5 teams that should sign Olivier Vernon
As the Buccaneers look to improve under first-year head coach Dirk Koetter and young quarterback Jameis Winston, they will need to add some talent on the defensive side of the ball. Tampa Bay allowed 26.1 points per game in 2015 to rank well within the bottom third of the NFL, a major reason for its 6-10 record and subsequent firing of Lovie Smith.
One of Tampa Bay’s biggest weaknesses is the lack of an impact pass rushing defensive end. The Buccaneers ranked mid-pack with 40 total sacks last season, and could certainly use an upgrade at starting defensive end over William Gholston.
That’s where Vernon could be a nice fit for the Buccaneers and help them get a little more production out of their defensive line. Tampa Bay has some other holes to fill before its going to compete for a title, but Vernon could quickly accelerate the rebuild and prove to be a wise decision down the line.
Despite the poor overall numbers, there is some existing talent on the defense that Vernon would complement nicely. Lining Vernon up next to defensive tackle Gerald McCoy could be a nightmare for opposing offensive lines, while Jacquies Smith is a capable end on the other side.
The Buccaneers have plenty of cap space at around $55 million (pending a Doug Martin deal), so they could dish out a big contract if they so choose. Tampa could be interested in picking a young defensive end with the ninth overall pick, but signing Vernon would allow them to focus on other areas like the secondary and offensive line.
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