The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have resurrected their season over the last month thanks to a freewheeling offense led by quarterback Baker Mayfield and, most recently, a surprising defensive effort.

Now sitting at 8-6 and in first place in the NFC South, the Buccaneers have won 4 consecutive games headed into a Week 16 road game against the Dallas Cowboys.

One important component the Buccaneers have been missing all season? Any elite edge rushers. Their top three sacks leaders are a pair of interior defensive linemen in Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey (6.0 sacks each) and veteran inside linebacker Lavonte David (5.5 sacks).

Those number are a big reason why Bleacher Report’s Matt Holder thinks the Buccaneers could pursue Washington Commanders edge rusher and former No. 3 overall pick Dante Fowler in free agency in 2025.

“Fowler might not contribute much against the run, but he does have 53.5 career sacks in 138 games with 44 starts,” Holder wrote on December 16. “Comparatively, the 30-year-old who turns 31 in August would lead the Buccaneers with 8.5 sacks this season. Additionally, he’s from St. Petersburg, so this would be a homecoming for him.”