The Tampa Bay Buccaneers front-office has a tall task ahead of them this off-season as they are forced to decide on whether or not they will retain Jameis Winston or pass. The former Heisman Trophy quarterback is set to become a free agent if he is unable to sign a new deal with the team that drafted him first overall in the 2015 Draft — passing on others, including Oregon Quarterback Marcus Mariota. But, unlike the latter, Winston’s future is still bright, and if we allow another team to intercept him, we can kiss all the hard work good-bye.
First of all, you do not throw away five years of work because of something that can easily be fixed. Yes, the turnovers over the last five seasons have been a huge factor in, if he is the answer, but the same argument can be made that his record-setting 30 for 30 bout this season, and it has a lot of fans ready to execute the young quarterback from the roster altogether. As you make the argument about turnovers, it was not all on one player. It doesn’t help when players such as OJ Howard and Peyton Barber helping the “30 for 30 cause” by dropping passes, running wrong routes, etc. You eliminate the simple mistakes that come with being in a new system, and ultimately you eliminate about half of those turnovers.
Secondly, this man has spent five seasons, not only setting franchise records, but ended up winning the NFL Passing Title in a contract season. To me, if I’m evaluating him, that is impressive considering the three head coaches, thousands of hours in two different playbooks, studying your new coaches, etc. Have the Bucs made the playoffs? Absolutely not! ONE winning season in those five years, but there are haters out there in Bucs Country that solely blame him not realizing there are 52 other players on the roster (offense, defense, special teams cough KICKERS cough).
Finally, let’s just all be grateful in Bucs Country that we didn’t draft Mariota. I’ve heard the talks about “at least he made the playoffs,” and that’s cool, how far did he go? Wasn’t Ryan Tannehill the quarterback during the AFC Championship? Pretty sure I remember seeing ESPN talk about Mariota being benched or being hurt consistently. Not to mention, Mariota and even Tannehill both had the support of good defenses and a stout running game, while Winston had been subject to years of sub-par defenses, and an almost a non-existent running game. Outside of a suspension, Winston has only missed a handful of games. But, what he did that Mariota failed to do, is play with knee issues. If he recovers from his LASIK and the Arthroscopic Knee Surgery he had earlier this offseason, then the sky is the limit.
There’s no better option than Winston at this moment. The Draft is hit and miss with your quarterbacks. Bruce Arians did not come out of retirement just for one season with Winston. You don’t have Hall of Fame quarterbacks vouch for him if it wasn’t the right thing to do. If I were Jason Licht for a day, I’d look to bring Winston back with a 2-year deal worth roughly $65-million deal with a team option after 2020 or give him the transition tag, which is estimated to be about $25 million. As of this moment, there is no better option than Winston (even with rumors of Rivers and Brady being linked to Tampa Bay). I believe Winston under Arians will shine in his second year in the system.
Draft season is getting into full swing, although behind the scenes, the scouting process has been happening for months. Every year all 32 teams try to strike gold in the annual NFL Draft. It is looked at as an opportunity for every team to upgrade or add depth to every possible position of need on the roster.
In this series, in no particular order, we will look at every position on the Buccaneers roster one by one and analyze draft needs based on depth and status of the roster.
Center Ryan Jensen
Image Credits: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Jensen was the only active center on the roster last season, with guards Earl Watford and Ali Marpet being viable options as a backup, as both have played the position at some time in their careers. Marpet is still under contract, while Watford will become a free agent.
He was the anchor of the offensive line in 2019. In 2018, the Bucs made him the highest-paid center in the league — at the time — by signing him to a four-year contract totaling $42 million with $22 million guaranteed. Jensen had a decent season in 2018, bringing a much needed “nasty” edge that the offensive line had been mostly lacking. Although displaying that aggressive playstyle, he knew he needed to play better and more consistently. He also had a tendency to draw penalties, which went hand in hand with his aggressive playstyle.
Enter 2019: He locked down the center position. He played 1,139 snaps, while only allowing one sack and boasting a PFF grade of 79.3. He also improved by way of only being flagged three times all year. Ryan Jensen, or “Big Red”, as he is also known by, is a beast among men and never wants to leave the field. Who can forget in week 15, when he sustained an elbow injury and went to the sideline briefly while holding his elbow in pain, only to witness Earl Watford taking practice snaps? Right then and there is when I knew that Big Red would not let himself miss a snap. He appeared to be angry on the sidelines — angry that he would not be out on the field with his brothers and finish the game. At that point in time, I knew that he would not let an injury keep him out of the game.
