The Buccaneers chase elusive sacks, finding diamonds in the rough while first-round picks often falter. Will their next elite pass rusher emerge?
Historically, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have either hit on or missed when drafting dominant pass rushers. They have experienced major struggles in recent years in finding elite first-round players who live and die by the sack.
However, they have found good defensive-line talent in the later rounds. While the team fielded a dominant defense in the 1990s and won a Super Bowl with an elite defensive line, finding elite pass rushers has been a recurring challenge.
Drafting Defense since 2014
Yaya Diaby: A third-round pick in 2023 out of Louisville, Diaby is considered the best pass rusher drafted during the era of general manager Jason Licht, starting in 2014. Diaby has been a productive starter with 11.5 sacks and 127 quarterback pressures over his first two seasons in the NFL.
Joe Tryon-Shoyinka: A first-round pick in 2021, Tryon-Shoyinka was drafted as a project to grow into a role as a replacement for Jason Pierre-Paul. Tryon-Shoyinka has not developed into an elite pass rusher.
Chris Braswell: As a second-round pick in 2024, Braswell has not had a breakout season. He recorded only 1.5 sacks in his rookie season.
Noah Spence: Drafted in the second round in 2016, Spence was known for his pass-rush skills. But he failed to live up to expectations, and injuries and inconsistency hampered his development.
George Johnson: Johnson was an undrafted free agent and provided good production in 2014-2015, and served as an example of finding better value outside the first round.
Elijah Roberts: A fifth-round pick in last year’s draft, Roberts was a beacon of light for the defenders in the 2025 class. He was efficient with his pass-rush win rates as a rookie, and he played like he was the steal of the draft.
Historical Draft "Hits"
Lee Roy Selmon: The Bucs first-ever draft pick in 1976, Selmon was a Hall of Fame defensive end and the cornerstone of the early Buccaneers defense.
Warren Sapp: A first-round pick in the 1995 draft, Sapp was used primarily at defensive tackle, but he was a dominant pass rusher during the Bucs championship era as one of the drivers of the Bucs' "Baddest on the Planet" defensive front.
Simeon Rice: Rice was drafted by the Cardinals originally, but the Bucs acquired him via free agency. Rice is the standard for elite Bucs pass rushing, and the team’s failure to replace him in the draft has been regarded as a long-term issue.
Chidi Ahanotu: A sixth-round talent in the 1993 draft who became a productive starter for Tampa Bay.
Draft "Busts"
Eric Curry: Selected sixth overall in the 1993 draft, Curry never developed into the elite pass rusher the Bucs needed. Over his five seasons, he totaled only 12 sacks.
Gaines Adams: Taken fourth overall in 2007, Adams recorded just 13.5 sacks over three seasons, and was considered a major draft-day mistake by the Bucs front office.
In draft years past, the Bucs have often leaned towards defenders who play with finesse at edge rusher, and have gotten inconsistent results. Licht’s strategy is to draft pass rushers with toughness and physicality, and he found it in last year’s draft with Roberts. Roberts has seen significant playing time and is producing on the field.
Who will Licht and Co. draft this year to meet, or exceed, the Buccaneers' pass-rushing standard? Enquiring football minds want to know.
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