The Pewter Plank
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Buccaneers Round Table: Mid-Season Tampa Bay Draft Decision

By David Harrison

CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 30: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell holds up a jersey after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers chose Jameis Winston of the Florida State Seminoles
CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 30: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell holds up a jersey after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers chose Jameis Winston of the Florida State Seminoles /
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COLUMBUS, OH – OCTOBER 28: Saquon Barkley #26 of the Penn State Nittany Lions leaps over kicker Sean Nuernberger #96 of the Ohio State Buckeyes en route to a 97-yard opening kick off return for a touchdown in the first quarter at Ohio Stadium on October 28, 2017 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH – OCTOBER 28: Saquon Barkley #26 of the Penn State Nittany Lions leaps over kicker Sean Nuernberger #96 of the Ohio State Buckeyes en route to a 97-yard opening kick off return for a touchdown in the first quarter at Ohio Stadium on October 28, 2017 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) /

Michael Horan

Looking towards the draft in the beginning of November is a sad exercise that people around the Bucs have grown accustomed to. With the Bucs sitting at 2-5 they find themselves slotted at the fifth spot in the draft.

Having a high draft pick will be useful for a Bucs team that desperately needs defensive ends and cornerbacks, two positions that traditionally go high in the draft.
Assuming the Bucs stay at pick five, I think they need to look at Penn State’s generational talent, running back Saquon Barkley.

Now, I know: this flies in the face of need based drafting, because the defensive side of the ball has far more holes.

Still, Barkley is the type of back you can build an offense around, and adding him to the core of Mike Evans, Jamies Winston, DeSean Jackson, O.J. Howard and Cameron Brate would be almost unfair.

The Bucs could add a veteran defensive end in free agency along with a veteran corner, and then devote their six other draft picks to building defense as well.

With Barkley, the Bucs could assume a run first mentality that would let Winston thrive even more than he already does on play-action. Barkley is currently a front runner for the Heisman trophy, and has accumulated 801 yards rushing and nine touchdowns so far this season. While running back isn’t urgent, it’s tough to pass on such a special talent.

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