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The Bucs haven’t completed their job in free company for my part. Sure, they’ve shored up their secondary depth with the signings of Bryce Corridor, Jordan Whitehead and Tavierre Thomas. Sure, they’ve bolstered their backend depth on the offensive line with the acquisitions of Ben Bredeson and Sua Opeta.
Bucs G Sua Opeta – Picture by: USA Right this moment
I might argue that they need to have pursued one of many many high-end edges accessible in free company or by commerce. However the crew appears content material to enter 2024 with Yaya Diaby and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka main a bunch that has a stable ground however a questionable ceiling.
However there’s nonetheless a obtrusive gap within the beginning lineup that ought to be addressed earlier than the draft. In any case, free company ought to be used to deal with holes on the roster in order that when a crew enters the draft, it doesn’t should be pigeon-holed into drafting for want.
The Bucs appear to be rushing down a path to should just do that. In my estimation, neither Opeta nor Bredeson is the caliber of participant that Tampa Bay ought to really feel good with in the event that they have been to imagine the beginning left guard spot. So, what can they do to improve that spot?
Bucs Ought to Look At Greg Van Roten
Enter Greg Van Roten. Van Roten, a former undrafted free agent, has carved out a stable profession enjoying for the Packers, Panthers, Jets, Payments and Raiders. The 2023 marketing campaign was his finest season as a professional, as he earned a 77.4 go block, 68.5 run block and 75.3 general grade from Professional Soccer Focus.
His 3.35% strain fee allowed was the bottom since 2018 when he began to get common work. The veteran guard has over 100 video games of expertise and 71 begins whereas being considered a stable go blocker and an honest sufficient run blocker.
Raiders guard Greg Van Roten Picture by: USA Right this moment
Here’s what PFF’s Brad Spielberger needed to say about Van Roten when projecting his subsequent contract of 1 yr and simply $2.75 million.
“Van Roten does a pleasant job of protecting his chest clear with totally prolonged arms on double groups that allows him to shortly disengage and get to the second stage, however can lose floor on the line off the snap now and again when he doesn’t have a assured first step. The veteran has all the time been a stable go protector, absorbing contact properly if he stays in entrance of the rusher.”
After reviewing a few of his movie, it’s clear that he has a most popular path to success. In go safety, he needs to win early with a punch after which instantly work to maneuver his opponent to a special path than they supposed to take. Van Roten wins lots by re-routing after which driving down by the pocket go the quarterback.
He can enable his palms to maneuver too far inside on occasion. This provides opposing go rushers a chance to spin or side-step him.
Within the run recreation, he has a stable leg drive that works finest for him in a zone scheme the place he can drive opponents through the use of their very own momentum in opposition to him. He’s succesful sufficient on the second stage however isn’t a fluid mover who excels on pulls. However his play on this space is nice sufficient to be a median starter on a line with a number of above-average movers/gamers.
Van Roten Would Give The Bucs Flexibility
Bucs common supervisor Jason Licht – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
By signing Van Roten, the Bucs may pencil him into the beginning lineup between Tristan Wirfs and Robert Hainsey and permit the Bucs to enter the 2024 NFL Draft having the ability to actually goal the perfect participant accessible at every decide.
It might forestall them from having to surrender the exorbitant prices related to buying and selling up as a way to nab a participant at a place the place there could also be an surprising run.
Then, if a guard who the crew likes is accessible once they decide at 26, 57, 89 or 92, there’s nothing stopping them from drafting that participant and beginning them. The transfer would push Van Roten right into a premium backup position with Opeta and push Bredeson to the backup middle position.
Nevertheless it additionally offers the crew the pliability to take a Jackson Powers-Johnson and put him at his pure place of middle, push Robert Hainsey again into the backup middle position and permit Opeta and Bredeson to man the depth guard positions.
This may be an inexpensive signing that raises each the ceiling and the ground of the present Bucs line’s composition that additionally improves their flexibility within the draft. Greg Van Roten is a participant who would enhance the 2024 Bucs with out hurting them long-term.
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