From now until draft day we’ll have several writers and contributors posting numerous Buccaneers’ mocks. It’s that time of season, put on your GM hat and let’s get to work
Round-1 (19th)
Joey Porter Jr., DB, Penn State
HT: 6’2
WT: 193 lbs
Accolades:
– 2022 Named All-America second team by the AFCA, Associated Press, FWAA, Walter Camp Football Foundation and CBS Sports
– 2022 Named first-team All-Big Ten by the coaches and media
– 2022 Tabbed first-team AP All-Big Ten
– 2022 Named Pro Football Focus All-Big Ten second team
– 2022 Earned the team’s Most Valuable Defensive Player
– 2022 Jim Thorpe Award, Chuck Bednarik Award and Lott IMPACT Trophy semifinalist
– 2022 Earned the Bednarik Award National Player of the Week (9/6)
– 2022 Named to the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Lott IMPACT Trophy watch lists
– 2022 Named preseason All-Big Ten second team by Pro Football Focus
– 2021 Named Third-Team All-Big Ten by the Coaches and Honorable Mention by the Media
– 2021 Made 13 Starts at Cornerback
– 2021 Finished with 51 Tackles (40 Solo), One Forced Fumble, One Interception, and Four Pass Breakups
Video:
Pros:
– Has the fluidity, speed and quick feet to come down and defend slot receivers in man coverage. Porter also does a nice job breaking down in space as a tackler after the catch.
– Long and lean and a very fluid mover. He shows good route recognition and the ability to transition out of his backpedal and close on the ball fast.
– He has the core and lower-body strength to escort receivers to the sideline when working deep. He showed tremendous instincts with his eyes on the backfield last year, quick when transitioning out of his backpedal.
– Tracks the ball well and has the natural ball skills for forcing turnovers.
– He’ll line up in press at times, where Porter has a quick and powerful punch. His ball skills are good, and he plays with an extremely confident and competitive demeanor.
– Has the quick, agile feet and fluid hips to mirror quickness and change direction underneath. But he’s at his best facing the action.
– His length and leaping ability allow him to high-point the ball and make plays. Porter would have had bigger interception numbers in college had opposing quarterbacks not gone out of their way to avoid him.
Cons:
– Struggles to transition and drive out of his backpedal when playing off-man. Like a lot of physical corners at the collegiate level, he’s too handsy downfield at this point.
– Aggressiveness can get the better of him in advanced route combinations
– Opposing offenses can throw screens and picks at him
– Flagged for a handful of penalties last season
– Tendency to be too grabby with his hands
– Needs to bulk up his frame
– Lacks great foot speed and balance
– 180-degree transitions not always fast or smooth
– Technique needs further refinement
– Plays too tall in his stance and can be uncompressed
– Struggles to sink his hips and transition back toward the ball
– Struggles to decelerate quickly when tracking WRs
Summary:
As a sophomore in 2020 he played in 8 games and logged 415 snaps for the Nittany Lions. He made 28 tackles, 4 assists, and had 8 stops. In coverage, he totaled 2 pass breakups, no interceptions, and a disapointing QB rating when targetted of 127.0.
In 2021 as a junior Porter Jr. played in 13 games and contributed on 769 snaps. He chalked up 46 tackles, 9 assists, and added 14 stops. In the secondary, Porter Jr. forced 3 pass breakups, one interception, and gave up a much improved QB rating when targetted of 84.7.
In 2022 as a senior took his game to an elite level seeing action in 10 games while playing 440 snaps he logged 24 tackles, 4 assists, made 5 stops. In coverage, Porter had 9 pass breakups and surrendered a QB rating when targetted of 63.6.
Round 2, (50th)
Matthew Bergeron, T, Syracuse
HT: 6’5
WT: 323 lbs
Accolades:
– Two-time All-ACC selection
– AP All-ACC Second Team
– Senior Bowl Selection
Video:
Pros:
– Fires off the line of scrimmage with good initial power at the point of attack. Bergeron consistently holds his own against mammoth defensive tackles, and his hand strength allows him to grip and move opponents in the run game.
– Shows excellent awareness against twists and stunts, and Bergeron has the strong, flexible core and wide base to catch and handle moving defenders.
– Shows good quickness and flexibility on reach blocks, and he has enough range to get out as a puller.
