Bucs 2023 Combine Preview: Defense

Bucs head coach Todd Bowles, general manager Jason Licht and the team’s coaches and scouts will descend on Indianapolis this week for the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine. With a somewhat dire salary cap situation this year and 22 unrestricted free agents, the Bucs will have to lean heavily on hitting on several prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft and count on those rookies to become instant impact players and starters.

Whether it’s an offensive or defensive player, the Bucs will be paying attention to the speed and agility drills in Indy and seeing if that matches the play speed the team sees on tape. Tampa Bay needs to get faster this year on both sides of the ball. That’s been a stated goal of Bowles since the end of the season.

“Fast, smart and tough,” Bowles said on Bucs Total Access. “Everyone’s looking for that, but that’s kind of what you are looking for. I think we need to get faster all the way around. Definitely we need to play smarter. And we definitely like tough guys.

“It starts with the offseason. With COVID finally being over, we need to have a solid offseason. It was okay last year. It needs to be more solid this year. I think we need to be faster all the way around. I think we need more team speed.”

In this two-part series, Pewter Report will look at some of the potential Bucs draft targets who may have some standout athletic testing performances in Indianapolis this week, finishing up with the defense. The potential Bucs draft targets on offense that could star in the athletic testing were featured on Monday on PewterReport.com

All of these draft prospects were on Bruce Feldman’s annual “Freaks” list, and some of Feldman’s commentary is included in this article.

Michigan DL Mazi Smith – 6-3, 337 – Senior

Michigan DL Mazi Smith – Photo by: USA Today

Smith is a big body at 6-foot-3, 337 pounds who is ready-made for the NFL game, especially against the run. He’s a nose tackle who can push the pocket on passing downs, but he’s not a natural pass rusher, evidenced by just two career sacks.

Feldman says: “Let’s start with this: Smith does 22 reps on the bench press, but that’s with 325 (not 225). He close-grip benched 550 pounds. He vertical-jumps 33 inches. He broad-jumped 9-4 1/2. Smith, who had 37 tackles last season, has clocked a 4.41 shuttle time, which would’ve tied the best by any defensive tackle at this year’s NFL Scouting Combine, and it would’ve been better than any defensive tackle weighing 310 pounds or more in the past decade. His 6.95 3-cone time would’ve been by far the fastest among defensive tackles in Indianapolis. The fastest was 7.33. Smith’s 60-yard shuttle time is 11.90.”

Potential Bucs fit: The Bucs likely will move on from Akiem Hicks and possibly Will Gholston in free agency due to cap concerns. With only Vita Vea and Logan Hall under contract, the Bucs desperately need more defensive linemen. However, No. 19 is too early for Smith and he might not be there when the Bucs are on the clock in the second round.

Pittsburgh DT Calijah Kancey – 6-0, 280 – Junior

Before anyone gets carried away with the Aaron Donald / Calijah Kancey comparisons just because they’re both from Pitt and undersized, remember that in Donald’s last three years at Pitt, he had 63 TFLs, 27.5 sacks, 10 PBUs and six forced fumbles. In Kancey’s three years at Pitt, he had 34.5 TFLs, 16.5 sacks, three PBUs and one forced fumble. Kancey isn’t Donald 2.0. He’s a lesser version of Donald.

Feldman says: “Kancey has been clocked running a 4.69 40. Kancey also has vertical-jumped 31 1/2 inches and bench pressed 425.”

Potential Bucs fit: Kancey is a talented player, but he’s supposed to come under 6-foot, and he’s already maxed out size-wise. The Bucs like bigger defensive tackles to stuff the run. At 280 pounds, Kancey won’t hold up well against double teams unless he beats his opponent off the snap on every down.

Northwestern DL Adetomiwa Adebawore

Adebawore starred at the Senior Bowl and was one of the better defensive linemen in Mobile. He’s a good pass rusher, evidenced by 11 sacks over the last two years.

Feldman says: “The 6-2, 280-pounder this offseason did 30 reps on the bench at 225. He maxed 410 on the bench and 685 in the squat and 375 power clean. His times also are elite: a 4.05 pro shuttle; a 6.9 3-cone to go with a 10-5 broad jump and a 37.5 vertical jump.

Potential Bucs fit: Adebawore’s frame is maxed out and most of his snaps came outside of the tackle. He’s not fast enough to be an edge-rushing outside linebacker in Todd Bowles’ defense. He would have to play inside and he’s too undersized to be a good fit in Tampa Bay.

Louisville DL YaYa Diaby – 6-4, 270 – Senior

Louisville DL Yaya Diaby – Photo by: USA Today

Diaby was kind of a late bloomer at Louisville, where he recorded nine sacks in 2022. He made a good impression at the Senior Bowl, but his rawness as a pass rusher will likely park him on Day 3. A good showing at the Combine could help his stock, though.

Feldman says: “The 6-5, 280-pound senior with the 8-1 wingspan can really move for a big man, topping out at 20.8 mph on the GPS. His vertical jump is in the mid-30s and he broad-jumps 9-11. His bench press also is up to 385 pounds.”

Potential Bucs fit: Unlike Adetomiwa Adebawore, Diaby has the frame to add more size to play inside. He could bulk up to 290 pounds and be a rotational lineman and special teams contributor.

TCU DL Dylan Horton – 6-4, 275 – Senior

Horton finished the 2022 season strong with four sacks against Michigan in the College Football Playoff and wound up with 10 on the year. Because he didn’t turn many heads at the Senior Bowl, he’ll have to really show off some athleticism at the Combine to be anything more than a Day 3 D-lineman.

