The Pewter Plank
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Buccaneers: Reaction to Picks in Chad Reuter’s Mock Draft

By David Harrison

Jan 1, 2017; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3) high fives fans as he runs out of the tunnel before the game against the Carolina Panthers at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2017; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3) high fives fans as he runs out of the tunnel before the game against the Carolina Panthers at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 30, 2016; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles running back Dalvin Cook (4) runs the ball in the first quarter against the Michigan Wolverines at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 30, 2016; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles running back Dalvin Cook (4) runs the ball in the first quarter against the Michigan Wolverines at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports /

1st Round (19th Overall)

DALVIN COOK – RB, Florida State

Ok, there’s no secret a lot of Bucs fans are also Florida State Seminoles fans, and I know every one of them would love nothing more than to see Cook in a Bucs jersey for the 2017 season and beyond.

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This being said though, let’s get real. There are two schools of thought on number one picks: either you take the best talent available or you take the best player at a position of need for your squad.

Cook satisfies neither in this case. If you look at Tampa’s run game in 2016 it wasn’t anything but consistent and it seemed week-to-week we didn’t know who would be starting behind Jameis Winston. What we did know though, was that whomever it was, was going to contribute adequately with a couple of stand-out performances coming from veteran Jacquizz Rodgers.

Simply put, the run game was not a liability even if it wasn’t always a shining symbol of success either. Let’s look at the players left on the board by the Cook selection as well.

Forrest Lamp, Derek Barnett, O.J. Howard, Cam Robinson, and John Ross are all left to other teams by this selection with each and every one providing the potential to impact the Bucs roster better than Cook or any other back to be honest.

Dirk Koetter and the Bucs have a two-time Pro Bowler on staff, a veteran who played splendidly behind a rotational offensive line, Charles Sims coming back healthy and an undrafted guy who played well when called upon.

This pick would simply sell jerseys and perhaps put more butts in seats, and Cook needs a better line than the Bucs currently have to make an impact as a rookie. This team needs to win games, not sell more tickets. Also, winning more games would lead to better ticket sales.

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