The Tampa Bay Buccaneers don’t exactly know where they’re picking yet — the NFC South is volatile, after all — but there’s one position the team could certainly use to upgrade at.
Pro Football Focus released its latest mock draft for the 2024 season, and had the Bucs picking inside the Top 10 at eight. With that pick, writer Trevor Sikkema had the Bucs taking UCLA EDGE Laiatu Latu, one of the draft’s premier edge rushing prospects.
Here is what Sikkema had to say about the proposed pick:
The Buccaneers could entertain picking a quarterback if they end up with a top-10 selection. Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. would be the most likely next signal-caller off the board. He’s also from Tampa Bay, so it would be a homecoming if they went that direction.
But right now, the Buccaneers’ defensive line unit ranks in the bottom 10 in sacks, total pressures and pass-rush win percentage. Their defense has been disappointing this season, and fixing that starts up front. Latu has been the most productive pass-rusher in the country over the past two seasons, notching pash-rush win percentages above 20% in each of those campaigns.
Latu would certainly help Tampa Bay’s struggling pass rush. He’s had a 10-sack season his last two years in college football with the Bruins and is currently at 11 with two games to go, making him one of the more vaunted pass rushers in college football. If he’s available when the Bucs pick, they could be remiss not to take him. The Bucs have (arguably) missed on some of their defensive line picks in recent years, but hitting on a young edge rusher would be big for this Tampa Bay team.
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