The Pewter Report learned: Will Golstonhas been a lifelong buccaneer since being selected in the fourth round of the 2013 NFL Draft and is in the process of re-signing with Tampa Bay. The Bucks welcomed Goulston on Monday, two days before the start of training camp, and agreed to sign the 6-foot-6, 315-pound defensive lineman.
Re-signing Golston won’t make the headlines, but he’s a big part of the team and local community. Over the past few seasons, he’s been a grizzled veteran in the locker room and one of the most dynamic. He serves as a mentor to the younger defensive linemen within the team while also providing value as a rotation lineman and running staff.
Bucks DL Will Golston remains key cog in defensive line
Bucks DL Will Goulston – Photo Credit: Cliff Welch/PR
Will Goulston will not record a sack for the second time in his career in 2022, but he still has a total of 49 tackles, five quarterback hits and four tackles allowed. Equally important to the Bucks was the fact that he appeared in all 17 games last year, starting nine of them.
In 10 seasons in the NFL, his 153 games with the Bucks rank ninth all-time. With another full season of games played, he’ll pass at least three more Bucks on that list.
Golston’s run-staffing ability helped the Bucks win Super Bowl LV in 2020. In 2021, he set a career-high 4.5 sacks and helped Tampa Bay to a 13-4 record, the best in franchise history.
During his time in Tampa, Golston amassed 401 tackles, 58 lost tackles and 19.5 sacks.
Will Golston is a ride-or-die adventurer
Will Golston has decided to stay on next season, and it will be a year of change for the roster. As the team looks to drop below cap, add youth and speed, and prepare for other teams’ departures, general manager Jason Licht said of the outlook for the roster: “We will restock.”
Bucs DE Will Gholston – Photo Credit: USA Today
The Super Bowl slots for next season have closed, but only a few cracks remain in the still-weak NFC South. But Golston has had a far worse season than expected in 2023.
It took quarterback Tom Brady in 2020 to win a Super Bowl ring and goulston eight seasons with the team before making the playoffs. During those tough seasons, the Bucks only had one team win, a 9-7 win in 2016 against Dirk Ketter.
Regardless of the performances of those around him, Golston remained with the team through good times and bad. His decision to stay here after coming off a three-game streak of playoff appearances is crucial as the Bucks are sure to bring in a number of young rookies to fill their 53-man roster. His presence will have a profound impact on the culture that has been built over the last few seasons of winning big games.
Goulston isn’t the flashiest back, but he’s still one of the most influential. By re-signing and continuing his career, he brings much-needed leadership on and off the field, with several new young starters joining the team, notably first-round pick Kaliyah Kansi and Logan Hall, who will be making his second season in Tampa Bay as the team’s top pick in 2022.
