Buccaneers

Deez Bucz Draft Special : Decisions, Decisions

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Greetings Buc Nation!

I was thinking about putting out my fifth and final mock draft of the season, but by this point you guys might be over the mock drafts. Instead, I decided to put together a list of possibilities for the Bucs first round pick. A list of choices that Jason Licht may have to weigh out when they go on the clock with that 32nd pick on Thursday night.

The Buccaneers are in the unique position of being able to literally pick the best player available in this draft, regardless of position. It’s a good thing, don’t get me wrong. But when it comes to people like me who write about the team or even real draft experts, it really complicates things. It’s nearly impossible to narrow down who the Bucs might pick or even what position they’ll take in the first round. That’s why I’ve decided to break down the list of possible candidates that I feel could be the Bucs first pick of this 2021 Draft.

I’ve based my choices on a few different things. First, who I think could still be available at that 32nd pick. NFL drafts are unpredictable. Anything can and usually does happen. Unexpected picks. Last minute trades. One surprise move can throw the entire first round into a frenzy. But I can at least give you guys an idea of who could still be an option.

Second is the Bucs positions of need. Luckily, this team doesn’t “need” anything but depth and potential starters for the future. It’s highly unlikely that any of the players chosen by the Bucs in this draft will start this year, barring a catastrophic injury. Tampa Bay is the first Super Bowl winning team to bring back all 22 of their starters in about 50 years, so they shouldn’t need any of these rookies to start right away. In fact, they’ve technically brought back even more than that. They still have all three of their kicking specialists. They re-signed Leonard Fournette who wasn’t a “starter” last year until Ronald Jones got hurt late in the season. They brought back Aaron Stinnie who wasn’t a starter until Alex Cappa got injured in the playoffs. They’re bringing back Rakeem Nunez-Roches who only started last season because Vita Vea was injured. They’ll be getting OJ Howard back as a starter. And I think they’ll end up re-signing Antonio Brown who you can consider a starter as the third wide receiver. That makes 30 players that either started significant games, or at least should’ve been starters last season, that the Bucs have returning.

That’s impressive.

The third thing is the Bucs draft board. Now obviously nobody outside the organization has any idea what the Bucs draft board actually looks like. However, those who have been following the team closely over the years and are familiar with the types of players that Jason Licht likes can put a probable board together pretty easily. He loves players who love football. He likes high character guys. He likes team captains and leaders. He likes high football IQ guys. He likes workhorses. He likes the guys that are first to show up and last to leave. He just likes football players. So those are the attributes that Jason looks for and those are the types of players that I chose.

With that being said, here are the Tampa Bay Buccaneers options with their 32nd pick in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft.

OPTION 1: TRADE OUT

Jason Licht has a history of making moves throughout the draft, so I think the Bucs trading back and not even making a Day 1 pick is a real possibility here. Teams that are rebuilding like the Miami Dolphins or New York Jets, picking early in the second round and who have the draft capital to trade up, might look to jump back into the first round. If the Bucs can get another second or third round pick in this draft to move back a few spots, then don’t be surprised if they do it. It’s likely that whoever the Bucs might be targeting at #32 would still be sitting there a few picks later, so if they can make a trade that gets them and an extra pick or two, then why not pull that trigger?

 

OPTION 2 : EDGE RUSHER

This isn’t a very deep draft when it comes to dominant edge rushers. In fact most of the high end edge guys in this draft are still unpolished projects, meaning that they might not be starters right away but they have the potential to be very good players in the near future. This is good for the Bucs. One of their thinnest positions on the roster is edge rusher, but their starters are set with Shaq Barrett and Jason Pierre-Paul. What they lack is depth behind them. It’s just the right situation for the players in this draft. No pressure to start right away and the chance to develop and learn from two of the best in the business. So here are some edge rushers that could be available for the Bucs with the 32nd pick.

Joe Tryon, Washington

Jayson Oweh, Penn State

Joseph Ossai, Texas

 

OPTION 3 : OFFENSIVE LINE

Like all of these positions, the starters on the Buccaneers offensive line are pretty much set in stone. The only position that might be up for grabs in training camp is right guard, but it’s still Alex Cappa’s position to lose. That being said, the Bucs could stand to add some depth on the interior. Both Cappa and center Ryan Jensen are heading into the final year of their current contracts, so it wouldn’t hurt to find a potential replacement for one or even both of them in this draft. Just like the other positions, there wouldn’t be any pressure to start right away and these guys would have a chance to develop slowly. Here are some guys that I’m sure are on the Bucs radar for the first two rounds.

