National Football League

Buccaneers select DE Noah Spence in 2nd round of NFL draft

Published Apr. 29, 2016 10:14 p.m. ET

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TAMPA, Fla. (AP) The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have addressed the need for a pass rusher with the selection of Eastern Kentucky's Noah Spence in the second round of the NFL draft.

Spence was the eighth player selected Friday night, No. 39 overall. He began his college career at Ohio State, but wound up at Eastern Kentucky because of off-the-field issues that kept him being a first-round pick.

The Bucs are using the draft to re-tool a defense that allowed opponents to complete 70 percent of passes and throw for 31 touchdowns last season. Part of the problem was an inconsistent pass rush.

General manager Jason Licht and first-year coach Dirk Koetter began the defensive overhaul with the signings of end Robert Ayers, cornerback Brent Grimes and linebacker Daryl Smith in free agency. They selected cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III with the 11th overall pick on the opening day of the draft.

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