TAMPA, Fla. -- When Tampa Bay Buccaneers star pass-rusher Jason Pierre-Paul suffered a fractured vertebrae in a car accident this offseason, it seemed as if the Bucs’ defense was doomed before the 2019 season even began. The first Bucs player to reach double-digit sacks since 2005, Pierre-Paul (12.5 sacks) accounted for nearly 33% of the team's total sacks last season.
Who will replace Pierre-Paul's production? The answer might be no one player. In a new 3-4 defense under defensive coordinator Todd Bowles, finding that one dominant pass-rusher to replace Pierre-Paul, who is still in a neck brace, might not be as important.