Although I have no questions about his ability to keep the Center position locked down, he is due $10 million in 2020 if he remains on the roster. If it were up to me, I would not blink an eye, and pay the man. But I am not Jason Licht or Bruce Arians. With so many free agents, and many requiring contract extensions, it leaves the question of, how in the world are the Bucs going to be able to pay all of these guys, even with plenty of cap money for next season? Hard decisions will have to be made, but in my opinion, number 66 has to stay. Offensive line consistency is key to the game. It is definitely key in Bruce Arians’ offense. Where five and seven-step drops by the Quarterback while deep plays develop are the staple for this offense, Center is not a position to gamble on.
I do not feel the need to draft a Center in the first few rounds of this draft, although you can never have too much depth. Of course, all of this is dependent on the decision to retain our big nasty center, who is under contract for two more seasons but is not due any guaranteed money in 2020. I peg this draft need as a low-level priority, assuming Ryan Jensen will return in 2020, and Watford returns in a rotational backup Guard/Center position.
I have been on location at the NFL Combine since Monday. Being that yesterday was just rookie QBs prancing around in their underwear and checking in, there hasn’t been much to talk about, however on Tuesday, some things came to light, or Licht so to speak.
One GM I spoke with that had previously indicated an interest in Winston says he’s been told not to expect Winston nor Brady to hit the free-agent market. This doesn’t mean they won’t, simply that he shouldn’t expect them to. He thinks this is due to deals being worked out with their current teams, but that negotiations do fall apart, and anything can happen.
Tua would be thrilled to get drafted to the team that was “Tanking for Tua”. He hasn’t been medically cleared as of yet, doesn’t relay confidence in his ability to stay healthy, but rather he says he’ll be more prepared next time … (whatever that means). He doesn’t really give off the vibe of being the brightest guy in the room, but definitely seems genuine. Not someone I’d feel comfortable drafting, but he’ll definitely go day 1.
Panthers have named Cam Newton the starting QB for 2020, barring any setbacks from his injury.
Licht says the Buccaneers disappointment with some aspects of Winston’s game has been blown WAY out of proportion, and he’s personally thrilled with the growth he saw, especially with his ability to throw the long ball.
Neither Licht or Arians would comment on where the negotiations with Winston stand, but they also gave no indication that they don’t expect him to be back with the Buccaneers, though they’re taking their time to make sure it’s the right choice.
Update: In this interview Arians basically states they already know who will be QB next year in Tampa.
What’s up, Bucs Life fans? It’s Kyle Riddle author of Riddle’s Rundown, and here’s my 3 round mock draft.
1. Mekhi Becton: RT Louisville
Photo by: Jamie Rhodes | USA TODAY Sports
With the departure of current RT Demar Dotson, the Bucs need some serious help along their O Line. Louisville’s Mekhi Becton would fit in perfectly along the right side of the Bucs offensive line for the foreseeable future if taken at 14 overall. At 6’9″ Becton is a dominant run blocker and being 369lbs doesn’t hurt either; but he is more than just a big body, he is incredibly light on his feet even playing LT for a season at Louisville. Becton has the run blocking that Ronald Jones so desperately needs and the pass blocking Jameis Winston has always wanted.
2. Marlon Davidson: Auburn 3-4 DE
Photo by: Julie Bennett
The game is won in the trenches, and if ur looking for a DL that can not only stop the run but also wreak havoc in an opponent’s offensive backfield, then Davidson is ur man. Last year during his senior season, he had 29tackles, 19solo, 11.5 TFL, 6.5 sacks, and 1 FR. At 6’3″ 278lbs, he can rotate and play anywhere on the defensive line, but he’s best at 3-4 DE with his pass-rushing skills. He also sets the edge extremely well against the run, which is important if Ndamukong Suh leaves via free agency.
3. Kyle Dugger out of small school Lenoir-Rhyne.
Photo by: NFL
It’s no secret the Bucs safety play has been atrocious for years now, and teams have begun to exploit it.Jordan Whitehead and Mike Edwards played ok last year, but at times they also gave up several big plays.Dugger has been moving up the draft board once teams figured out that he’s a freak athlete, and he would fit in perfectly with the rest of the Bucs young DBs. Dugger is expected to run a sub 4.4 40 yard dash and pass the 40inch mark on his vertical jump. Don’t let the fact this kid went to a division two school because he can ball.
