Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 7-round Mock Draft Vol. 2

GAINESVILLE, FL - OCTOBER 06: Chauncey Gardner-Johnson #23 of the Florida Gators celebrates following a 27-19 victory over the LSU Tigers at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on October 6, 2018 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
GAINESVILLE, FL - OCTOBER 06: Chauncey Gardner-Johnson #23 of the Florida Gators celebrates following a 27-19 victory over the LSU Tigers at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on October 6, 2018 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
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CHESTNUT HILL, MA – SEPTEMBER 16: Tony Jones Jr. #34 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish celebrates with Alex Bars #71 after scoring a touchdown against the Boston College Eagles during the second half at Alumni Stadium on September 16, 2017 in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
CHESTNUT HILL, MA – SEPTEMBER 16: Tony Jones Jr. #34 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish celebrates with Alex Bars #71 after scoring a touchdown against the Boston College Eagles during the second half at Alumni Stadium on September 16, 2017 in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Caleb Benenoch, Alex Cappa, and Evan Smith were brutal to watch at right guard last season. The Bucs need to find a better option in 2018.

Notre Dame’s Alex Bars could be that solution. He will likely tumble down Draft boards after tearing ligaments in his knee back in September.

If he can show substantial progress in his recovery in the Spring, he could be worth taking a risk on in the later rounds. If he pans out, he may develop into a solid guard alongside Ali Marpet and Ryan Jensen on the inside.

Bars did start at tackle with the Fighting Irish, but he may be best suited at guard after an injury of that nature. At best, maybe he shows that he can handle NFL level pass rushers and he can be kicked outside.

Again, the injury clouds Bars’ value, but he could be an option if the Bucs are looking to improve in the trenches in later rounds.

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