Bucs GM on finding edge rushers in the draft: 'It's tough'

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers offered a candid look into one of their biggest roster-building challenges, with general manager Jason Licht openly discussing how difficult it is to identify and draft impact edge rushers. Licht didn’t try to dress it up . Finding true difference-makers off the edge isn’t just about talent; it’s about traits, fit, and a level of consistency that’s hard to project.

Speed rushers and power rushers both have value, but the ones who can combine those elements are the players who consistently produce at the NFL level, and those are the hardest to find. What stood out most in the interview was the honesty about Tampa Bay’s track record. Licht acknowledged that while the team has evaluated edge players well over the years, they haven’t always been in a position to draft them, and in some cases chose other positions they still feel good about.

At the same time, he admitted the organization has had more success adding edge rushers through trades and free agency than through the draft. Tampa Bay clearly understands the importance of the position and has invested in this group in the past, but the approach isn’t going to change, and it shouldn't with this draft class. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Current Defensive Line Depth Chart Position Starter Depth 1 NT Vita Vea Greg Gaines DT Calijah Kancey Logan Hall EDGE Yaya Diaby — EDGE Anthony Nelson — At this point, the message is simple.

The Buccaneers know edge rushers are critical, they know how hard they are to find, and they’re not going to force the pick just to say they addressed it. This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Bucs GM Jason Licht discusses how the team evaluates edge rushers