Feldman says: “At 6-4, 279, Horton, a high school safety who also excelled in basketball and as a high jumper, vertical-jumped 38 inches and broad-jumped 10-0. He also clocked a 4.55 40 and has power-cleaned 400 and squatted 700 pounds.”

Potential Bucs fit: Horton isn’t big enough to play inside at defensive tackle and he’s not quick enough or fast enough to play outside linebacker. He doesn’t have the bend to be anything more than an average pass rusher at the NFL level.

Linebackers

Clemson ILB Trenton Simpson – 6-3, 230 – Junior

Clemson LB Trenton Simpson – Photo by: USA Today

Simpson is a fast, athletic freak in the mold of Tampa Bay’s Devin White. If he’s not the fastest linebacker in Indy, he’ll be close. His draft hype has fallen a little bit, as he’s more athlete than instinctive linebacker at this stage of his development.

Feldman says: “Simpson bench-presses 375 pounds, power-cleaned 355 and has vertical-jumped 35 inches and done 10-2 on the broad jump. More impressively, Tigers coaches say he has run the 40 in the high 4.3s, which includes a 10-yard split under 1.5 seconds.

Potential Bucs fit: If Lavonte David doesn’t return, Tampa Bay could draft Simpson in the second round. He’s great in pass coverage and also excels as a blitzer. Where he needs work is getting off blocks in between the tackles.

Defensive Backs

Alabama S Brian Branch – 6-0, 193 – Junior

Alabama S Brian Branch – Photo by: USA Today

Easily the top safety in the 2023 NFL Draft, Branch can do it all – cover in the slot, blitz, tackle and play deep. He’s super smart and super productive. In his final collegiate game, which was Alabama’s Sugar Bowl win against Kansas State, Branch had 12 tackles (11 solo), an interception and a sack.

Feldman says: “Branch, at 6 feet, 194 pounds, is a strong DB, squatting 565 and power-cleaning 335. He’s also got a lot of speed, having clocked 22.3 mph on the GPS system.”

Potential Bucs fit: Branch would be an ideal first-round pick for the Bucs. He’s basically an Antoine Winfield Jr. clone, although Branch is even better in the slot. Pairing Branch and Winfield together would solidify the safety position for years to come.

Penn State S Ji’Ayir Brown – 5-11, 208 – Senior

Brown is a ball-hawking safety who has picked off 10 passes in the last two seasons. He’s also a dangerous blitzer from the slot, where he racked up 4.5 sacks last year. Brown carries a third- or fourth-round grade, but if he blazes a fast 40, he could solidify himself as a Day 2 pick.

Feldman says: “The 5-11, 208-pounder has elite quickness, clocking a 3.99 pro shuttle time this offseason. He also ran a 4.45 40 and bench pressed 370 to go with a 345-pound power clean.”

Potential Bucs fit: Brown’s ball skills could certainly help the turnover-hungry Bucs defense. He’s also a downhill enforcer in the run game and could be a great strong safety in the mold of Jordan Whitehead, who was a fourth-round pick in 2018.

Georgia CB Kelee Ringo – 6-2, 210 – Redshirt Sophomore

Georgia CB Kelee Ringo – Photo by: USA Today

Ringo is a young, fast cornerback with great size. While he’s expected to blaze a fast time in Indy and could be the fastest player in his position group, Ringo has a ways to go in developing as a cover corner. He allowed 42 catches for 552 yards and a TD last year.

Feldman says: “The 6-2, 215-pound Ringo, a World Class junior sprinter from Arizona who ran a 10.43 100- and 21.18 200-meter time, is a legitimate 4.3 40 guy and consistently clocks in the high-22 mph range on the GPS.

Potential Bucs fit: Ringo checks the size-speed combo for the Bucs for sure. But at age 20, he might not be ready to start right away in the NFL. If Ringo is there in the second round, he could be tempting for Tampa Bay.

Iowa CB Riley Moss – 6-1, 193 – Senior

Moss was a big play waiting to happen at Iowa, where he recorded 11 interceptions, including three pick-sixes, and broke up 26 passes. He underwhelmed a bit at the Senior Bowl, but he is expected to show out in Indy, which could raise his draft stock to the mid-rounds.

Feldman says: “The 6-1, 193-pounder was an excellent hurdler in high school, and that high-level athleticism has only been enhanced from four years in Iowa City. Moss has vertical-jumped 42 inches and broad-jumped 10-8. We’re told he has clocked the fastest short shuttle time for DBs in Kirk Ferentz’s two decades-plus at Iowa, blazing through it in 3.85 seconds. That would’ve been almost a full tenth of a second faster than anyone at this year’s combine, with Sam Houston State’s Zyon McCollum going 3.94.”

Potential Bucs fit: If he checks all the athletic boxes at the Combine, Moss could be a fit in Tampa Bay on Day 3 in the fourth round. But the Bucs don’t have a fourth-rounder, so they’d have to trade up to get him.

Michigan CB DJ Turner – 6-0, 180 – Senior

Turner is one of the smoothest cornerbacks in the draft and put together two really solid years at Michigan. If his agility and athletic testing goes as expected, Turner could move from a Day 3 prospect to a potential Day 2 selection.

Feldman says: “He is the fastest guy on the Wolverines, having hit 23.07 mph on the GPS and run a 4.28 40 — out of a two-point stance, no less. His 3-cone time is even more stunning. He clocked a 6.29 this offseason, and strength coaches think he has a good shot at besting the combine record of 6.28, set in 2018 by Oklahoma’s Jordan Thomas.”

Potential Bucs fit: The Bucs prefer bigger cornerbacks, but Turner is the size of Dee Delaney, so he just may make the cut. What hurts Turner’s stock a bit with Tampa Bay was that he was almost strictly an outside cornerback with very little experience in the slot.

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