In 2017 the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ defensive line was an achilles heel. They were led by Pro Bowl defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, Robert Ayers, William Gholston, then-heralded free agent Chris Baker, and of course 2016 2nf Round pick Noah Spence and talented but injured Jacquies Smith. But all did not go according to plan.
Spence tore his labrum again and played in only 6 games. Smith wasn’t the same player after consecutive serious knee injuries and was cut in November. Injuries also limited the 32 year-old Ayers for the second year in a row.