The Bucs entered the offseason with quite a to-do list regarding the defensive side of the football. Not only did head coach Todd Bowles have to move around and add pieces to his defensive staff, but the team had to get better player personnel in the building as well.
After signing outside linebacker Haason Reddick, inside linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. and cornerback Kindle Vildor in free agency and selecting cornerbacks Benjamin Morrison and Jacob Parrish, outside linebacker David Walker, and defensive tackle Elijah Roberts in the 2025 NFL Draft, Tampa Bay hopes to have added enough talent across the board. That would only help the unit make plays and get off the field so the high-scoring offense can continue to put points up in bunches.
It is no secret of the biggest weaknesses on defense last season was at inside linebacker. Lavonte David held down one spot and will continue to as he re-signed for another year, but the position next to him is a looming question mark.
Could it be solved by adding five-time Pro Bowl inside linebacker C.J. Mosley?
It’s at least worth considering.
C.J. Mosley Has Long Been One Of The NFL’s Most Productive ILBs
Since being drafted in the first round back in 2014, C.J. Mosley has been one of the best inside linebackers in the NFL. Mosley started the first five years of his career with the Ravens, where he put together some of his finest work and had the most accolades. He was a four-time Pro Bowler in Baltimore and did a little bit of everything.
Mosley had seven sacks in his first two seasons and recorded a career-high four interceptions in 2016. That track record helped him re-set the inside linebacker market when he became a free agent after the 2018 season. He signed a massive five-year, $85 million deal with the Jets, becoming the league’s highest-paid at the position.
Jets ILB C.J. Mosley – Photo by: USA Today
His time in New York, however, would be filled with ups and downs. A groin injury suffered in 2019 limited him to just two games, while he opted out of the 2020 season due to COVID-19.
His contract was not looking great until he came alive the next three seasons. Mosley had his three highest single season tackle totals between 2021-2023, recording 168, 158, and 152 total tackles, respectively. He remained healthy and played in all 50 regular-season games — until the injury bug bit him again in 2024.
Mosley would play in just four games last season as he battled through toe and neck injuries. After missing three games with the toe injury, he then suffered a herniated disk in his neck that kept him out from Week 8 on. While neck injuries are always a serious topic of conversation when it comes playing again, the veteran linebacker reiterated his focus was on recovering and suiting up.
Would C.J. Mosley Still Have Something Left In The Tank For Bucs?
Given C.J. Mosley’s track record of high-end production, desire to keeping playing, and affordability based on his age and injury history, should the Bucs inquire about signing him?
Jets ILB C.J. Mosley – Photo by: USA Today
There is no doubt that he would add serious competition within the inside linebacker room.
As mentioned above, the 35-year-old Lavonte David returns and will play the majority of snaps at one of the linebacker spots. The other, as it stands, will feature the likes of SirVocea Dennis, Anthony Walker Jr., Deion Jones as well as Antonio Grier Jr., John Bullock, and Nick Jackson all looking to factor into the picture.
Dennis has been plagued by injuries himself in his young career, and after a promising start last year, he played in just four games before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury that required surgery. He is the leading favorite to start as he enters a crucial third year, but Walker and Jones are veteran options that will be fighting for snaps behind him. Both have lower ceilings, and it would not be surprising to see a younger linebacker behind them on the depth chart emerge.
Grier has been in the system for one year, mainly as a special teamer and practice squader. There is some intrigue surrounding Bullock, with the team high on his ability. Jackson was a late addition to the team as he tried out during rookie mini-camp and parlayed that into an undrafted free agent deal.
While nothing is wrong with seeing who among the group rises up to claim a starting spot, neither is bringing in someone like Mosley to see what is left in the tank and adding even more competition. That’s all inside linebackers coach Mike Caldwell wants to see from the room.
Bucs ILB SirVocea Dennis and HC Todd Bowles – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
“We brought in a few players vying for that position,” Caldwell said on Tuesday. “Competition brings the best out of us, so we’ll line them up, let them go out there, and they’ll compete. They’re already doing it, and whoever wins the job, the other guys will be ready to have their role and fill in when needed.”
Signing Mosley would be for nothing more than league minimum, with a potential contract likely having incentives to bump him up into the $4-5 million range based on games played and performance. The soon to be 33-year-old would be a low-risk, high-reward addition that could truly elevate the middle of the defense this season.
He was a team captain during his last four years with the Jets and during his time with the Ravens. If healthy, his leadership would immediately help stabilize the inside linebacker position next to David, as coverage lapses and communication issues led to the middle of the defense becoming an area opposing quarterbacks picked apart last season.
There are no guarantees when it comes to how successful C.J. Mosley would be on the Bucs but signing him while the Super Bowl window is open would be a step in the right direction and provide a band-aid for one of the most important positions on the field.
