The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had a surprisingly strong 2023 campaign. Having to overcome the retirement of quarterback Tom Brady is something many people thought would doom the team, but they were able to overcome and actually improve.
Tampa Bay won the NFC South by going 8-9 in 2022; this season, they went 9-8 with Baker Mayfield leading the way. They even won a playoff game this season, enacting some revenge on the Philadelphia Eagles during Super Wild Card Weekend.
Heading into the 2024 NFL offseason, there are certainly a few needs the Buccaneers will need to address. Mayfield is a free agent, as is star wide receiver Mike Evans, Retaining them is key, especially with offensive coordinator Dave Canales taking over as head coach of the Carolina Panthers.
NFL News & Rumors: Laiatu Latu, 2024 NFL Draft, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Updates
If either of those players departs, the biggest needs of the team will change. Right now, however, their biggest need according to PFF’s Mock Draft Simulator is on the defensive side of the ball.
The Buccaneers’ biggest need heading into the 2024 NFL Draft is upgrading their edge defenders. The player they could target to fill that void? Laiatu Latu out of UCLA.
“Latu has the best pass-rush profile of any edge rusher in the 2024 class. His hand usage, reaction time and first-step athleticism are first-round caliber in all categories,” as written by PFF’s Big Board Analysis.
The Buccaneers recorded 48 sacks last season, with rookie Yaya Diaby leading the way with 7.5. Second on the team was safety Antoine Winfield Jr., who is set to hit free agency in a few weeks.
Shaquille Barrett has taken a big step back since 2021 when he had 10 sacks and made the Pro Bowl. In the following two seasons, he has recorded only 7.5 sacks combined, making edge rusher a real need in Tampa Bay.
NFL News & Rumors: Laiatu Latu, 2024 NFL Draft, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Updates
Latu would be an excellent addition to fill that void. He was named an All-American this past season and won the PAC-12 Defensive Player of the Year award. Those honors he certainly earned with his performance on the field as Latu had 21.5 tackles for loss and 13 sacks.
Adding that kind of disruptor to their defense would be ideal for the Buccaneers, who are slated to pick 26th in the first round. To land Latu they may have to make an aggressive move up the board, as some mock drafts have him being selected in the mid-teens.
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