Bucs Legend Agrees With Bucs Decision to Move on From Suh

Ndamukong Suh is a great player. One could make the argument that since Suh was drafted by the Detroit Lions in 2010, other than Aaron Donald, Suh has been perhaps the most dominant interior defensive lineman in the NFL in the past 10-12 years.

I am grateful for the time that he spent with the Bucs, being a leader on the defensive side of the ball, turning Tampa’s defense into perhaps one of the most stout units in the league again, as well as helping Tampa Bay win their second Super Bowl in franchise history.

Having said all of that, Suh is not as great as he once was. Suh is now a free agent, he’s 35 years old, and it looks more and more likely that the Bucs are moving on from him. In an article on JoeBucsFan.com, titled “Derrick Brooks: Moving On From Ndamukong Suh Is A Sound Move”, Joe states that “Brooks hopped on WDAE radio today and threw a little cold water on co-host and former Bucs guard Ian Beckles’ feeling that the non-signing of Suh is likely an issue.

Via Joe Bucs Fan, Derrick Brooks is quoted as saying:

“The athleticism that they need now to take the next step and rebound up front, it’s not there with Suh. He came in. He did what he had to do, you reward his time and you move on. And that’s what they’re trying to do. Now is the answer there now? No. I think the answer is probably in college right now going to be drafted in the next year or two, the next interior guy to step in and have just as big an impact as Vita. At the same time, by not signing Suh, now you’re going to Vita [Vea] and saying, ‘Hey, you’re the guy. We need more.’”

I completely agree with Derrick Brooks here. Going with younger, more athletic players is the way to go here. Brooks also isn’t taking away from Logan Hall or Akiem Hicks. They’re both very talented and we’ll see what they can grow into in the NFL, but there are probably still better interior D-line prospects out there who are still in college who could come in right away and dominate, just like Suh did.