A few rundowns ago, I stated that the Bucs and GM Jason Licht should take a long look at Georgia QB Jake Fromm after the first round. It appears ESPN’s Mel Kiper agrees. He recently stated, via the Tampa Bay Times, that “If you’re looking for a day two possibility at quarterback, I would look at Jake Fromm,” then Kiper said, “Maybe (Washington’s) Jacob Eason if he maybe drops. But Fromm would be more of the guy in the second or third round.’’
I agree 100 percent. If it’s the second round, it would be impossible to ignore Jake Fromm if he is still on the board. However, there is a question of his arm strength. He must prove at the combine that he was the arm to play in Bruce Arians’ offense, which involves making a lot of passes downfield. Other than that, Fromm is an excellent QB and would be a great option to have if Winston doesn’t work out.
In recent news, veteran strong safety Tony Jefferson has been released by the Baltimore Ravens in order for the team to free up some cap space. Jefferson was due $11 million and some change for this year, but instead, he is a free agent, and the Ravens will have to eat a little over $4 million in dead cap.
Jefferson had sustained a few injuries in the past few seasons that could be seen as troublesome to some, like an ACL tear that had him placed on IR last season. Multiple offseason injuries also can deter would-be suitors; however, he is going to play for a team somewhere, so why not in Tampa, he wants to play for Bruce Arians again anyway.
Jefferson joined the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent in 2013 and played pretty well in Todd Bowles’ system. Between 2013 and 2014 in Bowles’ system, he recorded 103 total tackles with 89 of them solo, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, and 1 sack in 32 games starting in 10. After Bowles left the Cardinals in 2014, Jefferson kept the pedal down in Arizona, recording 2 interceptions on for a touchdown, 10 pass defends, 5 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, 4 sacks, and 175 total tackles with 136 of them solo, while playing in multiple positions: safety, free safety, linebacker, and cornerback.
Immediately following his final season in Arizona 2016, he joined with the Ravens, where he started three seasons as a strong safety, playing in 35 games recording 2 interceptions, 11 pass defends, 1 fumble recovered, 174 total tackles with 120 of them solo, and 3.5 sacks.
A Source close to the situation has informed All Things Buccaneers that there is mutual interest between the Buccaneers and Tony Jefferson and for a team, whose fans had screamed for a veteran presence in the secondary, Jefferson fits the bill. Not only is he a journeyman, but he plays well in Bowles’ system, and he loves Bruce Arians. Acquiring Jefferson in the offseason would not come with a huge price tag attached to him, and he would certainly provide the Buccaneers with depth anywhere passed the defensive line.
Tony Jefferson sure has been liking a lot of All Things Buccaneers affiliate Tweets recently:
How would you feel about Tony Jefferson in Tampa Bucs fans? @_tonyjefferson
If the Ravens are stupid enough to let @_tonyjefferson go, I am praying that BA & Licht make that phone call to try and get him down to the bay to pair with these young Bucs. That 2ndary would be fun to watch.
Brion Carnes has been around the game of football for a long time. Growing up in a talent-rich area like Manatee County, you either rise to the top or get washed out. Carnes started all four years for Bradenton High School in Manatee as a dual-threat quarterback, recording 5,972 yards through the air and 48 touchdowns, as well as collecting 1,095 yards on the ground and additional 23 touchdowns. In 2009, Carnes lead his football team to the Manatee High School’s first State championship in 16 years, losing to Plant High School 21-14.
Following his senior year, he committed to the University of Nebraska, where he played with some future NFL players such as our very own Lavonte David, Patriots’ running back Rex Burkhead, former Bears/ Saints wide receiver Cameron Merideth, and one time Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver/ kick returner Kenny Bell. Carnes did not get much playing time while as a Cornhusker having only attempted two passes, one against Chattanooga on September 3, 2011, completing a 19-yard pass and another on October 22nd, 2011 completing one pass for 7 yards against Minnesota.
After a season with Nebraska and getting little playing time, he transferred to the University of Northern Iowa, where he put his legs to work, returning 13 punts for 64 yards, a long of 52, and fielding 2 kick returns for 38 yards with a long of 26.
