There is no question that amidst the chaos of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers‘ offseason, there have been several wholesale changes that have made the draft a highly pivotal affair for Tampa in order to further bolster their squad. Most importantly, they will have to turn their focus to building up a defense that underwent significant turnover.
While the Bucs made several additions that could move the needle, they haven’t yet addressed the edge rushing situation. Two players in this year’s draft could end up being the difference makers that the Bucs need.
Faulk Headlines Potential Pass Rush Reinforcements
Both Keldric Faulk and Cashius Howell are two players that could ultimately improve the outlook of the Bucs’ pass rush. Both have unique skillsets that could make a huge impact on not only the Bucs, but how they play defensively. While Howell proved productive despite so-so measurables, Faulk is more of a freak athlete that has somewhat underperformed.
The one true concern for Howell is that his arm length is questionable and could lead to questions about his ability to produce at the NFL level. However, what he does not have in length, he makes up for in explosiveness, displaying an elite first step that allows him to overcome his poor reach.
That allowed him to tally 11.5 sacks against the nation’s best offensive linemen at the collegiate level in the SEC, which proved to be a gauntlet all of last season. In sub package situations, Howell could thrive due to his pass rushing tendencies.
Project vs. Production: Where Both Prospects Fits
Faulk on the other hand, plays more on the margins of the game. His main issue is that he may not have the size the Bucs or other NFL teams would want to develop into a D-tackle. Also, in the same SEc that Howell played in, he only managed two sacks all of last season.
Still, Todd Bowles is known to take fliers on players that don’t fit a certain mold, such as Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey. Faulk could pair well with both due to his tweener abilities. There is evidence that Faulk can produce enough on tape to be NFL-ready, as in 2024, he had an incredibly productive year. However, it is still important that the Bucs do their due diligence in assessing how he will fit in the squad.
For both players, they will almost certainly be filling the shoes of several integral parts of the Bucs’ defense. After all, there is no truly replacing a player of Lavonte David’s caliber. Nor has there been a pass rusher for the Bucs that has been an elite game changer.
While both Faulk and Howell have had their shortcomings, they have both proven to be the kinds of players that Todd Bowles is willing to mold. Both are malleable and interchangeable, making them unlike any other assets the Bucs have on their roster. Should both find their way onto the Bucs in the draft, that could be even better. Hopefully, Todd Bowles and Co. can iron out the kinks and get two elite players that fit into the Bucs’ long term plans.
Christopher Sheppard Christopher Sheppard is a passionate and knowledgeable sports journalist based in Englewood, NJ pursuing a role in the sports media industry. He covers the NFL for Heavy Sports, focusing on the Dolphins, Chargers, and Buccanneers. More about Christopher Sheppard
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