Gerald McCoy addresses Buccaneers' biggest need going into 2025 season

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a few different needs, and former player Gerald McCoy has his ideas on who the team should draft.

Gerald McCoy talks to children during a youth football camp hosted by McCoy and his Patricia Diane Foundation. | NATHAN J. FISH/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have quite a few needs to address to remain competitive in 2024. Plenty of analysts and fans have their opinions on who the Bucs should draft, and now, a former All-Pro Buccaneers player is throwing his hat into the ring.

Former Buccaneers standout defensive tackle was asked on WDAE's The Drive who he thinks the Buccaneers should draft, and being a former defensive player, it's understandable that he would trend in that direction. He pinpointed both cornerback and edge rusher, but he particularly honed in on one of those positions.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Gerald McCoy works out prior to the game against the Washington Redskins. | Kim Klement-Imagn Images

"You can either go corner or edge rusher [as greatest offseason need], but our four leading guys in sacks were three inside interior rushers and Lavonte [David]. And you gotta have somebody who can go win a 1-on-1 on the edge," McCoy said on WDAE's The Drive, per JoeBucsFan. "If the Bucs had what they needed, they wouldn’t have went and got [Shaq] at the end of the year going into the playoffs.... This is not a shot at the guys we have, it’s just reality."

Tampa Bay's edge rushing attack was indeed quite dire. There were four different players who weren't edge rushers that had more sacks than the most potent edge rusher in Yaya Diaby, who got 4.5 sacks. The Bucs will definitely try to address that need this offseason, but if they see a cornerback they like in the first round, they may go that route, too.

---

READ MORE: Buccaneers star Mike Evans is serious about playing flag football in the Olympics

Stick with BucsGameday for more coverage of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers throughout the 2024 season.

Follow BucsGameday on Twitter and Facebook

More Tampa Bay Buccaneers News

• Buccaneers select star Missouri wideout in new ESPN mock draft

• Packers LB named as potential eventual replacement for Buccaneers' Lavonte David

• Buccaneers, 49ers linked in trade rumor for Super Bowl-winning linebacker

• Could the Bucs trade Rachaad White? Bucky Irving’s emergence might force a move