Writing The Ship: The Buccaneers Should Like Love

We all know that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers need help on defense. They ranked 19th in yards allowed last year and 20th in points allowed. These are numbers that must improve if the team wants to return to the postseason in 2026.

Specifically, the Bucs need to look to draft linebackers. They’ll need a pair of off ball linebackers to replace Lavonte David (who will likely retire this offseason) and SirVocea Dennis who proved that he is not starting caliber. They will also need an outside linebacker to improve the pass rush.

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Part of the solution will come in free agency. After all, there are only so many draft picks where you can expect to get impact players. I expect one or two of these players to come through that avenue. That means that the Bucs will still look to draft at least one linebacker early.

However, there is a possibility that this won’t be in the first round. The sad reality is that there might not be any linebackers worthy of being drafted as high as 15th overall still on the board when the Bucs go to pick. This means either reaching on a less talented player or trading back and then settling for a less impactful player, but getting a few extra picks out of the deal.

Either way, we have to be prepared that the Bucs won’t get the linebacker that they need in the first round. So this leads to the question; what else could the Buccaneers look to draft if not a linebacker. 

Overall, it’s a very good roster in Tampa. A stacked offensive line and wide receiver group. A very talented secondary and an excellent pair of defensive tackles. There really aren’t a lot of screaming needs aside from linebacker.

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Having said that, I believe that elite strengths win championships. To develop an elite strength it might mean investing heavily into one area, even if it feels like a luxury. Make an aspect of your team something that no other team has an answer for.

This brings me to a potentially unexpected alternative. A super star college player who is a top tier talent in a fairly weak overall draft. That player is Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love. 

It might go against conventional wisdom, but that’s why I think it could be a great pick. Here’s why I think the Buccaneers should like Love.

First of all, the talent absolutely justifies Love being an early pick. With guys like Bijan Robinson, Jahmyr Gibbs and Ashton Jeanty being selected early in recent years, we have definitely seen a swing in running back value in the draft. These are players who define their team’s offenses and Love is that type of talent. 

Over the last two seasons, Love has rushed for 2,497 yards and 35 touchdowns. He’s also had 55 receptions and 517 receiving yards, so this is a threat on the ground as well as in the passing game. A three down weapon who can be used in any situation. 

The first thing that jumps out about Love is his acceleration and speed. He’s averaged 6.9 yards per rush in both of the last two seasons and is a threat to take it to the distance whenever he touches the ball. This type of big play potential can change the look of any offense.

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I also love the way that Love works in traffic. He has great vision to find an ally and an excellent spin move that reminds me of LaDainian Tomlinson. His quick feet will allow him to slip tackles and squirm forward to gain additional yards.

And while I compare his spin move to one of the all time great running backs in Tomlinson, I could never make that player comparison for anyone. In reality, Love reminds me more of a Christian McCaffrey. This is also a lofty comparison, but this type of explosiveness, elusiveness, toughness and receiving ability are rare. 

Now, many fans will point to the fact that the Bucs already have a good running back in Bucky Irving. However, coming off his second year we really don’t know what Irving is. He was great in his rookie season, but struggled last year. In reality, his true self is probably somewhere in the middle.

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What we do know for sure is that Irving has been hurt in each of his first two years. This is a real concern for a player that has a very slight build by running back standards. We should all be questioning if he can carry the full time workload or if he is better suited as a good backup. 

This isn’t as much of a concern with Love. While Irving was listed at 5 ‘9 and 192 lbs at his combine workout, Love is much bigger at 6’ 0 and 215 lbs. It would be a situation where Love can carry a majority of the workload, but the Bucs could use Irving in more of a Alvin Kamara role and maximize his touches.

This is also something that would greatly benefit quarterback Baker Mayfield. We saw Mayfield struggle last season. Too often he couldn’t find the open man and made questionable decisions. 

An improved rushing attack would take pressure off Mayfield and keep the offense dynamic even if Mayfield is struggling. It also opens things up in the passing game, so it’s less likely that the quarterback would struggle. The running game and the passing game work together, so making one great will help the other.

I understand that drafting a running back when the defense needs a lot of help wouldn’t be a popular pick. It wouldn’t be my first choice and it comes with the pretext of Licht doing a lot in free agency to address this team’s needs at linebacker. The priority should be defense in this draft.

But if there is no defensive player that would make an impact, then why shouldn’t the Bucs make their offense more dynamic? They have a great offensive line to maximize a great running back and they have to be thinking about what the offense will look like once Mike Evans retires. It would signal a new identity for the future and if Evans doesn’t retire this year then the Buccaneers would have one of the scariest offenses in the NFL.

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Think of a young Zeke Elliott with the Dallas Cowboys. Or of the Detroit Lions with Jahmyr Gibbs last season. These were offenses that struck fear into every opponent they played. That could be what the Buccaneers are next season if they were to draft Love.