NFL.com: Go Get A Linebacker
October 31st, 2025
Turned the corner?
The NFL trade deadline is in four days. Are the Bucs going to at least bring in a serviceable player to help them make a Super Bowl run or are they going to sit back and hope backups play like stars?
It might be a while before the Bucs have as good of a first half of a season like they just had this year. Going 6-2 in the first eight games of the year is fantastic. Rarely have the Bucs done that in franchise history.
This suggests they have at least a core group of players good enough to make a run. Sadly, a lot of skill position players are hurt, some for the season. And Joe thinks that with so many offensive starters hurt, the cracks were finally visible the past two weeks, glaringly so in New Orleans last week.
Despite the Bucs maybe needing a running back or an offensive lineman or a receiver, Kevin Patra of NFL.com is of the believe the Bucs need an inside linebacker in order to make a run to the NFC title game, and perhaps beyond.
BIGGEST NEED: Coverage linebacker
The offense has been a rough watch of late, but the hope is that the club can get healthier after its Week 9 bye. The defense feasted on turnovers against the Saints, but coverage at the linebacker level remains a concern. Tampa has allowed a league-high 466 yards receiving to running backs this season. It didn’t kill them on Sunday, but it’s a place to bolster if Jason Licht decides to make a deadline move.
Joe wonders if those lead-worst receiving yards to running backs might be a little skewed. Jahmyr Gibbs had a monster gain off a pass two weeks ago.
But overall the past two weeks the defense has been very strong. Perhaps SirVocea Dennis has turned the corner?
Joe is much more worried about the offensive line than he is about pass coverage of inside linebackers. But yeah, a throwaway pick for a guy who is serviceable in pass defense wouldn’t be a dumb idea.