5. Karl Joseph | Safety | West Virginia
I know what you are immediately thinking, Joseph at NINE?! Well if not for a non contact knee injury I don’t think that it would be that big of a surprise. Joseph can play either safety position and is equally as talented at playing man or zone coverage. He is a big time play-maker and was leading the entire FBS with five interceptions in just four games. I’m not saying he is Earl Thomas, but he has a lot of similar traits and if he could be even half that good it would be a huge upgrade over what we’ve had for a long time in Tampa.
If you listen closely to what Licht has said over the past few months he’s hinted at what direction they will go in the draft. The Bucs did a great job addressing pressing needs and filing them with good veterans at a relatively good cost, but all they did at the safety position was bring everyone back. Which normally for a professional team would mean good things, but anyone that watched this defense last year saw the ineptitude that was the entire defense. Now changing schemes and not having Lovie Smith play spin the wheel of defensive back should help, but one of Licht’s talked about Conte being a “bridge player” to help develop the young safeties. I know many fans would say we could probably get him in the second round, I think by the time our pick comes around on round two that Joseph won’t be there.
Next: Number Four