Buccaneers Off-Season Position Preview: Offensive Line
Potential Draft Targets
The Buccaneers need inside line help so badly that a team in need of an identity is being mocked a guard in many expert drafts.
Here are two names the Bucs could be watching on their board come draft night.
Quenton Nelson – Notre Dame
If it aint broke, don’t fix it.
Nelson has emerged as one of the favorite targets for Tampa Bay despite the obvious needs on defense being bigger gaps to fill.
Simply, if there’s no elite pass rusher to make the defensive front better, then they need to make their offensive front better so they can score more.
Make sense?
Billy Price – Ohio State
Price is currently projected as a second-round pick by NFL.com on his draft profile.
This feels like a good spot, but a solid combine and pro day workout could elevate him into the back end of the first.
If he’s available for the Buccaneers on day two though, and the team drafted someone other than Nelson on day one, then this would be a brilliant move to make.
Some may think drafting Price automatically triggers a move for Ali Marpet back to right guard, but it doesn’t.
Price can play center but may be evaluated as having a higher ceiling at guard. This would keep Marpet in his current position and give them a solid interior running mate to roll with.
Next: DLine Candidates Emerging
Needing to improve your offensive line is never a good situation to be in as an NFL franchise. However, this year looks to be a good year to be in the situation, and if the Bucs can execute their strategy right then we could see a noticeable step forward with minimal transactions needed to do it.
What are your thoughts on the offensive line for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers? Are there other free-agents or draft prospects you have your eye one? Let me know in the comments or on social media to discuss.