Buccaneers Draft Rumors 2017: Licht Looking to Trade Down

It’s reportedly no sure thing that the Buccaneers will pick at number nineteen.

Rumors are thick in the air with the NFL draft less than a week away. On a daily basis we hear a new whisper or see a story involving a prospect or a teams’ interest in a prospect. This non-stop mill of news is part of what makes the process so much fun. The latest rumor involves your Tampa Bay Buccaneers and their supposed interest in trading back from pick nineteen. According to Yahoo’s Eric Edholm:

Trading back makes a lot of sense for the Bucs to consider. Pick nineteen is an awkward spot for the team because many of the players that will be available there will almost certainly be available in the mid to late twenties. The Bucs could trade back a few spots, acquire an extra pick (or more), and still get a player like Washington safety Budda Baker, Florida State running back Dalvin Cook, Miami tight end David Njoku, Connecticut safety Obi Melifonwu, or USC corner Adoree Jackson.

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Identifying the trade partner is always the tricky parts of these trade back discussions. The teams immediately behind the Bucs – Denver, Detroit, Miami, New York and Oakland – don’t have quarterback needs and thus don’t need to be jumped by a quarterback needy team like Houston. Perhaps a surprising receiver or defender drops, but if that’s the case why wouldn’t the Bucs select them?

Still, you have to imagine that Jason Licht is eager for more draft picks, especially after blowing two on Roberto Aguayo last year. In a theoretical trade back the Bucs would get a third round pick at least, and perhaps more if their partner is closer to pick thirty than twenty. Not only can you easily nab a starting level talent in the third, but the Buccaneers could also use that newly acquired pick to move up into the second round.

Next: Derek Barnett Draft Profile

What do you think, Buccaneer fans? Are you interested in trading back for an extra pick, or is it too risky of a proposition?