DeSean Jackson’s legendary speed is going to change the entire outlook of the Buccaneers offense in 2017. He’s also going to change their draft plans.
On Thursday the Buccaneers made official the signing of veteran wide receiver DeSean Jackson, and suddenly mock drafts everywhere burst into flames. Jackson’s arrival in Tampa eliminates the teams’ dire need for a first round receiver, and thus opens up a lot of different possibilities for the 19th overall pick.
With their top three receivers now in place – Evans, Jackson and Humphries – the Bucs aren’t going to spend the 19th overall pick on a player that will see more bench than field in 2017. The team wants instant contributors with their first round picks, and there simply isn’t enough room left on the starting depth chart. The #WeaponsForWinston quest will instead turn towards other offensive positions, like running back and tight end.
Prior to Jackson joining the Bucs, tight end was looked upon as a luxury pick. “Sure, O.J. Howard is a stud, but they need receiver help more!”. No longer. Tight ends like Alabama’s Howard and Miami’s David Njoku are now first round options that the Bucs can comfortably look at. The same goes for running back. A deep class of runners and an urgent need for receiver might have led the Bucs to wait on a replacement for Doug Martin, but now Christian McCaffrey and Dalvin Cook are squarely in the picture.
As far as urgent draft needs go, safety now vaults to the top of the pecking order with DeSean Jackson’s signing. With Keith Tandy returning the need isn’t so dire as to require first round attention, but players like UConn’s Obi Melifonwu and Washington’s Budda Baker are going to get a lot of consideration.
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While the signing of Jackson indicates that we won’t see Tampa take a receiver at 19, by no means does it rule out them taking one in the other six rounds of the draft. Last season we saw Tampa add two veterans at corner back and defensive end before doubling down on those positions in the draft with Hargreaves and Spence. DeSean Jackson turns 31 next season and has a history with injures, so the Bucs would be wise to begin looking for a young player to groom as Jackson’s eventual replacement. It sounds strange to already be planning that far ahead, but the best teams stay ahead of the curve.
Pushing receiver down the immediate priority list knocks Corey Davis, Mike Williams and John Ross out of the Buccaneers’ plans, but brings K.D. Cannon, Carlos Henderson, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Zay Jones into focus. This may have already been the case regardless of the DeSean signing, but the second and third tiers of receiver are the ones Buccaneer fans should be thinking about now. Along with the flexibility to pick a receiver later in the draft, DeSean Jackson also allows the Bucs to be more liberal in which type of receiver they pick. Speed is still an asset I’m sure they’d like, but guys that win in other ways can now be considered.
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The rest of free agency is sure to impact the Bucs draft in some way, but few players will have the effect that DeSean Jackson has had. Thanks to Jackson, the Bucs are no longer pigeon-holed into a receiver at pick number 19 and can afford to take the best player that slips to them.