Buccaneers very well could make huge move before trade deadline

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have surprised many with their stellar performance through the first half of the NFL season. For those that have followed the team closely, though, the Bucs' success in 2025 has been a little more predictable.

Bucs' GM Jason Licht has done a wonderful job assembling talented players at many of the key positions over the last several years. Not only that, but he has struck a lovely balance between proven veterans and talented rookies.

With Baker Mayfield playing the best football of his NFL career, all of those pieces have fallen into place. And even with a barrage of injuries to star players, the depth the Buccaneers have consistently accumulated with Licht at the helm has allowed the team to weather that storm, and jump out to an impressive 6-2 record heading into their Week 9 bye.

Just as many who knew the ins and outs of the Bucs' roster heading into this season haven't been surprised by Tampa Bay's early success, those same people should not be surprised by the team's most glaring weakness — the inside linebacker position.

Although Lavonte David has been a reliable leader and steady performer in the middle of the Bucs' defense, he can't do it all himself. Especially at 35 years of age.

Last offseason, many were clamoring for Jason Licht to select a linebacker in the draft, or at the very least, sign one in free agency. But Licht opted to do neither. Instead, with the support of his head coach, Todd Bowles, Licht decided to stand pat, ultimately expressing his confidence in 3rd year player, SirVocea Dennis, who had just 25 career tackles and had missed more games due to injury than he played in over the course of his first couple of seasons in the NFL.

Bucs' LB's struggling in pass coverage

SirVocera Dennis and Lavonte Davi — Sep 21, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebackers Lavonte David (54) and Sirvocea Dennis (8) against the New York Jets prior to the game at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images | Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

The early returns on Dennis have not been good. Although he's been steadily improving as a run defender and blitzer as the season has progressed, Dennis' innability to execute in coverage has been a massive liability for the Buccaneers this season.

Of 70 inside linebackers graded by PFF, Dennis ranks dead last in coverage, with an outrageous grade of 29.1

Per PFF, Sirvocea Dennis has surrendered 438 yards in coverage, the worst number in the league by a comfortable margin.

Yes, he's given up more yards in coverage than any defensive back in the league. And over 100 yards more than the next closest linebacker.
— Jon Ledyard (@LedyardNFLDraft) October 24, 2025

Lavonte David, as solid as he is, has been performing below his usual standards in coverage as well. His 47.7 PFF grade in this area is 47th worst among all linebackers so far in 2025.

Intriguing trade option

Sep 14, 2025; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Dolphins linebacker Jordyn Brooks (20) reacts after play against the New England Patriots in the fourth quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images | Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Near the midway point of the season, the best option for the Buccaneers to improve their vulnerability at linebacker is simple... make a trade. Although there aren't any star linebackers openly available on the trade market, there is one player who stands out as a potential fit

In a recent article for ESPN, NFL analyst Ben Solak dove into this very topic. In doing so, he identified a player he sees as the ideal trade target for the Bucs in Miami Dolphins' veteran LB, Jordyn Brooks.

"The biggest weak spot on a young and exciting defense is LB2, where SirVocea Dennis has struggled opposite Lavonte David." Solak wrote. "The Buccaneers don't tend to aggressively pursue talent at the deadline, but GM Jason Licht could become emboldened by a weak NFC and a Super Bowl-ready offense. Brooks is one of the best players, regardless of position, who could be available."

Brooks was a first round pick (27th overall) by the Seahawks back in 2020. He is a steady tackler, a solid pass rusher, and a clear upgrade in coverage compared to what SirVocea Dennis is currently providing.

With the 2-6 Dolphins collapsing before our eyes, it would be wise for Miami to consider recouping some value draft capital to make up for the inevitible disappointment that is expected to ensue from a season that has already been labelled a disaster.

Whether or not Bucs' GM Jason Licht's confidence in his young linebacker, SirVocea Dennis, has wavered since the offseason is unclear. But even if he still believes in Dennis, it would b e in his team's best interest to consider any and all options to improve the position.

It's hard to envision a player better suited for this scenario than Miami Dolphins' LB, Jordyn Brooks.

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