With The First Pick
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Buccaneers: 4 EDGE prospects to get younger defensively

By Loren Miller

Nov 15, 2020; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers outside linebackers Jason Pierre-Paul (90) and Shaquil Barrett (58) on the sidelines in the third quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 15, 2020; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers outside linebackers Jason Pierre-Paul (90) and Shaquil Barrett (58) on the sidelines in the third quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Buccaneers pass rushers. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /

Could the Buccaneers get younger off the edge?

After a busy 2020 offseason that involved drafting a potential 10-year starter on defense with safety Antoine Winfield, Jr. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers head into the 2021 NFL Draft looking to make another splash in the first two rounds again especially on the edge.

In the 2018 NFL Draft, the Bucs drafted Vita Vea in the first round which has turned out to be a great pick as he has slid in nicely replacing long-time defensive tackle Gerald McCoy.

That right there is what the Bucs need to do in the 2021 draft, select players that can slide in and take over for highly productive veterans that are moving toward the sunset of their career.

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On the edge of the defense you have a couple of veterans that will are on the other side of 30. First, you have edge rusher Jason Pierre-Paul (31) who will be entering the final year of his contract in 2021, and on front three of the defense, Ndamukong Suh (33) who is a free agent after this season.

In addition to Suh, William Gholston is a free agent after next season and will be 30 next year as well.

Let’s go ahead and say the Bucs keep Gholston around for another year with JPP.

If the Bucs are picking in the 20’s, there should be some intriguing defensive edge rushers that can be the next man up for either JPP or potentially Shaq Barrett, who is a free agent after this season as well. I also believe the Bucs will move on from Suh, a great player but I wouldn’t pay him what they have been paying him in 2021.

Here are a couple of names that stick out to me to replace or eventually replace starters on the edge in the 3-4 in Tampa next season.

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