Buccaneers: Reaction to Picks in Chad Reuter’s Mock Draft
3rd Round (84th Overall)
ARDARIUS STEWART – WR, Alabama
Finally, a weapon to give Winston someone to look at downfield besides Mike Evans and Cameron Brate. If the Bucs want to crest the hill into the valley of post-season football they’ll need some more receivers for their quarterback, and here the Bucs get one in the third round.
What Stewart lacks in short area burst he makes up for with a deceptively fast long-stride as he works downfield, and the ability to contribute on special teams if needed.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
He has number-receiver potential, which is exactly what the Bucs are looking for as they try to find a wideout to compliment Evans and allow slot receiver Adam Humphries some more space to work with.
At 6’1” he’s not the twin tower by any means, but he could certainly become a good complement if matched up right against opposing defenses.
He’s probably not the sports car many fans envisioned when coach Koetter said the team needed to get faster, but he’s no slouch either.
My biggest concern on Stewart is his willingness to give up ground when he thinks he can turn space into positive yardage instead of taking what’s there and living to play another down.
Bucs fans know all too well what can happen when a player retreats to keep a play alive, I’m not sure the cardiac health of the fan base could survive if the team added another to the roster.
Players like Kareem Hunt – again negated by the selection of Cook previously – Zach Banner, Rasul Douglas and tight end Bucky Hodges could also be targets from the remaining pool of players in this mock draft, but Stewart would likely prove to be a good find at this point in the selection meeting.