Notre Dame Football: 3 ideal NFL landing spots for Daelin Hayes

By Brad Weiss | Feb 22, 2021

Oct 7, 2017; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish defensive lineman Daelin Hayes (9) reacts with defensive lineman Julian Okwara (42) after sacking North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Chazz Surratt (12) (not pictured) in the third quarter at Kenan Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /

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Notre Dame football star Daelin Hayes. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports /

Notre Dame football: Ideal NFL spot for Daelin Hayes, No. 2

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are fresh off a Super Bowl victory in early February, and despite Bruce Arians promising everyone that they would be back, that just is not financially possible. Even losing some key players on both sides of the ball, the Bucs will be right back in the mix in 2021, and Hayes could play a big role there.

Tampa Bay was led by a strong pass rush on defense last season, as Jason Pierre-Paul continues to be a monster this late in his career, and they had guys like Shaq Barrett and Ndamukong Suh who can get after the quarterback as well. However, Barrett and Suh are both entering free agency, so Hayes would be a low-cost addition in the middle rounds of the 2021 NFL Draft.

Hayes has the size, speed, and athleticism you look for in an NFL defensive end, that is why he is getting so much buzz now that the pro scouts have gotten up close and personal with him at the Senior Bowl. Tampa Bay would be getting a high-motor guy with this pick, and the move would enable them to spend money elsewhere as they look to go back-to-back in 2021.

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