Report: Tampa Bay Buccaneers Will Consider Trading First Round Pick for Darrelle Revis

Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports

Darrelle Revis is clearly the number one choice to be brought in play cornerback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at this point of the offseason, having passed on all virtually all other starting caliber corners on the market. But the Buccaneers previously seemed reluctant to trade their first round pick to the Jets in exchange for the All-Pro cornerback. Oh how quickly things can change.

Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times has reported that the Buccaneers are now quite willing to entertain any offer from the Jets, including those including the 13th overall pick in the 2012 draft. This report comes right from General Manager Mark Dominik, who told Stroud this about his willingness to deal his first round pick:

"“There’s only one (team) that knows who they’re taking,’’ Dominik said of the draft. “The thing I’d say is I feel really good about the success we’ve had drafting players. At the same point, I’m not going to sit there and be bull-headed and not think, “what’s the best thing for the team going forward?” That’s the only way you can build it right.’’"

In other words, the Buccaneers don’t know who will be there to take at number 13, and for every great first round pick you can think of, there’s Kenyatta Walker. For every success story in the middle of the first round, there’s Reidel Anthony. So Dominik is letting it be known that, while he trusts himself in the draft, he isn’t going to hold on to the pick stubbornly and ignore an opportunity to get a proven commodity at cornerback.

So while the Buccaneers certainly have needs this offseason, the ability to turn the 13th pick into the best cornerback in the NFL may prove too good of an offer to pass up. Being able to hold onto second and third round picks would help the Buccaneers build affordable depth, as the second and third rounds certainly hold potential starters at need positions like defensive end, defensive tackle, and cornerback.

It is encouraging to hear that the Buccaneers’ front office is keeping an open mind about a deal for Revis. But this willingness to make a trade does not translate into the rapid execution of a trade. More and more media outlets are indicating the trade process will likely drag on over the course of the next month, as the Buccaneers work with both the Jets and Revis to make sure proper compensation is in place. So be patient, Bucs fans, because the Jets know the list of teams who have the combination of interest in Revis and capability of paying him is short, and the Buccaneers are at the top of that list. In fact, they might be the only team on that list. This deal looks very likely to get done. It’s a matter of when, and when could be any time before the NFL Draft.

Just keep an open mind, like Mark Dominik has elected to do with his draft picks. The plan is clearly underway, and the front office knows what it wants. The deal will work itself out.