Mock drafts are designed to inspire conversation, evaluate possible pitfalls of draft strategies and of course to fantasize about what certain players can do for teams like the Buccaneers.
In Chad Reuter’s four-rounder published on NFL.com on February 16th, it’s also likely to cause some heartburn as the Draft Analyst has three quarterbacks going in the top-15 and the Buccaneers drafting Florida State running back Dalvin Cook with the 19th overall selection.
A few things stood out when looking at the first-round of Mr. Reuter’s draft, and the first was Ohio State safety Malik Hooker being selected ahead of LSU’s Jamal Adams.
In fact, this edition has Adams falling all the way to 16th overall to the Baltimore Ravens, who of course would be doing happy dances all the way to day two if this were to come to fruition.
I don’t see Hooker being able to overtake Adams however, considering he’ll be unable to perform at the Combine and has essentially put all the work he’s going to put into the NFL’s various scouting departments.
O.J. Howard being drafted after Miami(FL) tight end David Njoku also stood out, as I think most agree the Alabama product is simply the better prospect.
Finally, the biggest take away for me was the Cowboys selecting John Ross from Washington University. This is a move the rest of the league’s general managers simply can’t let happen. Adding a burner like Ross to Dez Bryant, Jason Witten, Cole Beasley and perhaps even Terrance Williams would do nothing but make Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott even better in their sophomore campaigns.
We’re here to talk Bucs though, and they too had some names mocked to them in this mock draft. Let’s look at those.