Quinton Carter could be a good fit for the Bucs.

Safety is a bit of a curious position for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. While the team still has Corey Lynch and Sean Jones, Cody Grimm is returning from injuries and there is a bit of uncertainty as to the status and reliability of Tanard Jackson. While quite gifted, Jackson is coming off a season-long ban (will be unavailable the first two weeks of 2011 as well) and finds himself just one strike away from being banned from the NFL indefinitely.

The Bucs should probably be looking for a safety to come in and compete with Grimm and Jones in training camp. Even if Tanard Jackson is part of next year’s plans he’s certainly not going to be ready to go the first month of the season and the Bucs will need more than three healthy bodies back there. I see the Bucs spending a pick possibly as early as the 2nd round on a safety. This draft class doesn’t contain any elite talents at safety like last year (Eric Berry, Earl Thomas) but there is good value starting around the time the Bucs pick in the second round and continuing on through the middle rounds. The Bucs should be able to find their man somewhere between rounds two and four.

Here are the top Safeties in 2011 NFL Draft:

1.) Rahim Moore, UCLA - Moore is an impressive specimen, the first true freshman starter for the Bruins since 2001. Moore is a classic ball-hawking safety with the ability to play good zone coverage and above average man. Is a high effort kind of player but needs to work on field-discipline (has a tendency to run himself out of plays) and his tackling. Was voted captain as a junior, a very high-character young man with good intelligence and instincts. He’s the type of player you want to bring into your locker-room. Doesn’t possess the kind of high-end athleticism of the top safeties from last years class but could still develop into a very good safety in the right situation. Moore would be a good pick for the Bucs if he falls to them in the 2nd round, though he would be a reach at 20.

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