The departure of Mike Evans to San Francisco marks the end of an era, leaving a vacuum of production and leadership that would tempt any front office to reach for a flashy, immediate replacement. And if Carnell Tate had miraculously slid, I would have rushed to turn in my pick. However, history is littered with the remains of franchises that prioritized perimeter weapons while their foundations crumbled (I’m still mad at Matt Millen).
Instead, the Bucs GM makes a 4D move choosing to protect old man Baker Mayfield by shoring up the weakest position on an otherwise exciting offense. Adding Vega Ioane into the starting lineup builds a literal (not literal) wall on the left side. At 6-foot-4 and 320 pounds, Ioane is a force multiplier and placing him between an All-Pro like Tristan Wirfs and a rising star (if healthy) like Graham Barton creates a “no-sack zone” that fundamentally alters how opposing defenses must approach Tampa Bay. Ioane hasn’t surrendered a sack in two years, a statistic that speaks to his elite anchor and more impressive he’s probably a better run blocker that will bring a mean streak to a run game that has been missing that extra push for Bucky Irving.
Without a high-level addition like Ioane, the coaching staff will be forced to rely on Michael Jordan (yes, that one) or Elijah Klein, who are both competent depth players better suited for rotational roles. With Ioane anchoring the left guard spot, the offense is simply better. This is a move that Lions fans will understand: win in the trenches.