After his playing days were over in the collegiate circuit, Carnes was hoping to get a call from the NFL; however, he did not, and instead of sitting in self-pity because his NFL dreams did not come to light, his drive and determination lead him to the Indoor Football League and the Arena League, where he played for the Omaha Beef, Nebraska Danger, and for the Cedar Rapid Titans. Currently, Carnes is the JV Head Coach and Varsity WR coach for Sarasota High School and the quarterback for the Tampa Bay Tornadoes.
Recently I had the chance to catch up with Brion Carnes, and he graciously took time out of his busy schedule to do a quick Q&A.
JJ: What made you dust off the cleats? BC: Just getting the opportunity to play at home.
JJ: What are some of your personal goals this season? BC: Just to continue to get better each week and bring back a championship to Tampa Bay.
JJ: Now you speak of a championship which the Tampa Area has been longing for; is that one of many team goals? What are the team goals for this season and moving forward? BC:As a team, we’re trying to WIN every game. As a team, we’re going to bring a winning organization to the city of Tampa.
JJ: Are there any steps in your playing career you want to take beyond playing for the Tornadoes? BC: Of course, any opportunity I can get. If it’s workouts, for the XFL, CFL, or if possible, the NFL, that’ll always be the goal; but, right now, I’m a Tornado, and I’m going to give everything I have to bring a Championship to the City.
JJ: We have seen multiple Arena Leagues come and go; do you think this League will stand the test of time and why? BC: I think it will. We got the right supporters, and they’re doing it the right way.
JJ: Were you a little upset that you will be playing in a smaller venue and not one the size of Amalie Arena? BC: Not at all.
JJ: You are coaching High School ball now? How’s that going? BC: I mean it’s offseason time now, so the kids are working hard in the weight room, or they are playing other sports now.
JJ: How did last season go for you all? BC: We finished the season 6-4. So we had a decent year from previous years. Just looking to get our Juniors and Sophomores to step up and continue what we started this past year.
JJ: Who are some of the coaches that had an influence on you in life, and with your coaching? BC: My God Father Ricky Simmons, Coach Joe Kinnan, my UNI QB Coach/ Current Nebraska QB Coach Mario Verduzco they all push me to be great at everything I do. Not just on the field, but in the classroom, and Life Period.
JJ: While we are on the subject of Nebraska and UNI, how was it transitioning from a big-time football University, playing in front of 100 thousand fans every week, to playing on the FCS level in front of 30-50 thousand fans a week? Was it difficult? BC:Football is Football. It doesn’t matter the level of competition is.
JJ: Is there anything you would like to say to the Tornado fans out there? BC: Tornado Fans, let’s bring the energy this season! Arena Football is back in the Great City of Tampa Bay!!!TornadoNation🌪🌪🌪
Monte Kiffin is known by virtually every Buccaneers fan, and even the youngest fans have heard the tales of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ defensive guru, who was the mastermind behind one of the best defenses in Buccaneers history: The Tampa 2.
He joined the Buccaneers in 1996 and spent 13 seasons as the defensive coordinator, where he produced one of Tampa’s best defensive schemes and just maybe one of the best in NFL history. His defense produced a scheme that allowed his unit to become a top 10 team in fewest yards allowed ten times and top 10 in fewest points allowed 11 times. His journey with the Buccaneers took him the Super Bowl, where his defense produced one of the best ever performances in Super Bowl history.
Coach Kiffin was one of those guys that when he spoke, everybody sat up and paid attention; you had to. You may have seen him on tv speaking to reporters and heard the fiery genius proudly boast the results of his defense, but in person, it was quite different. The only time you were thrown aback by the whispering genius was when he was excited, but that excitement soon would turn to whispers. He would work so hard on creating a defensive scheme and be so focused on his work that when he had a “eureka moment”, he would shout, and it would throw everyone off guard. When he would figure out a way to stop an opposing offense, he would shout it out to the world around him that he had figured it out, but whispers would soon follow. It was almost like he did not want to reveal his discovery until everyone was on the football field.
The father of our legendary defense turns 80 years of age on February 29, 2020, but was honored by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during his birthday celebration on February 22, 2020, with this year’s Ring of Honor! Monte Kiffin will be the 14th player inducted into the Buccaneers Ring of Honor. The date for his induction has not been announced, but will be in April when the official schedule is released.
