Round 3, Pick 70: Julian Love, CB, Notre Dame
An upgrade is much needed in the secondary as 2016 first round pick Vernon Hargreaves is best suited as a nickel corner and Brent Grimes is out of thought and out of mind for the Buccaneers. This leaves Tampa Bay with only 2018 second rounder Carlton Davis on the outside at corner.
Julian Love continues to fly under the radar in a super crowded cornerback class that is turning out to be much worse than initially expected. While the Bucs can wait until the third round to grab a corner like Love, they will not experience much drop off in potential from the Greedy Williams and Deandre Bakers of the draft.
Love finished his career with the Fighting Irish with five interceptions, a massive 39 passes defended, and two forced fumbles in three seasons at Notre Dame. It would be difficult to find a corner with better production than Love in this year’s crop of NFL draft hopefuls.
With Hargreaves in a make-or-break year, look for him to be used predominantly in the nickel, where he thrived in 2018 before his injury. Love and Davis could make for a great duo in Bowles’ defense this upcoming season in the Tampa Bay secondary.