OT Liam Eichenberg, Notre Dame

C Landon Dickerson, Alabama

G/C Quinn Meinerz, Wisconsin-Whitewater

 

OPTION 4 : RUNNING BACK

Yes the Bucs did just sign third down receiving back Giovanni Bernard in free agency, but I don’t think it takes running back out of the running with that 32nd pick. As it stands right now, the only running back on the roster after 2021 is going to be second year player Ke’Shawn Vaughn. Fournette and Bernard are both on one year deals and Ronald Jones is in the final year of his rookie deal. If the Bucs grab a running back in this first round, it would give them a running back under contract for the next four or five years. So here’s a few guys that could be available that the Bucs might be eyeballing.

Najee Harris, Alabama

Travis Etienne, Clemson

Javonte Williams, North Carolina

OPTION 5 : WIDE RECEIVER/KICK RETURNER

Even though I do think that the Bucs will re-sign Antonio Brown after the draft, they could still choose to pick one up here. Sure they still have Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Scotty Miller and Tyler Johnson, but what would it hurt to add another weapon to Tom Brady’s arsenal. Besides, they really need to add a legit kick returner to this roster. So here’s a few guys that should be available late in the first round that might be on the Bucs radar.

Kadarius Toney, Florida

Rondale Moore, Purdue

Elijah Moore, Ole Miss

 

OPTION 6 : DEFENSIVE BACK

The Bucs already have a talented, young secondary, but anyone in the NFL will tell you that you can never have enough good defensive backs on your team. They were able to keep free agent cornerback Ross Cockrell, but they did lose veteran safety Andrew Adams to the Eagles and cornerback/special teams ace Ryan Smith to the Chargers in free agency. So they do have room on this roster to add another defensive back or two. Even though they might be a bit of a reach this early, here’s a few possible options.

S Jevon Holland, Oregon

S Richie Grant, Syracuse

CB Greg Newsome II, Northwest

CB Asante Samuel Jr., Florida State

 

OPTION 7 : INSIDE LINEBACKER

The Bucs have the best LB duo in the NFL with Lavonte David and Devin White, but not much behind them for depth besides the recently re-signed Kevin Minter. They need to add depth and it wouldn’t hurt to find someone who could eventually replace David in the starting lineup. Here are a few of the better linebackers from this draft that could slide to the end of the first round.

Zaven Collins, Tulsa

Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Notre Dame

Jabril Cox, LSU

 

OPTION 8 : QUARTERBACK

Tom Brady has said that he wants to keep playing until he’s at least 45 years old. That gives the Bucs at least one more year, maybe two to find his heir apparent. They don’t necessarily need to find his replacement here, but if the right guy falls to them at #32 or they want to go ahead and reach for a guy early, then more power to them. That’s the beauty of being able to pick “best player available“. I don’t think they’ll take a QB here, but just to be thorough here are a few prospects that could be the pick.

Kyle Trask, Florida

Kellen Mond, Texas A&M

Davis Mills, Stanford

 

OPTION 9 : TRADE UP

It’s doubtful, but it’s an option. I can’t see a player intriguing them so much that the Bucs would be willing to give up draft picks to move up and go get them. Not in the first round anyway. I think it could be a realistic option in the second round, but not in the first. However, it is the NFL Draft and anything can and will happen.

 

OPTION 10 : DEFENSIVE TACKLE

There’s a reason that I have this position as my last option. There are no interior defensive linemen in this draft worth a first round pick. Even legendary Buccaneers not tackle Warren Sapp agrees. And he would know. I’ve seen some mock drafts that have the Bucs taking a defensive tackle, but I’m just not seeing it. So in order to cover my basis, I’ll list a few guys that might make good projects.

Levi Onwuzurike, Washington

Christian Barmore, Alabama

Tommy Togiai, Ohio State

 

The NFL Draft begins Thursday night at 8pm consisting of only the first round. That means  that we have to wait 31 long picks for Tampa Bay to go on the clock and even then they may not make a pick that night. We may have to wait until the second round begins Friday at 7pm to see their first pick. Either way, your boy Deez will be front and center in Cleveland watching that pick in person. The 2021 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season is almost here. So is the mission to win two in a row. And I can’t wait for it all to begin!

Until then, as always…GO BUCS!!!

