Of all the positions, the backs I plan to deal with it in the off-season. Defensive tackles are probably the least important. Technically, there is currently only one quarterback under contract on the 2024 depth chart, with no players under contract in Mike Evans, Lavonte David, or Antoine Winfield Jr.
Add question marks along the inside of the offensive line, and look at who starts at linebacker and how they handle the strong safeties and you’ll see why the inside defensive line is not on the radar.
Jets DL Quinton Jefferson Photo courtesy of USA Today
But don’t consider that the Bucks are dipping into the free agent pool to solidify one of the strongest rooms on the roster. Pro Football Focus’ Brad Spielberger thinks that’s a possibility anyway. He cited the Bucs as a potential landing spot for free agent defensive tackle Quinton Jefferson. recent articles Highlights potential fit for upcoming free agents. Here’s what he had to say:
“Tampa appears to have acquired another 2023 draft pick, taking a first-round interior defenseman. Kariya Kanshi He had 11 quarterback pressures in the first two games of the playoffs.However, this unit needs more depth alongside Kanshi. vita vea.
Washington has a dynamic duo of Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne But there wasn’t that much behind them and they were still able to go after the quarterback.Joined interior pass rush specialist quinton jeffersonAlthough he never played for Dan Quinn, he has worked with many of his students over the years. ”
Bucks may need depth on defensive line
The starting duo for the Bucks is set to be Kariya Kanshi and Vita Vea. They also have 2022 second-round pick Logan Hall, who did well last year as a rotation piece who can play 4i on early rundowns.
Bucks DTs Vita Vea and Kariya Kanshi – Photo by Cliff Welch/PR
But beyond these three, things get even murkier. Will Goulston had a strong season, but his snap count has dropped to a career-low 244 for the third year in a row, and he currently has no time left on his contract until 2024. The Bucks re-signed him last year on the eve of training camp. He will be 33 years old at the start of the 2024 season and is likely to retire.
Greg Gaines and Pat O’Connor are also pending free agents. Mike Green had some great games last year, but he’s far from a reliable player at this point in his career. There is room to add to the position group.
Jefferson is a former fifth-round pick who started his career well in Seattle from 2016 to 2019, recording 88 tackles, 16 for loss, 13 sacks, two fumble recoveries and seven passes defensed. . Since then, he played in 64 games over four seasons with the Bills, Raiders, Seahawks return and Jets. He is a quality rotational pass rusher who has struggled to protect the run over the years. Since 2018, Jefferson averaged The quarterback had 38 pressures for a pressure rate of 9.7%.
Considering this draft class doesn’t have the most depth on the Interior defensive line, it makes sense for the Bucks to use free agency to shore up depth at that position group. And Jefferson can be signed both on a short-term contract (one year) and at a very affordable price (from $ 2 million to his $ 4 million).
Based on his comments at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine, general manager Jason Richt will first focus his efforts on re-signing Tampa Bay’s high-priority free agents. But from there, he and his staff can work on building the roster in a way that allows the team to improve on last season’s NFC Divisional Round appearance.
The free agency period begins in less than two weeks, so we’ll soon see how the Bucks approach things.
