A reoccurring theme: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers select Jawaan Taylor
By Cory Kinnan
We are in full blown mock draft season, and a particular offensive line prospect has been projected to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on a reoccurring basis.
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In yet another mock draft dropped by NFL Spin Zone, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor from the University of Florida. This has been one of many mocks that have the Bucs landing the in-state offensive lineman in order to bolster their front five and protect Jameis Winston. With it looking more and more likely that current starting right tackle Demar Dotson will become a cap casualty, tackle is definitely a need, and Mike McGlinchey showed last year that a right tackle can be a top pick in the draft.
While there is a strong chance that the Buccaneers trade out of the fifth overall pick in the draft and receive a haul for the pick, no trades were guessed at in this mock draft. While prospects Ed Oliver, Devin White, and Rashan Gary are other names to keep an eye on at the end of the top-five, giving Winston more time to throw and hope that it decreases his turnovers may be the best option.
Last week, it was reported that the Bucs intend to keep ten-year veteran Gerald McCoy, almost all but eliminating the potential for them to take yet another defensive lineman in the first round after picking Vita Vea just a year ago. However, if the team views Rashan Gary as an edge rusher or Clelin Ferrell or Josh Allen somehow fall to five, that could present a different narrative for the Bucs.
Next. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 2019 7-round NFL mock draft (Volume III). dark
Where things stand right now in the pre-draft process, the Bucs have been pegged to land Taylor in multiple mock drafts now, meaning that they could either stay at five and take him, or trade back and target another offensive line prospect such as Jonah Williams, Yodny Cajuste, or Greg Little. Offensive line is clearly the most glaring hole on the Tampa Bay roster, and it makes sense that lineman are being projected to the Bucs in these pre-draft mocks.