The Pewter Plank
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Buccaneers’ Five Biggest Draft Busts

By James Yarcho

Sep 22, 2013; Foxborough, MA, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Josh Freeman (5) is sacked by New England Patriots linebacker Jerod Mayo (51) during the first quarter of a game at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 22, 2013; Foxborough, MA, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Josh Freeman (5) is sacked by New England Patriots linebacker Jerod Mayo (51) during the first quarter of a game at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 13, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; A view of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers logo on an official Nike jersey worn by a player at Raymond James Stadium. The Buccaneers won 36-10. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 13, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; A view of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers logo on an official Nike jersey worn by a player at Raymond James Stadium. The Buccaneers won 36-10. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /

Number Three: DE Gaines Adams, Number Four Overall – 2007

Oh boy. In a draft that was sickeningly loaded, Jon Gruden and the Buccaneers went with a Clemson pass rusher that was questionable at best. Gaines Adams was drafted fourth overall after JaMarcus Russell, Calvin Johnson, and Joe Thomas. After Adams? Well, there was Adrian Peterson, Patrick Willis, LaRon Landry, Marshawn Lynch, Darrelle Revis, Lawerence Timmons, and Greg Olsen to name a few.

Adams was non-existent on the field, never living up to the hype or expectations by Bucs fans or the staff that drafted him. He finished with 63 tackles and 13.5 sacks in three seasons with the Bucs. He was traded to the Bears in 2010 for a second round pick. That pick was traded around a bit, finally landing with the Patriots who selected Rob Gronkowski with it, just to add insult to injury.

Adams, unfortunately, passed away suddenly in January of 2010 of a heart attack. Adams suffered from cardiomyopathy – an enlarged heart – that went undiagnosed. Adams was only 26 years old when he passed.

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