Buccaneers could solve cornerback problems with Amani Oruwariye
By Jamil King
Penn State’s Amani Oruwariye could be the player to help turn around the Tampa Bay Buccaneers secondary. Can the Bucs snag him in the 2019 Draft?
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have the fifth overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. Holding that selection allows the Bucs to look in many directions.
Tampa Bay may want to address their weaknesses in the trenches in the first round. Finding a bookend left tackle, or dominant edge rusher may be at the top of general manager Jason Licht’s Draft board.
If the Bucs decided to ignore their issues at the defensive backfield at the top of the first round, they would almost be forced to address it in Round 2, maybe even sooner. Trading back into the first round could be an option to fill out the remaining holes on the roster as well.
With top cornerbacks like Greedy Williams and Byron Murphy off the board, what could the Bucs do?
Enter Amani Oruwariye out of Penn State. Oruwariye had a breakout junior season with four interceptions, and seven passes defended. He came back to Happy Valley, and as a senior delivered with three more picks in his first full season as a starter.
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Oruwariye is most likely riding the first and second round border regarding where will be drafted.
A good showing at the NFL Combine and showcase games could vault him into the first round.
That would make it more difficult for the Bucs to be able to make this selection. However, Tampa Bay is a candidate to trade back into the Draft. As multiple teams covet cornerbacks, and the news that Kyler Murray will declare the Bucs could stockpile picks and land Oruwariye later in the round.
With the news of Kyler Murray entering the Draft, that could open the door for teams to call the Bucs about a top-five pick.
After selecting Carlton Davis and M.J. Stewart last season, the Bucs started to revamp the secondary. With Davis, they got a big, physical corner over 6 feet tall. He could be joined by another lengthy corner in Oruwariye.
Oruwariye brings something to the table that the other top corners in the 2019 class can’t. And that is his size.
Listed at 6’1 and maybe even taller, he uses his length and physicality to his advantage in press and zone coverage. He pulled off an impressive interception last year vs. Michigan State, and displayed excellent coverage against Akron as well. He also showcased that he had a clutch element to his game with the game-winning interception against Appalachian State.
The Bucs could use Amani Oruwariye’s length on the outside having to deal with Julio Jones and Michael Thomas twice a season.
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New defensive coordinator Todd Bowles would also have more young talent to develop in the secondary with Brent Grimes out of the picture.