There will not be any sort of Haason Reddick holdout or ongoing speculation throughout the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ mandatory minicamp, which begins on June 10.
On June 9, NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport reported that “new Bucs edge Hasson Reddick, who has not attended voluntary OTAs, is in the building in anticipation for mandatory minicamp, sources say.”
Coach Todd Bowles was not concerned, saying, “I’m sure one of these days we’ll see him.”
Making good on Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles’ promise that Reddick’s OTAs absence would not be an issue.
“I’m excited to see him [eventually],” Bowles told the Pewter Report podcast on June 2. Adding: “Again, all this is voluntary; he’s not the only one that’s not here, but I know he’s working out and he’s working hard, so when he gets here we’ll be excited to have him.”
The Bucs HC also noted that he expected Reddick to be back in the building some time before the start of mandatory minicamp, which has now occurred according to Rapoport.
Obviously, the nervousness surrounding Reddick’s absence stems from the veteran’s 2024 holdout with the New York Jets, which lasted until October 21 of last season.
But the Tampa Bay community no longer has to worry about that. Reddick is “in the building,” and that means he’s committed to his 2025 campaign with the Buccaneers.
Can Haason Reddick Help Transform Yaya Diaby & Young Buccaneers Edge Rusher Room Into Fearsome Unit?
The Bucs need way more out of their edge rushers in 2025. Last year, no Tampa Bay outside linebackers recorded more than 5.0 sacks.
Having said that, Bowles spoke highly of Yaya Diaby and the young and hungry OLB group on the aforementioned Pewter Report podcast on June 2.
“I think Yaya Diaby has the potential to be an outstanding linebacker, and definitely a double-digit sack guy,” Bowles told the Pewter Report. “I think he’s learned a lot more this spring than he’s learned since he’s been here — [in terms] of how to use his tools and when to use his tools.”
“We’re trying to get him in position to get after the quarterback a lot more,” the Bucs coach went on, tying in the veteran. “With Reddick coming in, I’m sure he’s going to learn a lot of things.”
Bowles then clarified that it’s not just Diaby who he thinks will take the next step in their development this season, highlighting Chris Braswell and rookie David Walker as candidates to do the same. Along with the consistency of veteran Anthony Nelson.
“We think we’ve got some hungry guys over there with the young guys coming up,” Bowles voiced. Adding that he expects Diaby to “be one of the best [pass rushers] in the league this year,” and that he has “the ability to do that.”
Todd Bowles Says Rookie OLB David Walker ‘Plays With His Hair on Fire’
When asked about Walker, specifically, Bowles replied that the rookie out of Central Arkansas “plays with his hair on fire.”
“I gotta see him in pads,” the veteran defensive-minded HC cautioned. “Again, I’ve seen the senior bowls, and I’ve watched a lot of tapes, and we know he’s tough and he can play and he’s got a dawg-like mentality — we like that about him. Just gotta get him in pads [and] make sure he’s doing the right things.”
Bowles concluded that Walker is one of those guys that he feels “pretty comfortable” about, in terms of his college impact translating over to the pros.
NFL Insider Relays Major Haason Reddick Update Ahead of Bucs Minicamp