2021 NFL Mock Draft: Washington Football Team goes offense in Round 1

The Buccaneers are set to have an excellent defense for at least a few years. That said, it could behoove them to add some young pass rush talent to the fold.

Jason Pierre-Paul and Ndamukong Suh are both veterans who may start to decline at any time. Meanwhile, after playing on a franchise tag in 2020, Shaquil Barrett is set to be a free agent once again. The Bucs should bring back Barrett, but even if they do, they could stand to add some depth at the rush linebacker position.

That’s where Azeez Ojulari will come in. Ojulari was a dynamic playmaker for Georgia last season and has great burst off the edge. He racked up 9.5 sacks in just 10 games for the Bulldogs and looks like an ideal fit for Todd Bowles’ defense.

Ojulari is a bit smaller than the average edge rusher at 6-foot-3, 240 pounds, but he still has good length and plays with better-than-expected strength. Couple that with his athletic ability and Ojulari should be a quality edge rusher at the next level.

If Barrett comes back, Ojulari can be used as a situational rusher to start his career and can understudy Jason Pierre-Paul for the Bucs. If Barrett leaves, then Ojulari could be given a chance to start right away and would have to use his burst and solid bend to make plays in that regard. With Bowles coaching him, he should have a chance to pan out.

The Bucs could also be in the market for a quarterback if they want to develop a successor to Tom Brady. Kyle Trask is on the board, so he could be a sensible option, but odds are that the Bucs will try to make one last Super Bowl run with Brady as he enters the final year of his contract. And that will involve bolstering their already-strong defense.