Anthony Gaitor is happy just to be in the NFL.

Going by the last two seventh rounders spent on defensive backs, EJ Biggers and Cody Grimm, there’s actually a reasonable chance that this year’s 7th rounder, FIU’s Anthony Gaitor, may stick around in Tampa as well. The quick, talented corner out of south Florida is happy enough just to be in the NFL right now though. Whereas other college players who didn’t get drafted now find themselves in football purgatory somewhere between joblessness, crushed NFL dreams and the UFL, picking a player in the 7th round was like dating a fat chick. They were just thrilled to be with someone.

Such was the case with Gaitor who blew away coach Raheem Morris with his enthusiasm and excitement over his selection.

“I thought we had another first-round selection,” Morris said. “I thought it was the first pick of the draft … with the emotion, the excitement. Bringing that guy in our building (for a predraft visit), he was electric.

“I asked him what round his agent was telling him he would go in, he said: ‘Man, I don’t care! I just want to come here, Coach!’ That’s the kind of player I think you’re going to get.”

If there’s one thing you can credit Raheem Morris for it’s sticking with his gut. And his gut has typically been right in Tampa, Morris seems to really have taken a liking to Gaitor which answers the question I raised last week. Gaitor is a developmental prospect, but his high-end potential were not that of some of the other projects available. I had wondered why the Bucs didn’t want to develop a player with a higher ceiling.

Well it turns out the height of Gaitor’s ceiling is just fine with coach Morris. And Raheem knows corners a lot better than I do.

Anthony Gaitor was the 222nd overall pick.

The Buccaneers took two players in the 7th round, FIU CB Anthony Gaitor and Idaho TE Daniel Hardy. Both of whom look to provide depth or potentially practice squad bodies, but neither of whom do I see having a major impact, at least at first. Of the two, Gaitor is probably the better story coming out of Florida International without a ton of attention, Gaitor is a small corner with good quickness who will challenge for time inside in sub-packages and potentially on special teams.

Gaitor isn’t exceptional at anything he does, he lacks great top-speed but has good quickness, he has big hands and good instincts but his size and lack of weight and strength get him into trouble with bigger receivers. He can definitely develop into a quality reserve, though I doubt he’ll ever start in the NFL. This wasn’t the Bucs addressing a need at corner this is purely depth but I’m intrigued by Gaitor. I’d imagine he will start the season on the practice squad, at best a weekly inactive.

Daniel Hardy on the other hand came out of Idaho and could have potentially been a little higher on other teams’ boards had it not been for an injury is his senior year. Hardy has the potential to be a good receiver, though more likely of an H-Back than a true Tight End, but he is inconsistent when it comes to receiving. He also lacks ideal size and strength to be an effective blocker. He doesn’t excel at either phase of his position so he clearly purely developmental, with Luke Stocker and Kellen Winslow on the roster and potentially a veteran free agent for depth, Hardy looks to be more of a practice squad player.