Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 7-round mock draft before the Combine
By Cory Kinnan
3.7 Te’von Coney LB Notre Dame
The caveat to Tampa Bay drafting a linebacker in the first half of the draft is if Alexander cannot be re-signed this offseason, but Licht and the front office should do everything in their power to retain him. With the release of Vinny Curry, and inevitable separation of the team with vets Gerald McCoy and Desean Jackson, the team would add $36 million in cap space alone with those three moves, leaving plenty to pay Alexander whatever he wants.
The Senior linebacker from Notre Dame, Te’von Coney was a machine during the 2018 season. Coney tallied 123 total tackles, 10 of which were behind the line of scrimmage, while also adding four sacks and an interception from his outside linebacker position. That kind of production will get you talked about in the first half of the draft.
Coney has the potential to lift his stock even more in two weeks at the Combine, but as he sits now, halfway through day two of the draft seems like his sweet spot. Standing at 6’1 and weighing a stout 240, Coney will have to prove that he has the footwork and agility to go along with his big body. Here at the top of the third round, the Bucs snag a replacement for Alexander.