 

Opinion Editorial

Buccaneers O-Line: From nothing special to overpowering

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I did not attend the church of Donovan Smith

I can’t deny it: I was one of the Bucs Offensive Line’s biggest critics. I did a few articles on how badly we needed a franchise left tackle in 2019 and during last season’s weeks leading up to the draft. I was sure glad to see them get Wirfs, but then I wanted them to go right back in for a Left Tackle. Hindsight always being perfect vision as it is; I didn’t realize we already had a top-flight player at the second most important position on the team. You could have won money from me, people; that’s how sure I was that Donovan Smith’s best days were in high school/college and not waiting for him on the road to a championship. I would have bet the farm, all the marbles, the kitchen sink, sold the ranch, went all in, and thrown out the baby with the bathwater. I was certain. My biggest hope as the Draft wound down last season was that Wirfs would be changing sides. (which he has done before). Tee-Wirfs can play both sides. We can see how that hope went.

A simple learned matter of fact

I knew Jensen and Marpet were a couple of bad boys with a mean streak. My jury was still out on Cappa, but I liked what I saw there as well. With Wirfs doing the jumping out of the shallow end of the pool to the deck thingy, I was pretty sure he would be just fine if not dominant. As a group, though, with Smith, I just wasn’t convinced. I never considered a very, very important thing that I learned as a kid playing football in the yards of my best friends’ house in Kiwanis Park. In the street, light pole to light pole. Then on to JV in high school, a funny anecdote, I played Offensive Left Tackle (that’s as far as I went, I have always regretted that). I digress. I learned a very simple fact that rules every level of football.

I have been converted

If you like your coach and respect him, you will play harder for that person, even more so if you believe in, respect, and have faith in the quarterback you are protecting. You will bust your butt for him. You will play your very best every time out. I never considered how the Brady factor would affect the O-Line and their play. I don’t think I’m going down a forbidden road when I say that it was probably pretty darn impossible for our line to have faith in, even respect to a lesser degree, a guy like Jameis Winston. You do your best, bust your butt, and he gives the ball away time after time. It had to have been a big factor in the way those big boys were or were not motivated. With what they did just one year removed, it almost solidifies it.

Super Bowls are fun

It’s not a dig on Jameis. It’s just the way it was. I mean, could there be a bigger anti-Jameis (more opposite) of him than Brady? The talent was there all along; they just needed a cause. Like Bret Michaels said, “Give me something to believe in.” Just about every game/sport is more mental than physical. Obviously, you have to have the talent, but the mental side of it, is what allows the Physical side to gel and rise above to the highest of highs. How else can you explain the turnaround last season up-front? I think with Tom Brady under center: football became fun again. Diamond studded rings and throwing Lombardi Trophies from boat to boat on the Hillsborough River is fun too! Go Bucs!!

Buccaneers

Could we see Kyle Trask in Red and Pewter?

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Lonely at the quarterback meetings

It’s a pretty well-known fact that Tom Brady is the only rostered quarterback we have at this time. Chances are pretty rock-solid that Blane Gabbert will return as the number #2. I say that, of course, because if you are going to be a backup quarterback, why not pick up another ring and hang out with Tom Brady? Ryan Griffin has a cap value of over 1.5 million if he were to be re-signed to the #3. One would think that a player of much more potential should be slotted into the #3, and learn from Mr. Brady for a season or two. I was truly hoping the Bucs would have selected Anthony Gordon (QB Wash. St) with the last pick in this past year’s draft. In my opinion, he was a steal there. Moving forward to the present, the quarterback is on the list of positions that are needed. So is an end-rusher/outside linebacker, defensive line, middle linebacker, and running back (all of the Bucs noteworthy currently rostered running backs are free agents after this 2021 season except Ke’Shawn Vaughn). Also, my opinion is that Ronald Jones may be a tough sign in 22. There just might be some interest in a player of his talent with low mileage. The last two Bucs Regimes have not been kind to the position whatsoever. Jones may be ready to move to a team that is more geared to the running game. He will never reach his potential if he doesn’t. He’s one of those guys that gets better as the carries go up. It’s about time he’s getting warmed up on Dale Mabry. The game is over. He’s just not needed to do but only so much, air rules around Arian’s house.

What are the odds?

There is a good chance that if the Bucs can find a guy of good value in the second round and beyond, but depending on where the other needs fall into their plans and the values of those players in the same rounds, they might pull the trigger. Arians said so himself recently.