– Cerebral player, quick to react to twists and stunts up front, and he shows an excellent understanding of angles when moving out as a run blocker.
– He’s a coordinated athlete who can win at the point of attack in the run game, and he can also move to consistently land blocks at the second level.
Cons:
– Is a little too much of a waist bender, and Bergeron doesn’t play with ideal power and functional strength. Most concerning – he often gets caught dropping his head, a bad habit that will have to be corrected.
– Often gets too high in his sets, sacrificing some of his power, and he doesn’t show great coordination between his upper and lower body when sliding back in pass protection.
– Loses leverage battles and plays with high pad level. Can be late off the snap.
– Not great in space and tends to lose power the farther he has to move; he doesn’t finish as well on the second level as he does battle in the phone booth around the line of scrimmage.
Summary:
As a sophomore in 2020 he played in 11 games and a total of 666 snaps. He conceded 11 QB hurries, no QB hits, and 4 sacks while playing the majority of his snaps at left tackle, and the rest at tight tackle.
In 2021 as a junior Bergeron saw action in 12 games and totaled 784 snaps. He gave up an impressive 9 QB hurries, one QB hit, and one sack while playing at left tackle.
In 2022 as a senior Bergeron saw action in 11 games and played a total of 686 snaps for the Orange. He allowed just 2 QB hurries, 4 QB hits, and 5 sacks while playing most of his snaps at left tackle.
Round 3, (82nd)
Will McDonald IV, EDGE, Iowa St.
HT: 6’3
WT: 241 lbs
Accolades:
– Big 12 Co-Defensive Lineman of the Year (2021)
– 3× first-team All-Big 12 (2020–2022)
Video:
Pros:
– McDonald has a high motor and does a solid job setting the edge against the run.
– He has a lethal spin move and the pure speed to close quickly.
– Crazy athletic skills — Made Bruce Feldman’s ‘Freaks List’ at number 5. He wrote: “He’s an elite athlete who can do backflips standing still and has videos jumping over cars. All of that along with sacking the QB,” Cyclones coach Matt Campbell said of the 6-3, 236-pound edge rusher. Campbell expects McDonald will vertical-jump 42 or 43 inches when he goes to the combine and should broad jump around 11 feet.”
– He’s very instinctive when it comes to countering and solid with overall hand usage.
– He’s very good with his hands, a technician with the violence, quickness, and the long arms to ward off blockers. He has a great motor and enough creativity to make plays late in the down as a pass rusher.
– Challenges inside with quickness and strong hands. Run-and-chase defender who can leave a mark.
– He’s quick to react and locate the ball, and McDonald shows thespeed to succeed in backside pursuit. McDonald plays with excellent balance and a strong, flexible core, rarely ending up on the ground.
Cons:
– McDonald is so eager to get upfield that he far too often abandons responsibilities against the run.
– He lacks the speed of a chase and- tackle guy. He lacks the feet and flexibility to threaten around the edge.
– Often shows poor instincts when locating the ball against the run.
Summary:
In 2020 as a junior Will McDonald IV played in 12 games and contributed on 343 snaps. He recorded 10 tackles, 6 assists while making 17 stops. As a pass rusher, he produced 35 total pressures, which included 20 QB hurries, 6 QB hits, and an excellent 9 sacks on the year.
In 2021 as a senior McDonald IV logged playing time in 13 games and logged a total of 502 snaps for the Cyclones. He also added 17 tackles, 2 assists, and 25 stops. As a pass rusher, he tallied 45 total pressures, which included 24 QB hurries, 8 QB hits, and an outstanding 13 sacks on the season.
In 2022 as a fifth year senior McDonald IV logged playing time in 12 games and logged a total of 519 snaps for the Cyclones. He also added 27 tackles, 5 assists, and 24 stops. As a pass rusher, he tallied 25 total pressures, which included 16 QB hurries, 3 QB hits, and a solid 6 sacks on the season.
Information in this article first appeared on NFL Draft Buzz and is used with permission. Find the latest coverage, analysis, and player rankings for the 2023 NFL Draft at nfldraftbuzz.com
Follow, Like and Subscribe to Bucs Report
For more on this and everything Buccaneers check back here hourly at BucsReport.com
