Kyle Riddle’s Hidden Gems
3 min read
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers need to address quite a few positions with this year’s draft. Everyone has their Ideal selections with the first three Tampa picks, but I want to go over a few that I would like to see looked at during the final leg of the draft.
For years fans have screamed for Tampa to select this RB or that RB, and Tampa refused. I see that happening again. However, I will talk a bit about an RB I’d like to see that, in my opinion, should pan out better than the last two we drafted.
Devin Singletary RB Florida Atlantic. At 5’7″ and 199 lbs Singletary is a short thick RB. In 2018 he ran for 1,348 yds and 22 TDs. He must work at catching the ball out of the backfield, only grabbing 6 catches all season. During his three seasons at FAU, he recorded 4,827 yards on the ground and 66 TDs, that is not a typo; he recorded 66 TDs in three seasons. He is also used to carrying the football a high number of times. Singletary carried the football 562 times in the last two seasons, and 714 in three. He is a workhorse, but he is not one to catch the football coming out of the backfield. If that’s to be in Tampa’s plans, that will be something he will have to work on. Singletary could go undrafted, but I wouldn’t mind seeing him selected in the 4th round or beyond.
You can’t run or throw if you don’t have anyone to block for you, so that leads me to another player I have in mind.
Andre Dillard OT Washington State. There’s little doubt that Tampa will address the offensive line early in the draft and maybe even with their first-round selection, but let’s face it the Bucs need O linemen and here is another good one that can be had in later rounds. Dillard is very athletic at 6’5″ 306 lbs, his quickness is inspiring at times, and what he lacks in hand movement and strength he excels at in his ability to learn. He struggles against speedy defenders, going head-on at times, but he is excellent at holding off strong, speed edge rushers, which Tampa suffered from a lack of in the past few seasons. His hustle and his competitiveness make him the ideal young player to coach-up into an eventual starting position. If he’s on board at the end of the draft, I’d look at him for sure, but as a guy, I’d see going undrafted, I would definitely slip him a business card.
Terry Becker JR 3-4 DE Missouri. Now that Todd Bowles is the defensive coordinator he’s gonna want players to fit his 3-4 defensive scheme. Terry Buckner JR is the prototypical 3-4 DE. At 6’3″ 305 lbs, he has good size and is good against the run. In four seasons with the Missouri Tigers, he recorded 13.5 sacks, 120 tackles, 2 forced fumbles – 1 recovered, an interception, and 4 passes defended. Not the biggest DE in the draft by no means, but this guy can be mean. He is strong enough to handle bigger O lineman and is fast coming off the edge. He’s not the best in the world during passing downs, but he can be coached up. Considering he tore ligaments in both of knees he will not likely get selected anywhere before the 6th or 7th round. My belief is that he could go undrafted, so, I would definitely slip him my business card and have him come in for a tryout.
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