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Should the Buccaneers draft Washington's EDGE rusher Bralen Trice? / via USA Today

Potential EDGE Prospect for the Buccaneers

January 25, 2024

Get ready for a lot of mock drafts Buccaneers fans.

Alright, I’m going to be completely honest, this is not a great draft to need an edge rusher if you’re outside the top 15, which we are. After the top 3, there’s a decent drop after those top guys. With that being said, it is possible for a guy like Jared Verse to fall to them. It is also possible that Caleb Williams falls to the Bucs at 26. It’s just not likely. Also, I’m real tired of drafting players from this state. All that ends up happening is this fanbase arguing for hours. But it is possible that the draft board doesn’t fall right to draft an edge rusher.

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Bralen Trice is one of the few first round talents that will likely be left for the Bucs. As far as physical tools, Trice is well stocked in that department. Almost every draft profile says something along the lines of him having explosiveness. He gets off the line quickly and has great hustle to finish tackles. With that being said, the reason there is a gap between him and the top 3 is that he is very much a raw talent. This Michigan pass rush reel does show his good and bad.

He just doesn’t seem to have a lot of moves in his toolset. Notice a lot of the snaps he is relying on his speed and power to win off the edge. When that doesn’t happen, he seems to have no answer. Now, I am of course not saying he can’t ever improve. He has proven to be a very good edge rusher for Washington, getting nineteen sacks during his 3 year career. And it should also be noted that YaYa Diaby had the same criticism coming out of the draft. Trice can easily learn some more moves and bulk up to get even better at his position.

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I would be remiss if I didn’t point Licht’s history with the University of Washington. Licht has drafted a lot of players from that school, with mixed results. Since 2014, we have drafted Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Vita Vea, Joe-Tryon-Shoyinka, and Cade Otton. Vea is obviously great, but JTS and Otton are kinda average to below average. Otton has definitely shown more, but the team will likely get another TE to help him out. The reason I point this out is that it feels like certain GMs do have schools they like to target because they trust their players to become good NFL players. That was part of the reason Michael Penix was a heavy favorite to land here, which he still can. If Trice is still on the board, it is likely Licht will target him.

There are certainly other players that Licht may target at edge, but I would not use a first round pick on them. Guys like Chris Braswell, Chop Robinson, and Jonah Elliss are good prospects, but do not warrant a first round pick. I would be fine with them if taken in the second round and with Licht getting an interior o-linemen or CB. However, edge is a dire position of need for the Buccaneers. They can’t solve it in FA because most the guys are either two expensive, or on their last legs. They need to get somebody opposite Diaby so that we don’t have to blitz to get pressure.