One of the 2026 NFL Draft’s Top Defensive Tackles to a Visit Buccaneers

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been looking to improve their defensive line this offseason. They brought in a new pass rusher in Al-Quadin Muhammad to get after the quarterback. They also brought in a pair of defensive tackles in A’Shawn Robinson and Rakeem Nunez-Roches to improve the toughness and run defense up front.

The Bucs will also look to continue to add talent through the NFL draft. Much of the focus will be on potentially adding a starting level pass rusher. However, that doesn’t mean that we should overlook the importance of defensive tackle as well.

Short-Term Solutions 

Both new additions, Robinson and Nunez-Roches, both signed one year contracts that will only last through the 2026 season. Star nose tackle Vita Vea is also on the final year of his deal and not under contract past this year. This means that the Bucs could have long term needs at defensive tackles.

The team also still has short term needs up front. A starting unit of Vea, Robinson and Calijah Kancey make for a very good group. Each player has their defined role. Vea is the space eating nose tackle, Kancey is the pass rushing 3 or 5 tech and Robinson can play anywhere along the defensive line.

With that said, I’m not sure that Robinson is ideally a 5 tech. At 6 ‘3 and 320 lbs, it’s probably best for the 31 year old to be lining up closer to the ball than not. Perhaps in a perfect world, Robinson could be a super sub type of player that makes everyone better with him in the rotation. 

Georgia On Their Mind 

It could also mean that the Bucs are looking to invest early draft capital into this position. We know they met with projected early round picks such as Florida’s Caleb Banks, Texas Tech’s Lee Hunter and Ohio State’s Kayden McDonald at the NFL Combine. Now we know via the NFL Network’s Insiders, that they are bringing in another projected early round defensive tackle on a top 30 visit.

Star Georgia defensive tackle Christen Miller stated in an interview Friday night that he will be visiting the Buccaneers. This was one of several teams that he mentioned having upcoming visits with. The full interview can be found with the NFL Network show The Insiders.

Miller is a big body who excels at shutting down the opponents running game. He measured in at 6 ‘4 and 321 lbs with 33 inch arms. If the Bucs are looking to get bigger this offseason, like head coach Todd Bowles has said he wants to, then this is a player that certainly fits the bill. 

More than just big and strong, Miller is also fairly athletic. He played all over the defensive line at Georgia, but his best position in the NFL is probably as a 3-4 defensive end. He has enough mobility and plays with excellent effort to make it difficult to run to the outside in his direction. 

One other thing that stands out about Miller is his energy level. This is both a high motor player on the field and a big personality off the field. For a Bucs team that seemed to lack fire and energy down the stretch last season, Miller would bring a lot of both to his future NFL team.

Future Buccaneer

With the Buccaneers looking closely at the position and now seemingly having an interest in Miller, don’t be shocked if he is playing in Tampa next season.