“If the right guy is there that we think is a developmental guy that has the upside that outweighs every other position of those five-six guys that we’re looking at, then yeah.We wouldn’t be against it. Same thing in the second round and the third round. If we have five guys and one is a quarterback, and we think his development’s better than those positions, sure.” – Bruce Arians 

How good is he really?

Kyle Trask is rated by one service as the #6 QB in the draft. Most others have him at #7. The truth is he could be better or worse than those projections. Only time will tell. Being a big Gator fan, I would hate to see him come here and bomb. The Gators need to have one of their better products at the position; finally have some success in the Big Show. With the exception of Rex Grossman, who had some success with the Bears and John Reeves with the Bandits, no quarterback from Gainesville has shined as a starter for any amount of time. I guess it all comes down to how high the Bucs have Trask rated. He’s actually a good fit with Arians’ system. He doesn’t have a rocket for an arm, but neither does Brady. A very accurate pocket passer with a nice touch on the ball, Trask could be just what the doctor ordered to sit and learn for a year or two. Then, of course, there is the chance that another unknown team could trade up and take the Gator. All bets are off.

Wrapping up

It’s all conjecture at this point. Arians/Licht could have someone else in mind. Trask is just one of the more high-profile guys that could slip to a place where the Bucs feel good about making the move or maybe not. Don’t you love the days leading up to the NFL draft? Go Bucs!!

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Brady coming to Tampa was a culture shock for the G.O.A.T.

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Living and playing in New England for 20 years, you could say Tom Brady got used to the way things were in one of the original Colonies. Tom Brady was interviewed by Good Morning America recently and talked about the big difference in things here down south.

“When you’re in one place for 20 years, you think that’s the only way, and I think when you go to a different place, you realize, ‘Wow, there’s another way that people do things.’” – Per GMA

A lot of that, of course, had to do with the differences in both Coaches Belichick and Arians.

“He’s a great motivator — he’s got a great feel for the team — a great pulse for what’s going on in a locker room, great intuition, great evaluation of talent,” Brady said of Arians.

The transition of being the all everything man up north to being the new guy on the block down south was a part of it as well.

“You know when you’re at the Patriots, everyone would always come to me and introduce themselves to me because I was, kind of, the mainstay,” Brady said. “But I was the new guy for the first time, you know, and that was a really different experience.”

The coaches definitely did things differently.

 In Tampa, under Arians, Brady had much more control of things. The ability to become a coach on the field was one of those differences. Arians believes that is the way to use Tom Brady. Let him do his thing, basically. Brady proved that you can change the team, the coach, the playbook, but as long as he is the constant, success will follow. Go Bucs!!

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The Brady Effect

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If the Buccaneers were missing one thing from the 2020 Championship run it was a pass-catching running back. The Buccaneers were near the top for dropped passes from the position. Ronald Jones and Leonard Fournette accounted for ten drops in 2020. The Buccaneers saw this glaring issue and hit the free-agent market to address the issue. They announced this week that Cincinnati Bengals running back Giovanni Bernard will be “jumping ship” to join Tom Brady and the Buccaneers. Were the Buccaneers the only team pursuing the coveted pass catcher?

According to Jenna Laine of ESPN.com, the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers contacted Bernard to play for them in 2021. Could the tipping point for Bernard have been receiving phone calls from Tom Brady and Bruce Arians? In one word, YES! The Buccaneers quarterback loves throwing to running backs out of the backfield. So, this makes for the perfect marriage between Bernard and the Buccaneers. Bernard has never had a season with less than 30 receptions. Jason Licht and Bruce Arians inked Giovanni Bernard to a one-year deal with the financial details coming later. Bernard will add an element to the passing game the Buccaneers have not seen since Michael Pittman in 2002. Never underestimate the Brady Effect! FIRE THE CANNONS!

Opinion Editorial

No Respect for Ronald Jones II

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Rookie year lost

Maybe it was the fact that Ronald Jones II had trouble adjusting to playing in the NFL. The blocking schemes can be a load to learn when it hasn’t been expected of you in the past. Not all incoming college players learn at the same rate; for some, it takes longer. It seems that the Koetter regime ran out of patience for the young back, leading to Jones basically being red-shirted in his rookie campaign. Regardless of the reasons behind it, I think that many fans in their minds wrote him off; at that point. When that happens, it takes an awful lot of positive things to happen before the fan will come back around to believing in a young player. From the moment I watched Jones college video footage before the 2019 season. I knew he had the skills needed to be successful in the NFL. Then, during camp prior to the 2019 season, reports were flooding in about how well Jones was playing. At that point, I knew Peyton Barber’s days in Tampa were numbered. It took little time for Jones to prove that on the field. Jones was twice as talented of a running back as Barber had ever been. (not a knock on Barber, he did everything to his best ability as a Buccaneer, he gave his heart to the team.) Yet, the picking up blocks part of his game was still at an early stage for a player in their second year. It cost him some game time and a delay in being declared the overall starter.

