AJ Turn-Up’s Buccaneers 3-Round Mock Draft 1.0

In this series of Buccaneers mock drafts the head honcho at Bucs Report handed the reigns over to the hosts of “The Aftermath” live stream Stevie “Coach Slick” Probert and AJ Turn-Up. Up next is AJ Turn-Up.

Round- 1, Pick 26

T’Vondre Sweat, DT, Texas

HT: 6’4
WT: 366 lbs

Accolades:

Outland Trophy (2023)

Unanimous All-American (2023)

Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year (2023)

First-team All-Big 12 (2023)

Video:

Pros:

Classic dominating space-eating run defender. Commands attention with his huge frame, making him a formidable presence against the run and difficult to move off the point of attack.

Exhibits superior upper-body strength, enabling him to engage and disengage from blockers with ease and disrupt offensive lines.

Efficient at absorbing double-teams, maintaining gap integrity even when facing increased pressure.

Demonstrates good burst and leverage off the snap, hinting at potential disruptive capabilities in the backfield.

Employs active hands effectively to bat down passes and disrupt passing lanes when unable to reach the quarterback.

His strength and technique allow him to be a consistent one-gapper, capable of closing running lanes and anchoring against the run.

Boasts a relentless motor and energy, contributing significantly to his ability to finish plays and demand double-teams.

Shows glimpses of pass-rushing potential with the ability to employ powerful moves and generate torque against single blockers.

Cons:

Lacks explosive acceleration off the line, limiting his initial impact as a pass rusher.

Tendency to rise out of his stance, diminishing leverage and effectiveness against seasoned offensive linemen.

Hands can be late and ineffective at times, allowing opponents to gain the upper hand in engagements.

Has yet to develop a signature pass-rush move that translates consistently at the NFL level.

Conditioning is a concern, with a notable drop in performance as games progress.

Summary:

In 2023 as a fifth year senior Sweat logged playing time in 13 games and logged a total of 462 snaps for the Longhorns. He also added 25 tackles, 13 assists, and 25 stops. As a pass rusher, he tallied 28 total pressures, which included 23 QB hurries, 3 QB hits, and 2 sacks on the season.

Sweat’s draft stock positions him as a valuable pick for teams seeking to solidify their interior defense. His sheer physical presence and run-stopping capabilities make him an easy choice in the early rounds, with a ceiling as a pro-bowl player and a floor as a rotational piece in specialized packages. As the NFL continues to value versatility and adaptability, his potential for development could see him evolve into a key component of a defensive front, particularly for teams that need to upgrade their run defense. The Buccaneers add more size to their interior defensive line.

Round- 2, Pick 57

Javon Foster, OL, Missouri

HT: 6’6
WT: 313 lbs

Accolades:

First-team All-SEC (2023)

Second-team All-SEC (2022)

Video:

Pros:

Foster thrives on physicality, often out-grappling bigger defensive linemen and winning in the phone booth with tenacity and upper-body strength.

He’ll appeal to man-blocking teams, and he’s a fairly high-upside developmental pick when considering his value in the run game.

Shows excellent awareness when presented with stunts and blitzes, and Foster works well with teammates on combo blocks

He’s infinitely coachable and athletically gifted with the ideal frame, physique, weight distribution, knee bend and hand strength to be molded into a special blocker.

Displays good awareness when it comes to reading moving bodies, effectively reacting and adjusting. Foster also shows a good feel for combo blocks.

A better than expected athlete who steadily improved in pass protection. Stout at the point of attack and maintains a wide base.

Cons:

While Foster probably fits best as a right tackle, he has an outside chance at surviving on the left side for a team with a power-running attack.

Heavy-footed with an inconsistent kick slide. He’s going to have an awful time with speed rushers if asked to block on an island; he’s likely going to need help on the edge regardless.

Foster seems too focused on winning with his hands, too often stopping his feet. Foster also plays with poor balance in the run game, lunging into contact rather than sinking his hips and delivering a block.

