Buccaneers 'need' trade for NFL stat leader from AFC dumpster fire, writes ESPN analyst

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been very good this season despite battling a lot of injuries.

Before the Nov. 4 NFL trade deadline, they've got a chance to get even better.

ESPN's Ben Solak has singled out an intriguing target for the Bucs: leaguewide tackles leader Jordyn Brooks.

Brooks, currently on the Miami Dolphins, could be had for a fifth-round pick and safety Christian Izien, writes Solak.

"His talents are wasted on the Dolphins defense," Solak writes. "The current NFL leader in tackles, Brooks catches plenty of runs that slip through Miami's poor defensive front -- but he's not at his best defending the run. A smooth coverage linebacker with great instincts and field sense, Brooks is one of the few linebackers in the league who can truly be trusted to carry a tight end down the field, or drop into the intermediate middle and not get bamboozled by route combinations or quarterbacks' eye fakes."

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The Dolphins restructured Brooks' contract last week, converting more than $4 million to a signing bonus, which conceptually makes him simpler to trade.

"Tampa Bay general manager Jason Licht tends to stay quiet at the deadline, but the need at LB -- both short- and long-term -- might be too big to ignore," Solak writes. "I threw Izien into the deal -- he has played only six defensive snaps this season but held up well when thrust into the starting lineup last season. The Dolphins need safety help opposite Minkah Fitzpatrick and would likely start Izien right away."

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Tampa Bay can't do anything about the injury bug that has impacted its roster, especially on offense.

But what the Buccaneers can do is add an impactful player who can make a real difference in the second half of the season and on into the postseason. Brooks would be that guy.

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