Tampa’s offensive schemes haven’t been running back-friendly in some time

There is no doubt that the offensive schemes of the last two coaches have put a damper on Jone’s learning and development. You can see it in black and white in the rankings of the team and how much they run the football. The Bucs ranked 23rd in the number of plays devoted to the run for the home team Super Bowl-winning season of 2020. Interesting that the Koetter-led offense of the Falcons is just behind us in the 24th position. There were lots of plays in the 2019 season that showed what Jones was capable of; if you were watching closely. It was of no surprise to me in the least when Jones broke loose on his Franchise Record-setting run against the Panthers this past year. It’s worth noting that according to the stats, Jones is actually tied for second in longest runs in NFL History as well. You don’t just fall into a play like that; if you did, there would be a lot more of it happening. According to the stats in the last twenty years, it averages out to be about one rushing play of 90 or more yards per season. Before Jones ran his 98-yard gallop, only one player had a run that long in the last 18 years (Derrick Henry 2018) Ahman Green did it in 2003. Digging even deeper before Ahman Green did it, it was 1982 since a run of 98 yards or more (Tony Dorsett vs. the Vikings in a game I was watching as a 16-year-old kid, 99 yards). In the last almost 40 years, it’s been done only four times. The point is, as you can see, there aren’t backs ripping off runs of that magnitude very often. They are very rare. So are the backs that achieve it.

Bucs social media ripe with dissent over Jones

Join any Bucs social media group on Facebook, and you will undoubtedly see many posts and comments that disparage the young USC Trojans product. Fans wanting to give the starting job to Leonard Fournette and cut Jones. Fans clamoring about the fact that Jones can’t catch, get rid of him and give those plays to Fournette. Yet both backs had the same amount of drops last season. Draft this player or that player at running back to take Jones’s job. On and on it goes. There is no limit to the reasons many fans seem to want him gone. If you think we cut some players in the past that went on to great things elsewhere. Just cut or trade Jones and see what happens. Derrick Henry was again the League Rushing Leader in 2020 with 2027 yards powered by 24 attempts per game (16 games) on average (5.4 yards a carry). Jones, on the other hand, finished with 978 yards (14 games), at a dismal clip of 14 attempts per game on average (5.1 yards a carry). I have said it before, “if you give Jones the same amount of carries as Henry, they finish the season battling it out for the rushing title.” You can, of course, see it in the numbers (assuming they both play 16 games). They both average fairly close on yards per carry, 5.4 vs. 5.1 for Jones. Many running backs are of the sort that they get stronger as they go. Jones is one of those sorts of backs. In most games, by the time he has run his last carry of the game, he’s just getting warmed up good.

His future here may only include one more season

Jones is gifted with better than average speed, moves well in traffic, is shifty, and can break it to the house from anywhere on the field. As well, he can be a hard-nosed runner that will lay into you when needed. He’s becoming more and more complete. He’s still very young and still developing, getting better. Of note, Jones has just nine carries more in his career than Derrick Henry had just last season. He’s in no danger of being over-worked under the Arians/Leftwich scheme. In terms of use, he’s got fresh legs and is still in the very early stages of his career. The thing that I would say to fans is to be patient. 2021 will only be his third active season in the NFL. Also, look for Jones to become a better receiver than he has shown so far. The signing of Giovani Bernard probably makes Jones receiving skills less important. I just hope out of this season; we don’t see a reduction in carries for Jones. My feeling here is that he won’t be here much longer. His contract is up after this season, and he becomes a free agent in 2022. I can’t be sure that he will leave. But with his lack of use and the offense played here, I don’t know why he would stay. His horizons and opportunities to become a force in this league, apparently, do not reside here. So be prepared; to possibly say your goodbye’s to Mr. Jones in 2022. If I were him, I would bolt with the quickness to a team that will commit to him in their offense. When and if this happens, there will probably be many who say good riddance. Then we can all watch as he has a real chance to succeed in a friendlier offense to the run game. Sometimes we don’t know what we had until it’s gone. Go Bucs!!

