The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been heavily focused on interviewing numerous defensive weapons at the NFL Combine this week, especially pass-rushers. According to LSU defensive end Arden Key, Key is among the Bucs list of candidates who were interviewed. Key confirmed the Bucs met with him for a formal meeting to see what type of player he is and what he could offer Tampa Bay.

Key finished the 2017 season at LSU with 33 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and four sacks. Throughout his entire three year campaign, he notched 130 tackles, 21 sacks, 59 solo tackles, zero interceptions and 28 quarterback hurries. He played 31 games with 28 starts in his three years at LSU. He then chose to forgo his senior season at LSU and opted to become a candidate for the draft instead.

Despite not being among the top-5 talent in this year’s draft class, Key is still someone worth eyeing and has an incredibly bright and prosperous future in the league according to draft analysts across the NFL.

“He’s the most intriguing prospect probably since Tyrann Mathieu,” draft analyst Mike Detillier told SEC Country’s Alex Hickey last week. “LSU hasn’t had a prospect like him who is so immensely gifted. Every team would like to have him, because pass rushers are gold in the NFL. But there is the question mark about off the field.”

There are questions surrounding Key’s regression in 2017 along with his weight fluctuation and the absence he took from the football team in the spring of 2017 which could be causes for concern. However, Bucs will thoroughly investigate Key even more if they didn’t already get their answers through the formal meeting that was held. Nevertheless, Key is someone Bucs Nation should keep an eye on the next few months seeing that he is among the list of prospects that the team is interested in.