Here we are in mid-February, us football fans sitting in off-season limbo, otherwise known as football hell. The Super Bowl is over. The NFL Combine is coming up soon. We’re a month from free agency starting. And more than two months from the NFL Draft in Las Vegas. The NFL news is slow, but the rumors are certainly flying around. Speculation is running rampant. And the “what if” scenarios are flooding social media.
It sucks.
So to help battle the boredom, I’ve been looking at the 2020 draft prospects. The problem is that until free agency gets going, nobody has a clue about what will happen in the draft. That’s especially true in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers case. Their draft hinges on what decisions they make with players like Jameis Winston, Jason Pierre-Paul, and Ndamukong Suh. If they don’t re-sign Winston, then they’ll likely be looking for a QB in the first round. If they don’t re-sign JPP or Suh, then the d-line will be a focus in those first two rounds. I am convinced that they’re bringing Winston back, whether it’s with a franchise tag or a multi-year contract, so forget about a QB. And after what Bruce Arians said recently about keeping this Bucs defense together being a priority in free agency, I think they’ll figure out a way to re-sign both JPP and Suh as well. I’m also conducting this mock draft under the assumption that the Bucs sign free agent safety Tony Jefferson, who was recently released by the Baltimore Ravens. So now, that you understand where the roster sits heading into this draft, let’s get it on shall we.
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OT Jedrick Wills, Alabama
Image Credits: Mickey Welsh | For the Eagle.
The Bucs need an upgrade at right tackle. I love Demar Dotson, and he’s the longest-tenured Buccaneer player on the roster, but he turns 35 just after the 2020 season starts, and his body seems to be breaking down on him even if his heart is still there. The Bucs might keep him around as a reserve tackle for the right price, but his starting days are over.
At 6’5″/320lbs, Wills is big, strong, quick, and athletic. He’s a hole opener in the ground game, but also has the ability to protect the edge, even against speed rushers. He’s more than capable of playing on either side, but he’s a plug n’ play starter at right tackle for sure. There’s a chance he could be gone by this point since it appears there may be a serious run on offensive tackles early on, but the Bucs would be ecstatic if he were still sitting there when they go on the clock here.
Even though I have them re-signing Suh, they should still consider drafting his eventual replacement. Plus, if they do re-sign both Suh and JPP, they may not have the cap space to bring back Beau Allen, so it wouldn’t hurt to take a DT early on.
At 6’6″/316lbs, Davis has a freaky combination of size, strength, quickness, and athleticism. Teams just can’t move him in the ground game because of his lateral anchor, which is “truly rare and phenomenal”, according to WalterFootball.com. Besides being a tremendous run defender, he shows interior pass rush abilities with a fast first step and violent, active hands. He could stand to learn a ton from Suh over the next season or two and end up being a stud duo next to Vita Vea in the future.
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CB Reggie Robinson, Tulsa
Image Credits: University of Tulsa Athletics
I can already hear some of you saying, “A corner in the third round?”. Absolutely. Even though the Bucs young secondary came on strong in the second half of the 2019 season, what do they have behind starters Carlton Davis, Jamel Dean, and Sean Murphy-Bunting? If one of them gets injured, do you want Ryan Smith starting? Do you prefer MJ Stewart at nickel? What about having undrafted, second-year players like JohnFranklin or Mazzi Wilkins take over as a starter? I didn’t think so.
At 6’1″/202lbs, Robinson has great size for a corner to go along with his sub-4.5 speed. He had 4 interceptions and 13 pass breakups as a senior and displayed the versatility to play inside or outside. He’s projected as a mid-round pick, but some scouts say he’s a “sleeper” and could be a steal at this point.
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SS Reggie Floyd, Virginia Tech
Image Credits: The Lunch Pail
At 6’/222lbs, Floyd is one of my favorite players in this draft. He’s an instinctive box safety who had 160 tackles over his last two seasons and 9.5 tackles for loss in 2019. With his 4.6 speed, he can get into the backfield in a hurry and would be a fun blitz toy for Todd Bowles. He’s also not afraid to lower his pads and hit someone as a run supporter. He could end up being a candidate for the Bucs starting strong safety position alongside Jordan Whitehead, and he could also play the “money backer” role in Bowles defense as well.
