Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Mocking the first seven picks of the NFL Draft
If you’ve been reading Tampa Bay Buccaneers coverage on the Pewter Plank for the last two off-seasons you’ve seen at least one of my mock drafts. Even if you haven’t realized it. Well, for my first one this year we’re going to start small.
Currently, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have the seventh overall selection in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft. There are several favorites floating around in Bucs fandom, but only one can actually be the pick, if any of them are at all.
Mock drafts have no basis in fact. None of us have any way of actually knowing who each general manager or team is targeting outside of the top pick which is commonly leaked 24-48 hours out if the team possessing it doesn’t plan on trading out.
So, what this is, is an excercise in what-if. What if the Browns don’t go with a quarterback with the first pick? What if they don’t draft a quarterback at all in the Top-5?
Well, we’re about to find out, because if you read my previous piece about how Cleveland can significantly impact the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2018 you already know I don’t think they will. Right now.
Let’s get this pretend party started.
53. The Cleveland Browns probably haven’t found the greatest quarterback in franchise history with <a rel=. Running Back. Penn State. Saquon Barkley. 1. player
Quarterback. USC. Sam Darnold. 2. player. 31. <a rel=
It’s going to be a relatively quick night for the New York teams – well, New Jersey teams – not residing up north. <p>Immediately following the quarterback taken by one ‘Big Apple’ team, the other will take one as well.</p> <p>If this is the case then both teams will go home happy.</p> <p>However, in the first surprise of the night, the Jets select <a rel=. Quarterback. Wyoming. Josh Allen. 3. player. 30
Must Read: Remaining Cornerback Targets for the Bucs
53. What simultaneously helps your new quarterback and rookie running back? How about the best interior lineman to come out of the draft in…..a long time. <p>Nelson has been on the radar of Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans for a while now. With reports he killed the interviews at the NFL Combine earlier this off-season, I see no reason he won’t be Top-5 on many boards around the league.</p> <p>Including the Browns. Who take him here and have a pretty nice looking new offense.</p>. Guard. Notre Dame. Quenton Nelson. 4. player
player. 45. With the Jets taking Allen in a shocking, yet not all that shocking move, the Broncos are free to take the guy they likely have rated as their top quarterback in the first place. <p>Josh Rosen seems to me to be the guy who fits what <a rel=. Quarterback. UCLA. Josh Rosen. 5
player. 46. Fans of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be praying for a trade at this point. Hoping against all hope that someone wants <a rel=. Defensive End. North Carolina State. Bradley Chubb. 6
7. player. 48. Fans of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been itching for Jason Licht to get his team better in pass defense either through a pass rusher or a cover guy. Or both.<div class=. Cornerback. Ohio State. Denzel Ward
Well, what they didn’t get in free-agency (so far) they’ll get here.
With Chubb, Nelson, and Barkley all off the board some may be pounding the table for Alabama’s Minkah Fitzpatrick.
However, he even said himself earlier this off-season that he’s more comfortable in the slot than he is outside, and the Bucs already have a slot corner they drafted in the first-round.
Now is the time to draft an outside defender and with Brent Grimes returning for 2018, he’ll have plenty of mentorship to help him become the kind of pro Tampa fans want.
He’s not the guy fans of the franchise have been hyping up, but in this case – with no trades – he’s the best guy on the board for this team.
" >
7
Denzel Ward
Cornerback, Ohio State
Fans of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been itching for Jason Licht to get his team better in pass defense either through a pass rusher or a cover guy. Or both.
Well, what they didn’t get in free-agency (so far) they’ll get here.
With Chubb, Nelson, and Barkley all off the board some may be pounding the table for Alabama’s Minkah Fitzpatrick.
However, he even said himself earlier this off-season that he’s more comfortable in the slot than he is outside, and the Bucs already have a slot corner they drafted in the first-round.
Now is the time to draft an outside defender and with Brent Grimes returning for 2018, he’ll have plenty of mentorship to help him become the kind of pro Tampa fans want.
He’s not the guy fans of the franchise have been hyping up, but in this case – with no trades – he’s the best guy on the board for this team.
Next: Bucs Draft Strategy Gaining Flexibility
There we have it. My first mock draft of the 2018 off-season, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers land themselves an outside cornerback.
The greatest part of doing this though, is getting all the feedback from you guys. What are your thoughts, and how do you see this thing shaking out? Think I’m crazy for not giving the Browns a quarterback? Let me hear it!
Put down your thoughts in the comments or on Twitter. See you there.