With the 19th overall pick the Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected OJ Howard. A great move by the team and general manager Jason Licht. The draft is not over, however, with two key rounds on Friday night. Let’s take a look at where the Buccaneers would be looking in day two.
The Buccaneers may have solved an important issue in day one but they still have some needs to address. Depth all around is necessary for any team but the Bucs could still use some starters. safety, running back, wide receiver, and defensive line could all be addressed now that OJ Howard has been taken.
Some pick ups this off season have filled crucial current needs but draft picks build teams for the future and beyond. The newest member of the Buccaneers, O.J. Howard, will help push this offense to the next level. They still have to address the defense if this team really wants to become a contender this year. Mike Smith will have his way on Day Two. Jason Licht knows he has to treat him right because he stayed with the team when he easily could’ve become a head coach.
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With the Buccaneers not addressing running back in the first round they can definitely still find a gem on day two. There are guys like Dalvin Cook, Joe Mixon, D’Onta Foreman, Alvin Kamara, Kareem Hunt, and even Marlon Mack are available to be in play. They cannot go into the year with Charles Sims and Jacquizz Rodgers as their top two guys. Even with Doug Martin on the roster they won’t have him for the first three games and which Doug Martin will we actually get. With Adrian Peterson gone as well could Jamaal Charles or a LeGarrette Blount be in play as well?
With tight end being addressed they could still use a new starter at safety. Keith Tandy, JJ Wilcox, and Chris Conte make a decent group but they can use a real difference maker. Guys like Budda Baker, Obi Melifonwu could’ve been day one guys but they fell. Bucs may want to trade up for one of them but they have tons of skill. Justin Evans and Marcus Maye could be in play later in the day but could make immediate impacts. Tandy and Wilcox may be day one starters but with big and quick running backs and tight ends they need guys who can cover, move and tackle which can be addressed by one of these guys.
While wide receiver was addressed by the Buccaneers in free agency with DeSean Jackson that should not stop Jason Licht from picking another one. All of the top guys were taken in the top ten so I’m glad they didn’t reach but there are still good players to be had. Zay Jones, Chris Godwin, Curtis Samuel, and JuJu Smith-Schuster are all day two players to keep an eye on because they could all be day one receivers for the Bucs, behind Mike Evans and Jackson of course. If DeSean or Evans were to miss any time I would be comfortable to plug in any of these guys to replace them and not take a massive hit to the offensive game.
Similarly to wide receiver the Buccaneers could use another player they addressed in free agency. Chris Baker was signed to play tackle next to Gerald McCoy but the Bucs could still use help on the defensive line. Jordan Willis, Demarcus Walker, and Carl Lawson are all names to watch. Some should’ve gone day one but with quarterbacks taken they fell to day two. Pass rushing is crucial for the Buccaneers in a division with Cam Newton, Drew Brees, and Matt Ryan and rotation can make the defense dangerous. William Gholston was retained but he’s not a pass rusher and on third down the young fresh rookie could terrorize offensive coordinators.
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The Buccaneers could really make a bunch of different moves in rounds two and three but one of these positions should be addressed. They could go corner or offensive line but I think these are the more pressing needs. What do you think the Buccaneers should do on day two. Comment on Twitter or Facebook with what you’d like to see.