The Bucs franchised WR Antonio Bryant this offseason as well as resigning Michael Clayton to a multiyear contract, but even still, in my guestimation and apparently the front offices, the Bucs are still in need of another threat at the receiver position.  Michael Clayton has shown over the last few years to have suspect hands, and while I love what Antonio Bryant did last year, his production over the years has been up and down because of personal issues, and expecting him to repeat last years production shouldn’t be a given.  Even if he were to repeat last years numbers, he still will be a free agent at the end of the season barring a multi year deal or another franchise tag (please no!).  After our top 2 guys, Maurice Stovall, Parris Warren and Dexter Jackson are the next 3 receivers on the depth chart, and none has produced at the NFL level.  

Heyward Bey is a very intriguing player.  At 6’2″ and 210 lbs, he has the perfect size for a receiver in the NFL.  His 4.30 fourty yard dash time at the Combine was one of the best in the last few years.  There are varying opinions on his overall rank on most major publications draft boards, but taking an average of them all, he is the 14th ranked prospect.  Judging him based on his numbers from last year is tough, because Maryland’s offense was a atrocious at best.  He still put up 49 catches for 740 yards for a 15 yard average.   There are some questions though as to whether or not this guy is more of a workout warrior or a legitimate future threat at the receiver position.  

From NFL.com

Analysis

Positives: Exceptional straight-line speed. Opponents must account for his deep speed on every play. Too fast off the snap for most defenders to challenge him in press coverage. Long, lean athlete with long arms and strong hands. Has the agility to make plays in space. Reads the field and can follow his blocks to generate yards after the catch. Can snatch the ball out of the air. Learning to better use his height as an advantage. Good leaping ability and has become more consistent in timing his leaps.

Negatives: Bit of a one trick pony at this time. Might be the draft’s most dangerous vertical threat, but offers little else. Long-legged and struggles to generate consistent separation out of his cuts. Not as consistently effective on jump balls as he should be, considering his natural size advantage. Too often double-clutches the ball. Questionable toughness running across the middle. Lacks strength and consistent effort as a downfield blocker.

At some point in the first few rounds, the Buccaneers are going to have to take a real game breaking playmaker on the offensive side of the ball.  Last years signing of Antonio Bryant by ousted GM Bruce Allen was a coup in my opinion.  We paid him pennies for what he produced on the field.  Subsequently, we were forced to franchise Bryant and with only a one year contract for him, he will be forced once again to produce if he wants to get a long term deal going into next season.  The Bucs also brought back WR Michael Clayton on a multi-year deal.  Clayton brings valuable blocking and suspect hands to the middle of the field.  At one point in time, Clayton looked like the next Hines Ward, and hopefully he can get back to half that level this season.  After those two guys though, the Bucs are fairly thin at WR.  Maurice Stovall, Paris Warren and Dexter Jackson (last years 2nd round pick) are the remaning WR’s on the roster.  I do not have any grandiose expectations for any of those players.  

Heyward-Bey, a former track runner, was the fastest receiver at the combine running a blistering 4.30 in the 40 yard dash.  He also put up an impressive 16 reps in the bench press, a 38.5 inch vertical jump and was near the top of receivers in the broad jump, the 3 cone drill and the 30 yard shuttle.  While combine studs don’t always translate to the NFL, Heyward-Bey had 42 catches for 600 yards for a terrible Terrapins team.  

A field stretching receiver should be near the top of the Bucs wish list, especially with a move to a downfield throwing, vertical offense, and Heyward-Bey certainly fits that bill.  

NFL.com Draft Profile

For all of the hype surrounding this year’s other playmakers, no other receiver in the 2009 draft can match Heyward-Bey’s combination of size and speed. Whether that combination will ever translate into his becoming Pro Bowl-caliber playmaker, however, is the significant boom or bust gamble teams will be forced to make on draft day. Had an arm span of 33 5/8 inches and a hand span of 9 inches at the combine.