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Respect – Eli Manning texts Tom Brady following Super Bowl LV win.

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As a long-time fan of the NFL, I love seeing players who show respect for one another! In a world filled with selfish desires and a “Me first” mentality, it’s really cool to see a tweet from one future Hall of Famer to another! Eli Manning of the New York Giants recently tweeted to Tom Brady.

“Yeah, I sent Tom a text, just congratulating him and really just saying how not surprised, but impressed with what he was able to do this year with Tampa: Changing teams, shortened season, lockout and pandemic and everything going on and to still learn a brand new offense and make those adjustments and go win a championship is pretty spectacular.”

In my opinion, someone needs to make a full feature film of the Buccaneers 2020 season, a movie similar to “Draft Day”. Like in the tweet from Manning, the Buccaneers really did an amazing job considering everything that happened this season, that’s for sure! Their mutual respect is obvious and should be emulated. Young players should take note and have respect for players and the League! I’m really looking forward to the 2021 season and hopefully a repeat championship!

As always, Go Bucs!

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The road not taken: Could Tom Brady have been the MLB G.O.A.T.?

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Throughout our lives, we make choices. Some of them incredibly difficult. Then there are ones that are not so tough but change your destiny from that point forward. For a very young Tom Brady, freshly out of high school, he was about to make a decision that would lead him to seemingly untouchable heights in the NFL. Ten Super Bowl appearances and seven rings to show for it. Brady has been stamped with the Greatest of all time (G.O.A.T.) moniker at quarterback, and deservedly so. Now that he has switched Conferences from the AFC to the NFC and guided the Buccaneers to a Super Bowl in his first season, just about all who have refrained from calling him the best of all time; have given in.

In 1995, Tom Brady was taken in the 18th round of the Major League Baseball draft by the Montreal Expos. It was generally known, at the time, that Brady was going to accept the Scholarship to play quarterback at the University of Michigan. So teams were staying away from drafting him. In the eighteenth round, the Expos figured what could it hurt to pick him and try and turn him to baseball. If not, they hadn’t lost much with such a low pick. And, that is what they set out to accomplish with the talented, strong-armed catcher with left-handed-hitting power. That strong arm was throwing out runners at all bases, and those skills are highly coveted in the majors.

So it goes, Brady was asked to tag along on a road trip. The Expos were playing the San Francisco Giants. After a workout for the game, Brady was surrounded by some Expos Players that included F.P. Santangelo. He told Brady that he should go to Ann Arbor and play football.

“We’re like why in the world would you make $800 a month, play in front of 100 people in the minor leagues, riding buses for ten hours when you can play in front of 100,000 people at (Michigan’s) Big House on Saturday.”, Santangelo said. “Enjoy the college experience. So, John’s experience kind of backfired. We were supposed to say ‘Hey Tom, play baseball’ and we were like ‘Hey Tom, play football.’” – Quote per Kyle Burger WFTS Sports 

What began as an attempt to lure Brady to the diamond by the Expos organization actually helped push him to the Gridiron at Michigan Stadium. Patriots and Bucs Fans can thank Santangelo for helping ensure he would lead them both to the promised land. Brady’s baseball coach in high school coached 6 catchers that eventually played in the Major Leagues. He says that Brady was by far better than all of them. The most athletic catcher he has ever coached and the smartest. It’s not too far-fetched to believe that had Brady chosen MLB, he would surely have been one of the best to play catcher. Who knows, maybe even the greatest of all time. Not so hard to imagine. Go Bucs!!

 

 

 

Buccaneers

Doubling Down! Part 5: Deez Bucz Mock Draft 3.0

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IT’S MOCK DRAFT SEASON, BUC NATION!

In my last mock draft, I had Tampa Bay picking Florida quarterback Kyle Trask with their 32nd pick. I got mixed reviews for that one. Some loved the idea of grabbing an heir apparent for Tom Brady in this draft and some didn’t. Understandable. You can’t please everyone. However, I feel like my last mock covered all of the “needs” that Tampa Bay has on it’s roster right now. Plus, I had a few guys in there that I really like for the Bucs. That’s why I’ve left most of my picks the same in this draft, with a few exceptions.

