Breaking: Bucs Set To Sign Double-Digit Edge Rusher With The Possibility Of Pairing Him With Diaby

Cue the broken record. And Joe will continue to whine about this until something is done about it.

The Bucs need a pass rusher.

Oh, for four years (finally) the Bucs did not need a pass rusher. Those days are over.

Joe has been typing and banging on his keyboard for damn near as long as this site has existed –15+ years — that the Bucs need an edge rusher.

Jason Pierre-Paul is long gone. Bucs sacks king Shaq Barrett looks washed out, and here we are again.

The Bucs drafted YaYa Diaby last year and he looked like a total steal. When he was finally named a starter late in November, it seemed teams started to figure him out.

Diaby had 2.5 sacks in his last seven games, all starts. He finished with 7.5.

The only good thing Joe can say about Joe Tryon-Shoyinka as a pass rusher is that he is better than Cam Jordan. Other than that, JTS is nearly invisible.

Then there is Barrett. Joe loves Shaq to death but dang the Bucs need something more. Shaq had 4.5 sacks last year, just one in his last five games.

The Bucs simply must get more production from their edge rushers.

Well, potential help should be hitting the market. Yesterday, NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport noted that Eagles edge rusher Haason Reddick has been granted permission from the team to seek a trade.

Reddick, a former first round pick of the Cardinals, has had double-digit sacks as an outside linebacker each of the last four seasons.

That’s a proven track record.

If Diaby turns into anything, with Reddick playing opposite him, that would be cooking with gas.

Sure, getting Reddick, will be a pricey. He’s getting an average of $15 million a year, per Spotrac.com. Shaq is getting paid $17 million a year.

As much as it pains Joe, you can see which player gets more bang for the Bucs.

Sources: #Eagles All-Pro edge rusher Haason Reddick has received permission to seek a trade following another disruptive season featuring double digit sacks. The 29-year old with 27 sacks over two seasons in Philly could land elsewhere. pic.twitter.com/WxIGTac24M

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 11, 2024

Absolutely the Bucs should explore a trade for Reddick. The Bucs simply must have a better pass rush if they hope to advance past the divisional playoffs.

 

 

 

Baker Mayfield Sounds Off on Potential Return After Tampa Bay Buccaneers Hire New OC

Baker Mayfield has a decision to make about his future with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as he enters free agency this 2024 offseason.

By the looks of it, returning to the Bucs seem to be the best choice considering how much success he had with the team in his prove-it year. However, it’s still up to Mayfield, and with a new offensive coordinator coming in, it might change things for the veteran quarterback.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Hire New Offensive Coordinator

After making it all the way to the divisional round of the 2023 playoffs, the Buccaneers lost offensive coordinator Dave Canales, who joined the Carolina Panthers to be their new head coach.

As a result, the Buccaneers were forced to look elsewhere for his replacement, eventually hiring veteran coach and longtime offensive coordinator and QBs coach Liam Coen.

“We are thrilled to welcome Liam Coen as our new offensive coordinator. Throughout the selection process, Liam stood out for his innovative offensive mind, exceptional coaching skills, and the remarkable impact he’s had at every level of his career,” Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said of Coen,

“We believe his vision and approach to the game will be a tremendous asset to our team, and we look forward to the energy and expertise he brings to our coaching staff.”

Coen has served as Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator in 2022 before returning to Kentucky–where he also served in 2021–to be their OC and QBs coach in 2023.

Baker Mayfield on Tampa Bay Buccaneers Future

Sure enough, with all the changes happening in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers organization, Baker Mayfield might have some concerns about a potential return. He had success with Canales as OC, but there’s no guarantee he would be able to replicate that with Coen now calling the plays on offense.

Contrary to that narrative, though, Mayfield is excited to work with Coen and expressed his desire to return to the Buccaneers.

“The first step happened in Tampa hiring a new OC so I’m excited about that somebody I’m familiar with,” Mayfield said on The Rich Eisen Show when asked about his future with the Buccaneers.

“Yeah great guy, obviously I think a big factor in that the same system that we ran last year, so guys don’t have to relearn anything. Terminology might be a little different but same system same scheme. So just take the next steps from there and then let my agent and those guys negotiate from there. I’m thankful for that place they gave me an opportunity.”

When Eisen elaborated and asked if his “first option” is to stay with the Buccaneers, Mayfield didn’t hide his desire to run it back.

“I would love to, just how they run things, how they operate, it allowed me to play free and just all about ball.”

For what it’s worth, the expectation is for Mayfield to really become the Buccaneers’ long-term QB. He was supposed to be a bridge QB, but after proving that he has what it takes to lead a team, the talk now is for Tampa Bay to secure him long-term.

For now a deal has yet to be made, but it appears both sides have a mutual wish to continue their partnership.