, however he’s nonetheless on his method to constructing out his cross rush transfer set. The 21-year-old was steadily productive at Ole Miss, taking part in in 10 video games as a freshman and racking up three sacks earlier than beginning 11 video games as a sophomore and kicking that as much as a career-high 6.5 sacks. 4 after which 5.5 sacks over the subsequent two years gave him 19.0 for his profession over 46 video games (29 begins).
15. Colorado State EDGE Mohamed Kamara – Grad. – 6-1, 248 – 4.57
There’s no getting round the truth that Kamara is undersized, and he’s just about maxed out his body. His arm size isn’t ultimate both, however there’s additionally no denying that he overcame a variety of that with physicality, motor and leverage. He launches out of his stance with explosiveness, and he put up big-time manufacturing during the last three years. He went from 7.5 sacks and 9.5 tackles for loss in 2021 to eight.5 sacks and 16 tackles for loss in 2022, then completed with a 13-sack, 17-TFL season in 2023 that earned him Mountain West Defensive Participant of the Yr honors.
16. Washington State EDGE Brennan Jackson – Sixth-Yr Senior – 6-3, 264– 4.69
Jackson has performed a variety of soccer during the last three years, taking part in in 38 video games at Washington State whereas beginning 37 of them. He had 18.5 sacks over these three years to go together with 30.5 tackles for loss and 9 passes defensed. His excessive motor and love for the sport are evident, however he doesn’t have high-level velocity or bend. Jackson tasks as a rotational participant within the NFL.
17. Houston EDGE Nelson Ceaser III – Redshirt Junior – 6-2, 254– 4.89
Ceaser blossomed right into a First Staff All-Large 12 participant in 2023 as Houston made the leap to the Energy 5. In truth, he led the convention with 9.5 sacks over 11 video games whereas captaining the Cougars. He stopped the run higher than one would possibly anticipate for a participant of his measurement, however he doesn’t have the size or energy that he must beat highly effective blockers. His get-off additionally isn’t as constant because it must be, however the number of cross rush strikes he has is a plus. If he sharpens these strikes, he’ll have the ability to carve out a spot on the underside of an outdoor linebacker depth chart someplace.
18. UConn EDGE Eric Watts – Senior – 6-5, 274– 4.67
While you search for the perfect measurement and general construct of an NFL cross rusher, you’re on the lookout for somebody like Watts. His competitiveness is relentless and his bodily traits typically handle to do the work for him. Nonetheless, he’ll want to totally unlock the ability behind his construct and sharpen his cross rush potential each by way of his transfer set and his get-off. He topped out at seven sacks in 2022 and blocked two discipline objectives for the Huskies. A Day 3 decide, Watts has some intrigue to him largely because of his measurement and physicality.
Bucs Greatest Bets: EDGE
Bucs Greatest Guess – Rounds 1-3: Western Michigan OLB Marshawn Kneeland
Kneeland is large, athletic, bodily power off the sting. His recreation has drawn comparisons to Cam Jordan’s recreation popping out of Cal over a decade in the past. Curiously sufficient, neither Kneeland nor Jordan was a big-time sack producer in school, however Jordan wound up changing into a multi-year Professional Bowler and had six double-digit sack seasons in New Orleans. The traits and energy are there for Kneeland, who had 12.5 profession sacks at Western Michigan, to have the same path and actually develop his cross rush recreation on the subsequent stage.
Kneeland violently assaults his opponent and his motor at all times runs excessive. He’s a stout run defender and the Bucs doubtless respect the truth that he remained loyal to Western Michigan and withdrew his title from the switch portal and returned to the Broncos for his senior season regardless of initially committing to Deion Sanders and Colorado. The Bucs met with Kneeland formally on the NFL Scouting Mix and likewise had him in for a High 30 go to previous to the draft.
Bucs Greatest Guess – Rounds 4-7: Colorado State OLB Mohamed Kamara
After the second spherical there aren’t many nice choices for edge rushers, as this isn’t a very deep draft for the place. However the Bucs may draft Kamara within the fourth spherical on Day 3. Tampa Bay had one other profitable, fast, undersized cross rusher from Colorado State in Shaq Barrett, who was additionally 6-foot-1, 250 kilos. Kamara’s measurement isn’t for each crew, however Todd Bowles doesn’t thoughts shorter exterior linebackers if they will actually rush the passer.
Kamara logged 45.5 tackles for loss and 25.5 sacks in his Rams profession and wins with unbelievable burst and bend across the sort out, and has violent arms. Kamara has a wide selection of cross dashing strikes and a classy rush plan. The Bucs have a equally constructed participant already on the roster in Markees Watts, in order that’s proof that Kamara could possibly be a superb slot in Tampa Bay as Todd Bowles can by no means have sufficient good edge rushers who can get to the quarterback.
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