Minicamp is underway for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but new pass rusher Randy Gregory did not report to the team. As of this posting, the general public is unaware of the reason behind Gregory’s absence, all we know is that it was unexcused and head coach Todd Bowles simply said “we’ll deal with it.” The former Cowboy spent the 2023 season with the Denver Broncos and San Francisco 49ers, recording a combined 3.5 sacks, 20 tackles, and 10 quarterback hits in his 16 games between the two organizations. He’s not the player he once was, and the Buccaneers could part ways with him if he’s too much of an off-field distraction.
Missing one minicamp practice alone isn’t enough to justify a cut, but that’s not the only reason Randy Gregory is in the news. The pass rusher currently has an open investigation against the Denver Broncos after receiving a $500,000 fine for using a THC-based medication. Seeing as Tampa Bay already has a star-studded defensive line featuring Vita Vea, Calijah Kancey, and Yaya Diaby, they could decide that Gregory is expendable. If that happens, a contender with a need at edge defender like the Baltimore Ravens or Kansas City Chiefs could go after him.
Randy Gregory Skips Minicamp Practice, Could Chiefs, Ravens Be Interested?
The Baltimore Ravens led the league in sacks last year despite only having one player finish with more than 10. They accomplished this by boasting one of the deepest and most talented depth charts in the league. While this team still has a good amount of talent, they could use someone to replace the departed Jadeveon Clowney. Now on the Panthers, former first-round pick Odafe Oweh should inherit starting jobs. While the Penn State product is reportedly impressing in minicamp, Baltimore could use an additional depth piece like Randy Gregory.
The Ravens won’t trade for Gregory, but they could express some interest if the Buccaneers cut him. Head coach John Harbaugh loves to rotate his defensive linemen, and Gregory could be a valuable depth piece to help keep Odafe and the aging Kyle Van Noy fresh throughout the grueling 17-game season. Baltimore will need the best defense possible to slow down the elite passing attacks of the AFC, and a player like Gregory could be the cherry on top of this talented defense.
The Three-Peat
The reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs currently have two great pass rushers in All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones and edge defender George Karlaftis. However, a defense should have three players capable of getting after the quarterback in today’s pass-happy NFL, and the Chiefs lack that third option. 2023 first-round pick Felix Anudike-Uzomah didn’t do much of anything as a rookie, and Randy Gregory could provide some much-needed insurance in case he’s unable to make the Year 2 leap.
The Chiefs will always go as far as Patrick Mahomes can bring them, but they wouldn’t have won the Super Bowl last year without the impressive play of their defense. With L’Jarius Sneed now in Tennessee, Kansas City’s pass rush must compensate for the drop in coverage ability. If the Buccaneers release him following the minicamp drama, Randy Gregory could be a situational difference maker on a defense that will likely face a high volume of passing looks.
Main Photo: Mark J. Rebilas – USA Today Sports
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