As I said in my last mock, the Bucs are one of the few teams, maybe the ONLY team, that can probably go with the best player available strategy in this draft since they’re NOT drafting for any specific needs. They’re the first Super Bowl winning team since 1979 to bring back all 22 of their offensive AND defensive starters, so they’ll be drafting for depth and planning for the future departures of some of their older veterans. With that being said, here’s my third mock draft for the 2021 Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

 

Rd.1/Pk.32-

DE Jaelan Phillips, Miami

Since my QB pick was so “controversial” in the last mock, I’m going with a more likely choice with my 32nd pick in Phillips. IF he’s still on the board that is. He crushed his pro day so he may have opened the few eyes that may not have been looking at him already. At 6’5″/260lbs, he ran a 4.56 forty, had a 36″ vertical and a 10’6″ broad jump. His blend of size, speed, length, technique and athleticism allow him to line up in a variety of positions and produce from all of them. Whether it’s lining up on the edge with his hand in the dirt, kicking inside in sub packages or standing up and rushing from space, he’s a solid defender of the run AND a highly effective pass rusher. He gives the Bucs another speed edge guy adding some much needed depth behind Shaq and JPP. And hopefully, he develops enough over the next year or two that he’ll be ready to take over for JPP on the outside.

Rd.2/Pk.64-

G/C Quinn Meinerz, Wisconsin-Whitewater

This is one of my favorite players in this draft, which is why I kept him in from my last mock. Meinerz just loves to play football. More importantly, he loves playing offensive line. After playing guard for his entire college career, he was told he might play some center during Senior Bowl week. So he practiced snapping at a pizza paddle in his backyard. He ended up impressing a lot of people that week and started shooting up draft boards. At 6’3″/320lbs, he’s got a big frame and knows how to use it. He’s a mean, nasty finisher. He’s extremely strong and knows how to use his leverage to bully defenders. His high football IQ and knowledge of schemes will be put to good use as a center, which is where the Bucs should develop him to be Ryan Jensen’s eventual replacement.

Rd.3/Pk.95-

DT Daviyon Nixon, Iowa

There aren’t many interior defensive lineman that I’m impressed with in this draft, but Nixon has me intrigued so I kept him in from my last mock as well. At 6’3″/305lbs, he has prototypical size for an NFL 3-tech. With Ndamukong Suh possibly going into his final year, the Bucs could use a guy to eventually replace him. His getoff is impressive. His hands are violent. And his athleticism is rare for a man his size. He still needs some development, but the Bucs don’t need him to start right away and he would be able to learn from one of the best 3-techs to ever play.

Rd.4/Pk.137-

RB/WR Demetric Felton, UCLA

Felton is also a keeper from my previous mock, but not necessarily because I like him a lot for the Bucs. Tampa Bay seems to have some real interest in him as well. Now that they’ve re-signed Fournette, I don’t think they’ll spend their first or second round pick on a Najee Harris or Michael Carter. However, I do see them using a mid-round pick on a pass catching third down back like Felton. At 5’9″/190lbs, he’s a dynamic athlete with joystick-like agility and 4.4 speed. He’s a very good route runner with great hands that can be utilized out of the backfield or in the slot. With his speed, hands and elusiveness, he could also be used as a returner which is something the Bucs really need as well.

Rd.5/Pk.176-

S Damar Hamlin, Pittsburgh

In my previous mock, I didn’t go safety until my final pick and I used my fifth round pick on an edge rusher. Since I went with an edge rusher in the first round here, it allowed me to use this fifth round on another position. At 6’1″/200lbs, he’s got good size and 4.5 speed. He’s always around the football and was a big time playmaker for the Pitt defense. He’s equally strong against the run or in coverage because of his instincts and ability to process plays quickly. Because he’s a big hitter with good ball skills, he can play a variety of positions in the secondary including in the box, deep center field or even in the slot. He’s the perfect type of safety for a Todd Bowles defense.

Rd.6/Pk.217-

ILB Grant Stuard, Houston

This is another one of my guys from the previous mock and one of my favorite players in this draft. His nickname is the “Tasmanian Devil” and for good reason. He’s a maniac. At 6’/230lbs, he plays with a physicality and aggressiveness that is simply fun to watch. His motor is always on full speed ahead and he never seems to run out of juice. He’s excellent at processing run plays, getting downhill and hunting down ball carriers. He’s not starter quality, but with the best LB duo in football he wouldn’t need to be. He could be a solid reserve adding some much needed depth to a thin inside linebacker group and he would be a special teams superstar.

