Tampa Bay Buccaneers draft strategy gaining more flexibility
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers certainly understand the saying, ‘The best ability is availability’. The phrase has rang true in many shapes and forms, but considering the Bucs suffered many injuries last season, it has a whole new level of importance heading into 2018.
For Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht, the phrase might need to be altered a bit to, ‘The best ability is flexibility’. Would it be flex-ability then?
Either way, when it comes to draft time, the last thing you want is to be pigeon holed into one singular area of need, or have so many no singular pick feels like the right one.
In 2017, when O.J. Howard fell to the 19th overall selection, it was an easy pick. Granted, it was a surprising one in the sense the Bucs had him rated as a Top-5 talent.
Howard delivered on his hype and showed he has the requisite talent to be an impact tight end for years to come, if he can stay healthy.
However, the rookie was one of only a few highlights from Tampa’s 2017 experience. And heading into the 2018 off-season, fans and media alike were anxious to see just what the team would do to try and patch the many holes the team had.
What they’ve done to this point is put themselves in a no-lose situation come draft night.
Let’s run down the rumors and assumptions tied to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers right now.
Stick with the 7th Overall selection and draft:
– Defensive End, Bradley Chubb
– Guard, Quenton Nelson
– Cornerback, Minkah Fitzpatrick
– Running Back, Saquon Barkley
– Safety, Derwin James
or
Trade back, stockpile some picks, and draft similar type players.
or
Trade up, and draft one of the above. Although, that list tends to shrink down to either Chubb or Nelson.
Must Read: 2018 Bucs Free-Agency Tracker
So, given what Licht has accomplished thus far, which option is the right one? The answer: Yes.
No matter what, Licht is making the right decision here. Now, of course, I’m not claiming he’ll get zero hate. There is a minority of Bucs fans out there who are happy the team signed coveted snap-man Ryan Jensen….but also ask if the team had to pay so much. Of course, these are also the fans who likely complained when Licht didn’t sacrifice the third round pick it would have taken to convince the Rams to keep Robert Quinn in the NFC.
But realistically, you can make a case for why the Tampa Bay Buccaneers can benefit from each player on this list.
At the end of the day, I believe Chubb is still at the top, although I’d stand on the table for Quenton Nelson any day Jason Licht would let me. Of course, I’d promptly step down from said table and clean it, because I’m passionate not rude.
We’re talking today of course. Yes, the first round pick of the Bucs could go on to be a bust. Of course.
However, having the flexibility to go so many different routes with each projection coming up green is a situation not every NFL franchise finds themselves in all the time.
There’s plenty of time left between now and when the team’s select their rookie classes, and each move from here on will only serve to give Licht and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers even more ability to steer their draft whichever direction they choose.
How do you feel like the free-agent period has shaped how the Bucs might draft? Is Chubb still atop your rookie board, or was he ever?
Let me know your thoughts in the comments or on Twitter!