Buccaneers could look to bolster their run defense in the draft

A year removed from fielding PFF’s lowest run-defense grade as a team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will need to address arguably one of their biggest needs during the 2017 NFL Draft. One player they could look to as an ideal fit during Day 2 of the Draft is Ohio’s Blair Brown.

• Buccaneers LBs Lavonte David (4.8 percent) and Daryl Smith (4.6) ranked 26th and 27th, respectively, out of 28 qualifying 4-3 OLBs in run-stop percentage in 2016.
• Inside linebacker Kwon Alexander led the team with 35 run stops, but only ranked 23rd out of 60 inside linebackers with his 9.0 run-stop percentage.
• Alexander is the only inside linebacker over the past two seasons who has missed double-digit tackles in both run and pass defense.
• Ohio’s Brown finished 2016 with 47 run stops – tied for seventh among draft-eligible inside linebackers.
• Brown finished third among inside linebackers with his 46.5 tackle efficiency – missing only two tackles on 304 snaps played in run defense.