Rd.7/Pk.251-

DT Khyiris Tonga, BYU

This is the last guy from my previous mock and another guy that I really like in this draft. At 6’4″/325lbs, Tonga is almost like a “mini” version of Bucs nose tackle Vita Vea, minus 20lbs or so. He’s a run stuffing, pocket collapsing, double team destroying nose tackle with an explosive getoff and a bullrush that’s tough to contend with one on one. He’s a disruptive force in the passing game and has a knack for batting balls down when he can’t get home. His strength is almost superhuman and he plays with a similar style to Vea, which makes him the perfect backup NT for this Bucs d-line.

Rd.7/Pk.259-

WR Jonathan Adams Jr, Arkansas State

In my previous mock, this is where I went with a safety. However since I got one in the fifth round, I have a little freedom to pick here. So I’m going with a wide receiver that I saw in one of Pewter Report’s mock drafts and who I liked a lot. At 6’3″/210lbs, Adams Jr has good size and 4.5 speed. TheDraftNetwork.com says he’s “a physical menace at the catch point who bullies defenders in coverage and plays with attitude“. Sounds like the Bucs kind of football player. Not only is he a possession receiver, but he’s a legit vertical threat with his speed and he’s a redzone nightmare with his size, leaping ability and high point ball skills. He’s not a polished route runner, which could cause him to slide into these late rounds, but he’s an explosive playmaker and would be an exciting addition to an already immensely talented receiving corps for Tampa Bay.

 

DRAFT RECAP

RD.1: DE JAELAN PHILLIPS, MIAMI

RD.2: G/C QUINN MEINERZ, WISCONSIN-WHITE WATER

RD.3: DT DAVIYON NIXON, IOWA

RD.4: RB/WR DEMETRIC FELTON, UCLA

RD.5: S DAMAR HAMLIN, PITTSBURGH

RD.6: ILB GRANT STUARD, HOUSTON

RD.7: DT KHYIRIS TONGA, BYU

RD.7: WR JONATHAN ADAMS JR, ARKANSAS STATE

 

There you go. My 2021 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 7-Round Mock Draft 3.0 is in the books. I was able to get an eventual replacement for Jason Pierre-Paul, Ndamukong Suh and Ryan Jensen. I got a backup nose tackle to Vita Vea. I got a third down back/slot receiver/kick returner. And I added depth at safety, wide receiver and inside linebacker. What else could the Bucs possibly need?

Once the Pro Days are over, I’ll try to put out one more before the NFL Draft at the end of April. I may get weird with that one. Maybe throw a trade or two in or grab a kicker in the middle rounds. I don’t know yet. In any case, this mock is pretty solid in my opinion. Let me know what you think. Who do you like? Who you don’t like? Who did I miss? Give me some feedback. In the meantime, I’ll start working on my Mock Draft 4.0 and hopefully help get you guys ready for the draft.

Until then, as always… GO BUCS!!!

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Does Fitz, Fit?

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There is no doubt that you’ve heard rumors of “a strong push” for the services of Free Agent veteran receiver Larry Fitzgerald. A high-quality player, and by all accounts, a great locker room presence. The type of player that would instantly improve most receiving corps in the NFL.

Time to snap back to reality. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have more than adequate pieces in place at the wide receiver position. In fact, you might remember that Mike Evans just became the only player to record back to back 1000 yard seasons since entering the league? Maybe you recall Chris Godwin has signed his tag while a long-term deal is structured? Or perhaps the growth of rookie receiver Tyler Johnson? How about Brady’s favorite undersized receiver, Scotty “Scooter” Miller. We still have Justin Watson fighting for playing time, also.

Even if you’re not quite up to date with the specifics of the Wide Receiver room, surely you remember the most devastating offense seen in Tampa, maybe ever? How about the Super Bowl?

Since the Front Office has returned every starter from that Super Bowl run, the Buccaneers can be awfully picky about who they pursue and how much they spend. An aging veteran isn’t high on that list of priorities right now.

Certainly, the question has been asked. You don’t turn your nose up at quality players that might be available. But, without the desperation of needing to fill holes in the roster, a deal has to be good for everyone. Right now, the money and prospect of declining play due to age isn’t something that Tampa Bay is interested in.

But let us not forget the other side of this equation. Even Larry Fitzgerald himself has said that if he isn’t playing in Arizona, he won’t be playing. So, regardless of how strong the “push” is if the player himself is choosing between another season with the Cardinals or retirement, it’s just not likely.

I would end this with “stick with us as the story develops” but, we all have better things to do than wait on something that is as likely to happen as the planet being wiped out by a rogue asteroid this year.

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