Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jason Licht’s best draft picks

Recapping Jason Licht’s Draft Classes in Tampa Bay

The Buccaneers were in a bad spot heading into 2014, having fired head coach Greg Schiano and general manager Mark Dominik at the end of 2013. Schiano lasted just two seasons in Tampa after Raheem Morris’ short stint at the helm.

When 2014 rolled around, the Bucs hired Lovie Smith as their next head coach. From there, Smith was involved in the organization hiring Jason Licht as its next general manager.

Licht’s philosophy includes a heavy focus on building a team through the draft. He has attempted to do so, and done it pretty well, throughout the last few years. Here’s a recap of each draft since 2014.

2014 Draft Class

Round 1, Pick 7 (7th overall): Mike Evans, wide receiver from Texas A&M

Round 2, Pick 6 (38th overall): Austin Seferian-Jenkins, tight end from Washington

Round 3, Pick 5 (69th overall): Charles Sims, running back from West Virginia

Round 5, Pick 3 (143rd overall): Kadeem Edwards, offensive guard from Tennessee State

Round 5, Pick 9 (149th overall): Kevin Pamphile, offensive tackle from Purdue

Round 6, Pick 9 (185th overall): Robert Herron, wide receiver from Wyoming

2015 Draft Class

Round 1, Pick 1 (1st overall): Jameis Winston, quarterback from Florida State

Round 2, Pick 2 (34th overall): Donovan Smith, offensive tackle from Penn State

Round 2, Pick 29 (61st overall): Ali Marpet, center/offensive guard from Hobart

Round 4, Pick 25 (125th overall): Kwon Alexander, linebacker from LSU

Round 5, Pick 26 (162nd overall): Kenny Bell, wide receiver from Nebraska

Round 6, Pick 8 (184th overall): Kaelin Clay, wide receiver from Utah

Round 7, Pick 14 (231st overall): Joey Iosefa, fullback from Hawaii

2016 Draft Class

Round 1, Pick 11 (11th overall): Vernon Hargreaves III, cornerback from Florida

Round 2, Pick 8 (39th overall): Noah Spence, defensive end from Ohio State

Round 2, Pick 28 (59th overall): Roberto Aguayo, kicker from Florida State

Round 4, Pick 10 (108th overall): Ryan Smith, cornerback from North Carolina Central

Round 5, Pick 9 (148th overall): Caleb Benenoch, offensive guard from UCLA

Round 6, Pick 8 (183rd overall): Devante Bond, linebacker from Oklahoma

Round 6, Pick 22 (197th overall): Dan Vitale, fullback from Northwestern

2017 Draft Class

Round 1, Pick 19 (19th overall): O.J. Howard, tight end from Alabama

Round 2, Pick 18 (50th overall): Justin Evans, safety from Texas A&M

Round 3, Pick 20 (84th overall): Chris Godwin, wide receiver from Penn State

Round 3, Pick 43 (107th overall): Kendell Beckwith, linebacker from LSU

Round 5, Pick 18 (162nd overall): Jeremy McNichols, running back from Boise State

Round 7, Pick 5 (223rd overall): Stevie Tu’ikolovatu, defensive tackle from USC

2018 Draft Class

Round 1, Pick 12 (12th overall): Vita Vea, defensive tackle from Washington

Round 2, Pick 6 (38th overall): Ronald Jones II, running back from USC

Round 2, Pick 21 (53rd overall): M.J. Stewart, cornerback from North Carolina

Round 2, Pick 31 (63rd overall): Carlton Davis, cornerback from Auburn

Round 3, Pick 30 (94th overall): Alex Cappa, offensive guard from Humboldt State

Round 4, Pick 17 (117th overall): Jordan Whitehead, safety from Pittsburgh

Round 5, Pick 7 (144th overall): Justin Watson, wide receiver from Penn

Round 6, Pick 28 (202nd overall): Jack Cichy, linebacker from Wisconsin

There you have it, Bucs fans.

Now, let’s get into Licht’s best picks with Tampa Bay.