National outlet has a bizarre ranking for Tampa Bay Buccaneers in an area of relative strength

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' defense had its problems during the 2024 season, as evidenced particularly in a handful of losses. Most of those issues came on the back end with a linebacker corps and group of defensive backs that had their issues in pass defense. 

However, who performed well, at least statistically, was the group up front, anchored by Pro Bowler Vita Vea.  The Bucs were solid against the run - at least on a general scale across the season - and they ended up ranking high in the final season rankings in sacks.  

Oh, yeah, they found their sea legs once again and won their fourth straight NFC South title.  Not too bad. 

However, Pro Football Focus isn't impressed with the Bucs' defensive line going into 2025.  They put out their list ranking all 32 teams' groups, and the Bucs came in at an eyebrow-raising 27. 

This is what PFF had to say about the Bucs' line: 

While veteran Vita Vea continues to play at a high level and second-year edge defender Yaya Diaby’s breakout was a pleasant surprise in 2024, the Buccaneers' defensive line otherwise lacks encouraging signs.

2023 first-round pick Calijah Kancey has failed to earn a PFF overall grade above 50.0 in either of his first two seasons and ranked only 99th in PFF overall grade among interior defenders in 2024. - Zoltan Buday, Pro Football Focus

First, the Bucs defense's productivity compared to their peers was too high to have them ranked this low.  The Bucs allowed 4.3 yards per carry in 2024, good for a ninth-place tie with the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles.  They were sixth in sacks generated with 46. Their top six players in sacks generated in 2024 are back this year, with five of them being on the defensive line/edge rushers (LB Lavonte David being the exception with 5.5 sacks). 

Also, it wasn't really a breakout for Diaby in 2024, as he had a solid rookie season in 2023.  His sack total actually dropped last year (7.5 to 4.5), but his pressure rate went up substantially (8.8% to 14.8%) as he continued to progress as a good young starter.  The Bucs also now have veteran Haason Reddick on the other side from him. That should be a significant upgrade from Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, who is now with the Cleveland Browns after his fifth-year option was declined and the team let him walk. 

Sometimes, you have to look beyond the individual grades and consider where a team is as a unit.  And the Bucs' defensive line has proven on the field that they are far better than knocking on the league's basement door.