Though the defensive tackle position may not be the sexiest, it is vital for any NFL defense to have a solid bastion of bodies at the center. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have long gotten by with a rotation of veteran tackles, but it may be time to inject more youth at the position.
Make no mistake, the Bucs have a difference-making defensive tackle already in Vita Vea. He is the cosmic center around which the rest of the Bucs defense orbits. Tampa also has a solid number two after adding former Rams DT Greg Gaines.
The Bucs drafted DT Logan Hall last year to inject a little more athleticism and speed to the defensive interior. He did not make much noise in his rookie season so it remains unclear whether Tampa can rely on him as a key piece of the line rotation.
After Todd Bowles joined the Bucs as defensive coordinator, Tampa’s run defense went from abysmal to formidable, rising from 32nd in defensive DVOA in 2018 to sixth in 2019. They remained a top-10 defense in DVOA until last season when they ranked 13th, in no small part due to diminished play along the defensive line.
While NFL teams cannot rely on rookie defensive tackles to make an immediate impact, the Bucs need to tend to the foundations of their defensive line, even if they pick another developmental tackle. Tampa does not need to spend a first-round pick on a tackle but could start looking as early as the second round.
Here are the defensive tackles the Bucs could consider taking in the 2023 draft: