Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Final 2018 NFL mock draft

(trade with Arizona Cardinals)

When the Tampa Bay Buccaneers trade back with Arizona as Quenton Nelson sits on the board, there will be plenty fans upset with the decision.

What else is new, am I right, Jason Licht? Just kidding. He probably doesn’t read these.

Simply put, moving to the middle of the first round means there will be plenty of talent left on the board.

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Gaining the Cardinals’ second-round pick at number 47 makes the deal all the more worth it. Suddenly, the Bucs go from having just two picks in the Top-100 to three in the Top-50.

If Saquon Barkley not only gets by the New York Giants, but gets buy four more teams – he won’t – then I don’t think this deal goes down.

Instead, Licht drafts Barkley for his own team and tries he best to nail their second-round pick while entertaining options for getting back into the third.

Having two picks in the second round gives the team plenty of flexibility should they trade back again and stock up on even more picks. But the likely scenario is they grab two more talented guys to add to the 2018 roster.

Let’s say, Jessie Bates and Donte Jackson for example?

I’m a big supporter of Nelson, and if I’m being totally honest I really want to see him in pewter. Even I can’t ignore the value of gaining a second-round pick while also landing a running back like Derrius Guice though.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been making moves or involved in moves with the express purpose of improving their control of the trenches. I believe they’ve done just that.

It isn’t perfect by a longshot, but what they’ve done already gives them the wiggle room they need to pull of this trade and build deeper in the draft with guys like Alex Cappa if they’re still available.

"Check out part one of the 2018 Locked on Bucs pre-draft mailbag!"