Summary:

In 2023 as a fifth year senior Foster saw action in 12 games and played a total of 831 snaps for the Tigers. He allowed 12 QB hurries, no QB hits, and one sack while playing at left tackle. Foster will challenge for a starting tackle position for the Buccaneers.

Round- 3, Pick 89

Cedric Johnson, DE/EDGE, Mississippi

HT: 6’3
WT: 260 lbs

Accolades:

2023 Chucky Mullins Courage Award
2023 Bednarik Award Watch List
2022 Bruce Feldman’s Top 50 Freaks List

Video:

Pros:

Flashes nimble feet to chase running backs and mobile quarterbacks to the sideline when lined up at end. Spins off blocks to get back into the play.

Fast in a straight line. Excellent wide and .bull rushes when he’s first off the snap.

Made Bruce Feldman’s Freak’s List – ranked #41. He wrote “At 6-3, 270, he has just 11.3 percent body fat, and he vertical-jumped 36.5 inches, broad-jumped 10 feet and bench pressed 390 pounds. This offseason, he topped over 20 mph on the GPS and did six pull-ups with a 70-pound belt attachment.”

Johnson can also win going speed-to-power, with the leg drive to push blockers back.

He has a lethal spin move and the pure speed to close quickly.

He shows good quickness off the line of scrimmage and flashes the violent hands to win around the edge.

Johnson has an explosive first step and converts that short-area speed into power, a capable bull rusher.

Cons:

He’s very much a work in progress with his hand in the dirt. Johnson doesn’t play with ideal physicality, often failing to set the edge as a run defender.

While Johnson has violent hands, he uses them too inconsistently. He tends to let blockers get into his chest, and he’ll waste time hand fighting due to a limited array of pass rush moves.

Johnson has to develop a counter move or two in the pass rush, and he needs to make better use of his hands.

Summary:

In 2023 as a senior Johnson logged playing time in 12 games and logged a total of 526 snaps for the Rebels. He also added 26 tackles, 5 assists, and 19 stops. While in coverage Johnson made 2 pass breakups, no interceptions, and QB rating when targetted of 91.7. As a pass rusher, he tallied 34 total pressures, which included 26 QB hurries, 4 QB hits, and 4 sacks on the season. The Buccaneers defense relies on pressuring the quarterback. Johnson should have an instant impact in doing so.

Round- 3, Pick 92

Ray Davis, RB, Kentucky

HT: 5’8
WT: 211 lbs

Accolades:

• First-team All-SEC (2023)

Video:

Pros:

Powerful running style, effective in breaking tackles and gaining yards after contact.

Displays good vision and patience in identifying rushing lanes.

Reliable pass-catcher with solid route-running capabilities.

Maintains a low center of gravity for better balance and stability.

Decent acceleration and burst through gaps.

Resilient and durable, capable of handling a substantial workload.

Versatile, adapting well to various offensive schemes.

Proven ability to find the end zone

Cons:

Lacks top-tier breakaway speed, which may limit big-play ability.

Needs improvement in pass protection, especially against blitzes.

Relies more on power than finesse, which could be challenging against NFL defenses.

Could benefit from enhanced agility and elusiveness in the open field.

Limited exposure to top-tier competition raises questions about his NFL transition.

Summary:

Davis is what you see is what you get – a dependable, three-down back who can be a cog in an NFL offense from day one. He’s not going to be the centerpiece of an offense, but his versatility and experience, especially in pass protection and as a receiver out of the backfield, make him a valuable mid-round pick. Age and mileage are concerns, but he’s got the build and mentality of a pro. Expect Davis to carve out a role quickly in the league, likely exceeding his draft position’s expectations. Buccaneers new offensive coordinator Liam Coen’s running back at Kentucky adds much needed depth for the team’s running back group.

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 2024 NFL Draft at nfldraftbuzz.com

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