The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive line heads into the 2024 season loaded with talent but still a lot to prove.
With the offseason rapidly coming to an end, Pro Football Focus has been busy dropping rankings for every position group. Their latest rankings are for the defensive line, and the Buccaneers didn’t fair well.
PFF has the Bucs defensive line ranked 20th out of 32 teams. Not very impressive, and borderline disrespectful.
“There is significant potential on the defensive line for Tampa Bay, but far more potential than guaranteed production. Vita Vea is by far the group’s best player, and even Vea doesn’t consistently match his highlight reel. Fourteen defensive tackles earned a better PFF run-defense grade than him last season, and 39 notched more pressures, including 355-pound nose tackle Michael Pierce. Calijah Kancey has big-time pass-rushing potential inside, while Randy Gregory, Yaya Diaby and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, along with rookie Chris Braswell, could all generate pressure.”
Vita Vea needs to have an All-Pro year, or at least a Pro Bowl year. If that happens, look for Calijah Kancey and Yaya Diaby to have breakout seasons as well. Most of us don’t expect much from Randy Gregory or Joe Tryon-Shoyinka regardless of Vea’s production. But, nose tackle Michael Pierce and rookie Chris Braswell will definitely benefit from a dominant Vea as well. All eyes will be on Vea and the defensive line in 2024. Let’s hope they come through.
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