Free Agent Could Bolster Bucs’ OLB Room

Bucs normal supervisor Jason Licht has assembled fairly the roster for 2022. As nationwide retailers proceed to launch their place group rankings, the Bucs proceed to grade out favorably. The workforce sports activities depth at a number of place teams, together with vast receiver, offensive line, defensive position and security. Many of those teams have been mentioned on a latest episode of the Pewter Report Podcast.

One place group that isn’t talked about a lot when discussing the deepest place teams is the skin linebackers. The Bucs have a formidable beginning pair in veteran Shaq Barrett and second-year participant Joe Tryon-Shoyinka. Nonetheless, there are issues about the place that group would stand if an harm have been to happen to one among them. Past these two, there may be Anthony Nelson, who’s coming off of a profession 12 months that included 5 sacks. After which there isn’t a lot expertise past that. Cam Gill, Elijah Ponder and rookie Andre Anthony have mixed to play 145 profession snaps. And regardless of Scott Reynolds’ prediction that Ponder will probably be a camp sleeper, the Bucs ought to proceed so as to add to this group with a extra confirmed veteran.

Who May Bolster The Depth Chart?

This late in free company, there isn’t a plethora of choices that might qualify as difference-makers. Nonetheless, one participant does stand out as a attainable high quality depth piece. Trey Flowers, coming into his eighth season, has had a strong profession to this point. From 2018 on, Flowers posted PFF grades of 80+ over greater than 1,700 snaps. For his profession, Flowers has registered 261 tackles, 31.5 sacks, 10 pressured fumbles and 7 passes defensed.

Flowers is coming off of two consecutive injury-plagued seasons. That is probably why he’s nonetheless accessible although he’s nonetheless taking part in at a excessive degree. And it could possibly be why the Bucs can lure the gifted edge rusher to Tampa Bay. By bringing in Flowers because the No. 3 exterior linebacker, it may assist shelter him from overuse and permit him to play deeper into the season, together with a possible playoff run.

Tryon-Shoyinka logged 560 snaps final 12 months because the Bucs No. 3 exterior linebacker. If Flowers have been to play an analogous variety of snaps, he may re-establish his worth on a one-year prove-it deal. That may enable Flowers to re-enter free company in 2023 with a possibility to signal one final massive contract simply earlier than his age-30 season.

Flowers and the Bucs look to be a mutually helpful pairing. It may assist the workforce lock in depth at a key place group that could be missing whereas permitting a gifted however oft-injured participant the chance to re-establish worth whereas chasing a Tremendous Bowl. The query at this level is whether or not or not it’s going to occur.