The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are in need of help on defense this offseason. They need both inside linebackers and an outside linebacker to help rush the passer. They could also use an addition at defensive line, corner and safety.

It doesn’t really matter how these needs are addressed as long as the Bucs add talent. Both the NFL draft and free agency offer answers to their problems as well as trades. There is no reason the team shouldn’t be able to address these issues in free agency.

This is especially true when you consider the lack of needs on the offensive side of the ball. The Buccaneers will have their entire offensive line coming back as well as their starting quarterback, running back and three of their top four wide receivers. It sets up for a very defensive focused offseason.

More Offense, More Better?

However, there could be a pathway that makes sense where the Bucs look to add to the offense early in the draft. Perhaps even as early as the 15th overall pick. With star wide receiver Mike Evans as a free agent as well as starting tight end Cade Otton, general manager Jason Licht could look to add a play-making tight end to replace those guys.

That tight end would be Oregon star Kenyon Sadiq. He’s widely considered the best tight end in the draft by a large margin. Here’s how I believe that Kenyon Sadiq could make sense for the Buccaneers.

The first thing we have to consider is the potential of life without Evans next year. We got a taste of that in 2025 and it felt like it really hurt the offense. Specifically in the condensed areas of the field. 

Red Zone Re-Boot

Last year, the Bucs ranked 24th in red zone scoring when it came to touchdowns. Without Evans, most of the wide receivers on the roster are smaller in size with none being taller than 6‘1. There is just no one to go up and make a play on the ball without Evans.

This is particularly problematic considering the Buccaneers running back situation. Bucky Irving is a smaller ball carrier who isn’t built to pick up the tough gritty yards. And with bigger running backs like Rachaad White and Sean Tucker set to be free agents, the Bucs desperately need a big body pass catcher.

Sadiq would provide a playmaker to fill that void. At 6 ‘3 and 245 lbs, he provides a bigger physical profile who can out muscle cornerbacks and safeties and make those plays in the red zone. His hand eye coordination and catch radius are both very good, so even contested passes are his to go up and get. 

It’s also important to highlight that the Bucs will have a new offensive coordinator next season in Zac Robinson. The overall system will remain the same with the likes of Dave Canales and Liam Coen both coming from the McVay tree just like Robinson. However, every offensive coordinator has their own tendencies and preferences that shape the offense.

Last season there was only one team in the NFL that used two tight end formations more than Robinson and the Falcons. They ran these two tight end sets just over 38% of their plays. That wasn’t much less than they ran their three wide receiver sets (the formation that dominates the NFL today) which Robinson ran just over 45% of the time.

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If that tendency remains the same with the Bucs then we will be looking at a lot of usage from the tight end position. So even if Otton returns or a replacement is signed then we would still see another tight end on the field with them for a good chunk of the offensive snaps. If the Buccaneers don’t sign a tight end in free agency, then it only makes it that much more of a priority to draft one early. 

Sadiq projects as a high-level starter in the NFL. His athletic ability allows him to stretch the field down the seam and he is a nuanced route runner who can find holes in the defense. He reminds me a lot of Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta when he was coming out of Iowa a few years ago and it is believed that Licht and the front office very much liked LaPorta in that draft.

I can’t sit here and tell you that Sadiq should be the target for the Buccaneers. There are too many needs on defense to invest a pick into a tight end at this point. However, if the Bucs fill these holes in free agency and the draft goes in a specific way then there is a scenario where Sadiq makes sense.

Sadiq is a high level prospect. He would help address needs on the offense and give it the shape of what Robinson has done in the past. Under the right circumstances, this could be a very good pick for the Bucs.

For more from J.T. click here, then make sure to follow him on Twitter.

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