Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Remaking the defensive line

Thought to be a playoff team by some, the 2017 Tampa Bay Buccaneers fell on their facemasks. But the team is making big changes on the defensive front.

It was a team that in 2016 won eight of its final 12 games following a 1-3 start. All told, there were high hopes for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this past season. And after a delay to the start of ’17, Dirk Koetter’s club won two of its first three games. But it just wasn’t meant to be for any number of reasons. When it was all said and done, the Bucs were indeed headed south. The club not only finished with a disappointing 5-11 record, it was the only team in the NFC South not to qualify for the playoffs.

So what can be done to fix what ailed the club this past year? It was a season in which Koetter’s team failed miserably in various aspects — in particular, on the defensive side of the football. We have seen general manager Jason Licht get busy this offseason revamping an area that proved to be a major disappointment. Gone are defensive end Robert Ayers, 2017 free-agent pickup Chris Baker and now fellow defensive tackle Clinton McDonald.

Enter a veteran pass rusher, a pair of performers from the Super Bowl LII champion Philadelphia Eagles and another defender known for his play against the run. Now it’s up to coordinator Mike Smith to put the new pieces together. So here’s a look at who the Bucs spent some bucks (and a few draft choices) to improve their defensive front.

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