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Buccaneers: Four takeaways from the 2017 NFL draft

By Alan Schechter

Apr 27, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; NFL commissioner Roger Goodell speaks at the 2017 NFL Draft at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 27, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; NFL commissioner Roger Goodell speaks at the 2017 NFL Draft at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 11, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA;Tampa Bay Buccaneers middle linebacker Kwon Alexander (58) runs out onto the field as he is introduced before the game against the New Orleans Saints at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 11, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA;Tampa Bay Buccaneers middle linebacker Kwon Alexander (58) runs out onto the field as he is introduced before the game against the New Orleans Saints at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

The Importance of Depth

As the end of the third round, it got a little bit crazy, didn’t it? We thought the Bucs were done, and then we all got that trade alert. Here comes Licht back up to his old tricks. He has his sights on a guy and he moved up to get him. Who is it going to be? Are they finally going to get that running back? Marlon Mack was still on the board. So were others? Who is it going to be?

Well, it was a linebacker, Kendell Beckwith out of LSU. The excitement turned to shock. Why take a linebacker? It’s not exactly a position of need. What gives? Well, the more I thought about it, the more I was able to make some sense of it. It seems as though Jason Licht is putting a premium on depth. When that word came into my head, the move became a smart one.

If you read my work, I talk a lot about closing out a game on defense. To win games in this league the defense has to be able to shut the door in the fourth quarter. For that, fresh legs are essential. They are necessary on the defensive line, and they are necessary at linebacker. Beckwith doesn’t have to start to make an impact. If he can give guys like Kwon Alexander key rest at times during a game, Alexander will have more energy left to make a big play.

That’s not to mention the possibility of Beckwith making a big play himself. You can never have too much depth. It may not have made sense right away, but the strategy is solid.

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