Bucs Exhibiting Heavy Curiosity In One other 2025 EDGE?

As a lot speak as there’s been in regards to the potential match for Boston Faculty edge rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku with the Bucs within the first spherical of the 2025 Draft, the group is actually casting a large web in its method to seek out one other proficient move rusher so as to add to the combination in 2025.

Simply after it was reported that UCLA outdoors linebacker Femi Oladejo will quickly be heading to Tampa for a Prime 30 go to with the Bucs, one other intriguing move dashing prospect talked about Tampa Bay as one of many groups that has proven him probably the most curiosity all through the pre-draft course of.

That was Ole Miss’ Princely Umanmielen, who stated as a lot on SEC Community throughout protection of the Rebels’ Professional Day. Becoming a member of the Bucs on the checklist of groups he stated have been most considering him are two NFC South rivals, the Falcons and Panthers, in addition to the Packers.

Ole Miss OLB Princely Umanmielen – Photograph by: USA At present

Umanmielen met formally with the Bucs on the 2025 NFL Scouting Mix, becoming a member of six different outdoors linebackers – together with Ezeiruaku and Oladejo.

Umanmielen has nice size at 6-foot-4, and his 4.72-second 40-yard sprint positioned him among the many Prime 10 for edge rushers on the Mix. What stands out most in regards to the soon-to-be 23-year-old is the manufacturing he posted in his last season on the collegiate stage. After posting 15 sacks over 4 years at Florida, he transferred to Ole Miss in 2024 and completed the marketing campaign with 10.5 sacks, giving him 25.5 over his five-year profession in school.

There’s purpose to consider that kind of manufacturing will translate to the NFL, particularly as he continues to ascend. There’s room for him to develop when it comes to his play energy and skill to set the sting, nevertheless it’s not exhausting to see why the likes of Tampa Bay, Atlanta, Carolina and Inexperienced Bay – all groups that would use improved move rush in 2025 – have taken an curiosity in him.

Princely Umanmielen Initiatives As A Day 2 Possibility For The Bucs

Ole Miss EDGE Princely Umanmielen Photograph by: USA At present

The Bucs very a lot have their choices open heading into April’s NFL Draft. They signed Haason Reddick to a one-year deal in free company, however the size of that contract and the state of the surface linebacker room on the whole gained’t cease Tampa Bay from drafting at that place with the No. 19 choose within the first spherical.

Nonetheless, if the group does choose to select a cornerback, inside linebacker, security, defensive sort out or go off the wall and draft offense at No. 19, there are worthwhile prospects on the EDGE place later within the draft.

Oladejo is considered one of them, as he tasks as a later Day 2 choose. He’s at present No. 89 on Mock Draft Database’s Consensus Huge Board. Apparently sufficient, Tampa Bay’s third-round choose is at No. 84.

As for Princely Umanmielen, the consensus massive board has him at No. 58. The Bucs’ second-round choose is No. 53, so there’s a little bit of an attention-grabbing parallel between the perceived values of Oladejo and Umanmielen and the place Tampa Bay picks within the second and third rounds, respectively.

If the Bucs resolve to go both route, it’ll set them up with a singular mixture of veteran expertise and younger potential on the outdoors linebacker place. Because it stands proper now, the beginning protection will function an ascending expertise in Yaya Diaby and a longtime veteran in Reddick. The remainder of the room consists of a dependable veteran in Anthony Nelson, in addition to 2024 second-round choose Chris Braswell.

So, add in one other early-round move rusher to spherical out the room and the Bucs would discover themselves in a greater spot than they had been in final 12 months with the surface linebacker room.