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Bucs roundtable: Tampa Bay’s most pressing offseason need

It's all but certain the Bucs won't make the playoffs, so what should be their priority in the draft and/or free agency?
 
Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Gerald McCoy (93) sacks New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) in the second quarter of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers game against the New England Patriots on October 5, 2017 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla. MONICA HERNDON   |   Times
Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Gerald McCoy (93) sacks New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) in the second quarter of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers game against the New England Patriots on October 5, 2017 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla. MONICA HERNDON | Times
Published Dec. 5, 2017
The Bucs are 4-8, gave up seven sacks on Sunday, entered Sunday’s game surrendering an NFL worst 285 yards passing per game and rank 28th in rushing (88 yards per game). They have lots of needs.
But which is most important?
The Times’ Bucs coverage team tackles part of that in this portion of our Bucs Quarterly Report.

Question: What is the Bucs' most pressing offseason need and what's your best idea for how to address it?

THE QB MUST GO DOWN

Tom Jones, @tomwjones: The exact same thing the Bucs have needed the past decade: an elite edge pass-rusher. They haven't had a decent one since Simeon Rice. And it's so bad that Rice volunteered to come back and play again. There are two ways to get a pass rusher. One is through free agency, but you need a Brink's truck for that. The second (and best) way is to draft one. And the Bucs should get a high enough first-round pick to get one next spring.

LEADERSHIP

Ernest Hooper, @hoop4you: I know I keep hammering away at this theme, but to me it's the difference between winning and losing the close games. Sure, they need a better pass rush and a stronger secondary to contend with Drew Brees and Matt Ryan, but to beat the likes of Buffalo and a "Rodger-less" Green Bay, someone has to step up and show them to how to prepare, how to start games and how to close them out. I'd pluck a veteran free agent from the Super Bowl champion and have him spend the summer at the Derrick Brooks/Dave Andreychuk Leadership Institute to ensure he's ready.

INVEST IN SACKS

Greg Auman, @gregauman: From a personnel standpoint, it has to start with an elite pass-rusher, if not two. If that means writing a big check for a Calais Campbell-level impact addition in free agency, it might be worth going against the Bucs’ usual priority of saving the biggest contracts for in-house extensions. Whatever defense they run in 2018, its success will be predicated on getting to the quarterback, at least occasionally.

CLONE J.J. WATT?

Thomas Bassinger, @tometrics: Above all else, the Bucs need edge rushers. Note the plural. One isn't enough. No team has struggled to generate pressure like Tampa Bay. The Bucs hurry, hit or sack the quarterback only once every five plays. Contrast them with the Bengals, who generate pressure the most often — once every three plays. Tampa Bay will have a hard time finding a defensive end in free agency. Demarcus Lawrence and Ezekiel Ansah are two names to keep an eye on, but there's no guarantee they'll hit the market. The most cost-effective route is the draft. A 4-12 finish might sting a little less come April 26.