NFL Free Agency 2019 Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Free Agent Spotlight: OLB Aaron Lynch

Exterior of the quarterback position, edge rusher may perhaps be the most crucial position on the soccer subject in today’s NFL.

A excellent pass hurry can confuse and derail any competent quarterback. The essential to the demise of Tom Brady, Drew Brees, and Aaron Rodgers over the years has been the ability to produce reliable strain.

For the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, it may perhaps be a tricky undertaking locating players who can present that spark. A deficiency of staff, a swap in defensive philosophy, and new coaching in common are just a number of of the obstacles in the way of turning into a excellent defense.

The Bucs possibly have an within presence when it will come to the likes of Vita Vea, Lavonte David, and (perhaps) Kwon Alexander or Kendell Beckwith. The exterior, having said that, is a distinctive tale.

Enter Aaron Lynch, a former EDGE rusher for the San Francisco 49ers and Chicago Bears. He has complied 18 sacks in five years and will be an unrestricted cost-free agent in 2019.

Ought to the Bucs just take a glimpse at Lynch?

AARON LYNCH’S Career

Lynch’s profession has been a blended bag of final results given that he was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the fifth spherical of the 2014 NFL Draft.

He came out and recorded 12.5 sacks in initial two years, but a four-activity suspension for violating the league’s material abuse plan and an ankle injury confined him to just seven online games in 2016. A back ailment and a calf injury caused him to miss out on 9 more online games in 2017 and primarily sealed his fate as a cost-free agent.

He amassed just 2.5 sacks in 2016 & 2017, but it was adequate to warrant a just one-calendar year, $3.9 million agreement from the Chicago Bears. He finished the 2018 year with 16 combined tackles, 3 sacks, four TFLs, seven hurries, and 6 quarterback hits on 33% of the team’s defensive snaps in accordance to Professional Soccer Focus.

His 73.6 total defensive quality was also a profession-substantial. Lynch was a focal level of the pass hurry in San Francisco, but he appeared to locate a niche as a position participant in Chicago.

Now, a whole lot of that could be thanks to the presence of former defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. Fangio was section of the 49ers when Lynch was drafted in 2014.

Regardless, Fangio utilised Lynch principally as a pass rusher in Chicago, wherever he played 58% of his snaps at both ROLB or LOLB, but he was efficient when it came to halting the operate as perfectly, evidenced by his 87. quality in that section.

At 6-foot-6, 270-pounds, Lynch has the perfect dimension of speed, size, and athleticism off the edge – and the Bucs need to have edge rushers in a negative way.

How about that? A perfect segue….

WHY THE BUCCANEERS Need HIM

This just one is uncomplicated: the Bucs need to have pass rushers and Lynch can present that at a good selling price.

There are even now a ton of queries/situations to perform out right before we truly get an notion of what this defense can or will do, but there is no issue that the Bucs will need to have all the aid they can get when it will come to pressuring opposing quarterbacks.

Ideal now, Tampa Bay has Jason Pierre-Paul and Carl Nassib as the most important edge rushers. There is no rationale to imagine that Lynch wouldn’t be in a position to locate a household on this staff.

He has a great deal of practical experience in a 3-4 method and has demonstrated flashes of prospective all through his profession.

But his suspension, accidents, and pounds difficulties are all red flags that this franchise need to consider as perfectly. That is a chatting level that Jason Licht and co. could carry to the table if there is any fascination from Tampa Bay’s facet.

Lynch would undoubtedly be more of a rotational participant. The Bucs can not find the money for to make the very same miscalculation and hope – and pay – a rotational participant to complete like a starter a la Vinny Curry in 2018.

WHAT WILL LYNCH Price tag?

He shouldn’t be incredibly pricey at all and I wouldn’t hope him to desire significantly, but groups will pay a top quality selling price for pass rushers these days. If Lynch and his agent could stir up a excellent situation, then he could incredibly conveniently selling price himself out of Tampa Bay’s finances.

If he can remain concerning the $2-$4 million amount, then I’d say go for it. Nearly anything over $4 million is too prosperous for my blood, even though.

WILL IT Occur?

For the ideal selling price? Certain.

The Bucs need to have all the aid they can get on defense. Previous defensive coordinator Mike Smith was not the sole result in for everything, this defense has multiple holes almost everywhere. Irrespective of whether it be the starters or the backups, there are really serious variations that need to have to be produced if this groups would like to cease any individual in 2019.

Lynch isn’t recognized as a great locker home presence and he isn’t bringing in some kind of stellar profession, but he could be a “diamond in the rough” that Bruce Arians spoke about for the duration of his introductory press conference back in January.