The Tampa Bay Buccaneers walked into last season with playoff aspirations and left with more questions than answers. A promising start faded fast, and by the time the dust settled, the Bucs were on the outside looking in come postseason-a sharp fall for a team with championship pedigree not too far in the rearview.
So what went wrong? There’s plenty to unpack, but the most glaring issue was up front on defense.
The Buccaneers’ front seven simply didn’t bring enough heat. The pass rush lacked bite, and when quarterbacks had time to sit back and scan the field, even a solid secondary can only hold up for so long.
It’s a tough ask for any defense to stay afloat when the pocket rarely collapses.
Tampa Bay’s defensive line was thin across the board. They had one or two guys who could flash in spurts, but there wasn’t a consistent threat-no game-wrecker that opposing offenses had to account for every snap.
That’s a problem in today’s NFL, where edge rushers are the tone-setters and difference-makers. Without a disruptive presence off the edge, the Bucs were left playing reactive football far too often.
That has to change this offseason.
Whether it’s through free agency or the draft-or more likely, both-the Buccaneers need to be aggressive in upgrading their pass rush. Free agency offers some intriguing names, but there are no sure things.
That’s why the draft looms large, and not just in the first round. If the Bucs want to build real depth and find long-term solutions, they’ll need to hit on picks beyond Day 1.
One name worth circling? Gabe Jacas out of Illinois.
Jacas is generating buzz as a potential Day 2 pick, and for good reason. He’s a high-motor edge rusher who made a living chasing down quarterbacks in the Big Ten.
At Illinois, Jacas was used almost exclusively as a pass rusher-so much so that he was often taken off the field in obvious run situations. But that specialization isn’t a knock in Tampa’s eyes.
If anything, it’s a fit.
The Bucs aren’t looking for a jack-of-all-trades on the edge. They need someone who can pin their ears back and get after the quarterback.
Jacas checks that box. He brings power off the snap, the kind of raw strength that allows him to bully offensive tackles and win early in the rep.
That’s critical-because in the NFL, winning fast is often the difference between a sack and a missed opportunity.
Jacas doesn’t just flash athleticism-he brings a physical edge that shows up on tape. His ability to convert speed to power and finish plays is what’s caught the attention of several NFL teams, including the Carolina Panthers.
And while he’s currently projected as a third-rounder, there’s no guarantee he’ll be on the board when the Bucs are on the clock. If they want him, they may have to be proactive.
Bottom line: Tampa Bay knows it needs more juice off the edge. With limited top-tier options in-house and no guarantees in free agency, the draft becomes a critical avenue to reload.
Gabe Jacas might not be a household name yet, but he brings the kind of pass-rushing upside the Buccaneers desperately need. If they can land him on Day 2, it could be a sneaky-good move that pays off in a big way.