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DE Jason Strowbridge, North Carolina
Image Credits: University of North Carolina Athletics
Since the Bucs drafted Ndamukong Suh’s eventual replacement in Round 2, it might not be a bad idea to try to find someone who could eventually take over for Jason Pierre-Paul too. At 6’4″/267lbs with 4.8 speed, Strowbridge could be that guy. He’s shown a solid ability as both a run defender and a pass rusher, which is rare these days for a defensive end. He has the quickness and athleticism to play outside linebacker in a 3-4 and the strength and power to play defensive end in a 4-3 front. He also has the versatility to slide inside as a 5-tech in a 3-4 as well. He’s a guy that could be a solid addition to the Bucs d-line rotation now and develop into a strong starter in the future.
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RB Antonio Gibson, Memphis
Images Credits: Henry Herald
There’s no question that the Bucs run game needs to improve. Hopefully, the addition of their new right tackle helps, but they still need to add some depth to their backfield. I think Ronald Jones is ready to be a full-time starter and that they should stop the alternating series crap, but I doubt that happens. They’ll have a decision to make whether they should re-sign Peyton Barber or look for another inexpensive option in free agency. Depending on which way they go, they could still have a need for a home run hitter come this draft. That’s where Gibson comes in.
At 6’/223lbs, he’s got great size with sub-4.5 speed. Despite being listed as a running back, he played a lot of wide receiver at Memphis. In fact, he finished his final year with 33 carries for 369 yards and an 11 yards per carry average to go along with his 38 catches for 735 yards and a 19 yards per catch average. Despite the limited touches, he finished with 12 total touchdowns and even returned kicks. This guy could be a very nice option as the Bucs new third-down back and would also give them another option as a receiver.
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FS Jaylinn Hawkins, California
Image Credits: Kyle Terada | USA TODAY Sports
Another safety? Yes indeed. Even though I have the Bucs bringing in Tony Jefferson as a free agent and they already drafted Reggie Floyd, there are still a ton of questions surrounding the Bucs safety group. Will Jefferson be able to return to form after his ACL injury? Will Justin Evans ever return to football? Is D’Cota Dixon everything that Bruce Arians thought he was before his injury last season? Is MJ Stewart worth keeping around? Will the real Mike Edwards show up in 2020? Since Todd Bowles likes to play multiple safeties at times, I don’t think it would hurt to add another guy into the mix at this point.
At 6’2″/205lbs with sub-4.6 speed, Hawkins has been considered a dangerous ballhawk for a lot of his college career. In 2018, he had 6 interceptions and 9 pass breakups from his free safety position. I think he would make an interesting addition to this Bucs secondary and would give them some solid depth.
Whether you agree or not, this roster isn’t far off from being a contender.
Shoring up the o-line, giving Arians another weapon in the backfield, and adding depth to the d-line and secondary should put this team right where they need to be. However, we won’t know what this team really needs until they make some decisions about free agency starting March 14.
Until then, as always, GO BUCS!!!
When NFL fans think of those dominant Buccaneer defenses in the late 90’s early 2000’s many names come to mind like Warren Sapp, Hardy Nickerson, Derrick Brooks, Brad Culpepper, John Lynch, Simeon Rice, Ronde Barber, and from time to time, you will even hear Mr. Monday Night Football Booger McFarland’s name thrown into the mix, but one name that is rarely added to the mix is the Legendary Chidi Ahanotu’s. Leaving Chidi’s name off of such a prestige list is borderline blasphemy and is absolutely disrespectful.
Ahanotu was drafted by the Bucs in the 6th round of the ‘93 draft. He spent his first eight seasons with the Bucs, leaving in 2001 to play for the Rams, who lost to the Patriots in Super Bowl XXXVI. Following the Rams loss in the Super Bowl, Chidi moved on to Buffalo for a season in 2002, then moved on to San Francisco in 2003. Following the 2003 season, Chidi Ahanotu found himself on the Maimi Dolphins roster for part of 2004, before finalizing his NFL journey back home in Tampa Bay.
Chidi was that guy! He was the anchor of the Tampa Bay defensive line and paved the way, setting the tone for guys like Warren Sapp to have success. Chidi is the Bucs 4th all-time sack leader with 34.5. He even made an appearance on the Buccaneer top 100 list and was the 6th best defensive lineman on that list.
The Bucs have a long list of legends that helped build those dominant defenses, but Chidi Ahanotu is a player that needs to start getting his respect. Respect that he has rightfully earned on the gridiron! We also believe that one day he should have his name in the Ring of Honor.
