Buccaneers Draft An Intriguing One

For the first time in years, the Buccaneers are set at the most important position in sports. In fact, they’re pretty well set on offense in general. That’s why the 2016 draft is such an interesting one.

More from Bucs Draft

There has been, and will be, speculation out the wazoo on who the Buccaneers will take with the number nine pick in the NFL draft, just eighteen days from now. Last year, all the talk was which quarterback they would take, Jameis Winston or Marcus Mariota. The year before, it was a constant debate between a playmaking wide receiver in Mike Evans or his college quarterback Johnny Manziel (thank goodness the Bucs made the pick they did, right?) This season is a little different. But why?

Well, quite simply, because there isn’t a clear cut front-runner for the Bucs. This draft can go in a thousand different directions, leading Bucs fans to look at multiple players at multiple positions as legitimate possibilities for this team. You have your “FSU Twitter” crowd who want to sell the farm to move up for Jalen Ramsey, which is beyond a bad decision and won’t happen. This team isn’t one piece away and giving up multiple picks for one guy would be counterproductive right now.

Nov 7, 2015; Gainesville, FL, USA; Florida Gators defensive back Vernon Hargreaves III (1) against the Vanderbilt Commodores during the first half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

You have your Vernon Hargreaves crowd who want a shut down corner at number nine, which again could be argued that that pick would be a bad decision. Hargreaves isn’t a big guy, nor is he a legitimate shut down corner. He’d be a great number two in a place like Los Angeles or Carolina, but Darrelle Revis he is not. It also doesn’t matter who the corners are, if there is no pass rush, receivers are going to get open. Hargreaves doesn’t solve that.

Then you have your pass rush group, like myself, who realizes the desperate need to get to the quarterback and disrupt plays. You could see Joey Bosa fall, DeForest Buckner could be there, you have Noah Spence, Shaq Lawson, Kevin Dodd, possibly Myles Jack all available at nine. Gerald McCoy and Jacquies Smith are about as good as you have on that Bucs defensive line right now, and that’s not good enough. Yes, there was the addition of Robert Ayers, but can he replicate his success of last season? Even if he does, he isn’t the future, he’s the band-aid.

Finally, you have your “BPA”, or best player available, crowd. That could be Ronnie Stanley, LaQuan Treadwell, Corey Coleman, whoever. The fans that believe you need great football players in the draft, not just players that fill a need. While that is true to an extent, it wouldn’t make much sense to draft a wide receiver at number nine, would it? This draft has more twists and turns than an M. Night Shyamalan movie, but for the sake of the Bucs hopefully a better ending.

There is no right or wrong answer as to who the Buccaneers should draft. There is only the absolute need for whomever the pick is to be an impact player. The Buccaneers can not afford a dud here. It’s a new regime, a new coaching staff, and a new era in Bucs football and fans finally have a sense of pride. Pride that this franchise is finally headed in the right direction. Pride that they finally have a franchise quarterback. Pride that there is finally a head coach that is going to feature an offense worth watching. That momentum can’t be derailed by a bad draft pick. There can not be a Mark Barron or a Gaines Adams or a Josh Freeman type miss this year.

Next: Bucs' 4th-Rd Prospects and Predicitions

Jason Licht has proven that, when it comes to the draft, he tends to make the smart picks. We have to trust he’ll do it again this year as this Buccaneers team continues to grow and develop into a contender. The puzzle is almost complete. Just have a few more pieces to add so we can all see the big picture.

Home/Bucs Draft

2016 Draft A Vital One For Buccaneers

By James Yarcho | Apr 10, 2016