No Suh? No JPP? No Problem for Tampa.
3 min read
Ndamukong Suh (93), Jason Pierre-Paul (90) via Buccaneers.com
The Buccaneers are working diligently to restructure numerous contracts this offseason. Players like Shaq Barrett, Mike Evans, Vita Vea, and Others have already restructured their current deals. What does all this mean? Well, it means Chris Godwin and Carlton Davis III were retained by the Buccaneers. There are names that didn’t make this list, though.
Ndamukong Suh and Jason Pierre-Paul haven’t been mentioned this offseason. According to NFL analysts, Tampa Bay doesn’t necessarily need to worry about Suh and JPP because the draft offers a plethora of cheaper options. So, let’s take a look at what could be there at No. 27:
Georgia DT: Jordan Davis
Davis is literally a man among boys when it comes to the defensive tackle position. If people thought he wasn’t a first-rounder just watch his NFL Combine. Davis is listed at 6’6 340 pounds. The crazy thing is he ran his 40-yard dash in 4.7 seconds. The Georgia Bulldog would step in and make the duo of Vita Vea (6’4 347 lbs.) and Davis an immediate problem for an offensive lineman.
Texas A&M DT: DeMarvin Leal
Leal is probably not making it to the 27th pick, but there will definitely be quarterback craziness again. There are numerous defensive backs projected to be taken early in the draft, as well. The unique aspect for Leal is he played defensive tackle AND defensive end during his time with the Aggies. Most “experts” believe that Leal is most useful as a tackle. Last season, he racked up 58 tackles, with 8.5 of them resulting in a sack. Leal is 6’4 and weighs in at 290 lbs.
Houston DT: Logan Hall
The former Houston Cougar could be a surprising pick in the first round. Hall is a work in progress. He has all the tools needed to be a productive player in the NFL, but with just two years of starting experience on his resume, there is a lot left to be discovered. The 6’6 275 lbs. junior that tallied 24 tackles and 6 sacks last season. He also ran a 4.8 40 yard dash.
Florida St DE: Jermaine Johnson
Johnson is a local kid that played his collegiate ball for the Seminoles. The scouts took notice of his athletic ability during the year and at the NFL Combine. They even made the comments that there isn’t a significant drop-off between Johnson, Hutchinson, and Thibodeaux. Hutchinson and Thibodeaux are projected to be selected within the first 5-10 picks this year. Johnson is currently projected late first-round or early second. The Buccaneers could use a combination of Barrett, Johnson, and Tryon-Shoyinka to control the opposing offenses. The name of the game is the pressure when it comes to the NFL. Johnson had 70 tackles with 11.5 sacks last season.
Florida DE: Zach Carter
Like Jermaine Johnson, this is another local product that played his collegiate career at Florida. Carter can be used in a swiss army knife kind of way. He has the ability to play outside and inside, which makes him a perfect candidate in a Todd Bowles defensive scheme. Carter is very strong and has great hands, which helps him shed bigger offensive linemen quickly. Last season he tallied 15 tackles with 8 sacks. He has been compared to former Tampa Bay Buccaneers draft pick: Adrian Clayborn.
Of course, these are all just an interpretation of what the Buccaneers could be looking at when it comes to the draft. I believe the second round will be focused on depth in the secondary Josh Jobe, Kyler Gordon, Daxton Hill, or Andrew Booth Jr. The Buccaneers have really helped themselves again this offseason with the current players being retained. This could be a very intriguing draft for the Buccaneers.
