ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers explored multiple options to address their pass rush before the draft, showing how aggressively they attacked one of their biggest needs.
Tampa Bay explored signing Trey Hendrickson in free agency and checked the trade market, including Jonathan Greenard, before he was ultimately dealt elsewhere, showing how aggressive they were in addressing the position. That level of urgency puts Rueben Bain Jr.’s selection into clearer focus, as part of a deliberate plan to add impact pass rush rather than simply taking what was left.
Bain steps into a rotational edge role early with the expectation of meaningful snaps, especially in Todd Bowles’ pressure-heavy scheme, where versatility matters. His ability to align both inside and on the edge gives Tampa Bay more flexibility than a traditional rookie pass rusher.
The urgency behind these moves reflects a roster that needed more consistent disruption up front. Rather than relying on one path, the Bucs explored veterans, trade targets, and the draft before landing on their solution.
That approach signals a team that understands its window and prioritizes fixing a weakness before it becomes a larger issue.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Bucs explored edge rushers on the market before the NFL Draft
Reporting by Mason Riney, Buccaneers Wire / Bucs Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
