The Tampa Bay Buccaneers may have a long way to go to get all their essential pieces in place to be contenders in 2019, but let’s start with what the team can do in the draft.
While many can justify drafting a game changer at no. 5, there’s also a case for trading down and loading more picks. A position as high as no. 5 could yield two first-rounders and still be a high enough spot for an immediate impact player.
I would only make this case if they don’t lose out too much on positioning and they can secure that second first-rounder. Here are a couple of reasons why it might benefit the Bucs.
First, this year’s crop of talent is full of elite defensive linemen the Bucs could draft and who would immediately start to help collapse the pocket. As far as secondary help, even if they miss out on Greedy Williams, the team can pick up Amani Oruwariye from Penn State as a capable corner or Deandre Baker from Georgia. The demand for a stud DL or defensive back might be too good for a team like the Chiefs to pass up since the defense was often a liability.
The same could be said for Brian Burns of Florida State, who is CBS Sports’ latest projected defensive end to go to the Bucs. Montez Sweat from Mississippi State could fall to them. He may not be a top 10 talent, but it’s hard to deny the penetration he’d have in his sack production with 12 and 14.5 tackles for loss in 2018.
If the Bucs play their cards right and head coach Bruce Arians can help Jason Licht, then the Bucs might luck out and get two defensive studs instead of just one. It would be quite some time before we see if they turn up anywhere near as good as Warren Sapp and Derrick Brooks, but one can dream.
