With the 2018 NFL Draft now two weeks in the rearview mirror and teams preparing to move into off season workout phases with this weekend’s rookie minicamp, let’s see just what the Tampa Bay Buccaneers got with the astounding eight selection that they made in the Draft?
At the start of the NFL Draft, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers began with, after a 5-11 record, with seven selections in the draft, but only two within the top 100 picks (7, 38, 102, 144, 180, 202, 255).
By the time the Draft ended on Saturday night the Buccaneers had made two trade downs, one trade up, and selected eight great players with five selections in the top 100 picks (12, 38, 53, 63, 94, 117, 144, 202).
Just how did the Buccaneers turn two selections in the top 100 into five well it all started with GM Jason Licht wheeling and dealing and here is the breakdown of the trades he made:
The first trade occurred in round one as the Bills traded up giving the Buccaneers picks 12, 53, and 56 for their picks 7 and 255 which gave the Buccaneers three second round selections (38, 53, and 56). The next trade came in round two as Patriots traded up giving the Buccaneers picks 63 and 117 for their pick 56. The Buccaneers then traded up into round three giving Minnesota picks 102 and 180 for pick 94.
After a masterful job of moving around Jason Licht and the Buccaneers acquired one more pick but in the end ended up with more selections in the top tier talent group during the three-day spectacle that is the NFL draft.
Let’s look into each player selected just to see what the Buccaneers really got and how they can help the team.