Tampa Bay Buccaneers: What they really got in this draft class

Third Round (94): Alex Cappa, Guard/Tackle

With an aging Demar Dotson and an under productive injury prone J.R. Sweezy the Buccaneers traded up from pick 102 in the forth round to pick 94 in the third round and select another dominate small school offensive lineman, and with the 30th pick in the third round they selected Alex Cappa.

Coming from Division II Humboldt State he played in and started all 43 games of his college career, selected the GNAC conference offensive lineman of the year and First Team All-GNAC conference all four years. A feat that had never been achieved before in the conference. Part of the south team at the Reese’s Senior Bowl and a participant of the NFL Combine where he measured in at 6’6” 305 pounds with 32 5/8 arms and a 77 6/8 wingspan. Running a 5.39 forty with 24 reps on the bench press and a 97” broad jump.

Cappa was a powerful force on the offensive line and played like a man among boys at the D2 level while throwing defensive lineman around. He shows the size and arm length of an NFL caliber offensive lineman and has good footwork, movement, power, hands, and can make adjustments while blocking to keep defenders at bay. His strongest skillset is in the run game where he was a “road grater” helping to clear the path for backs to average 175.2 yards/game last season.

In Cappa, the Buccaneers as getting a very powerful, gritty, and aggressive offensive lineman who although only played left tackle in college did show his versatility by practicing at guard and tackle during Senior Bowl practices. Most likely he will fit in as a guard for the Buccaneers but with the uncertainty of Dotson after off season surgery he will also practice at tackle. With the injury history of Sweezy and Dotson not getting any younger he will most likely see playing time early and often this coming season.