Tampa Bay Buccaneers present at Josh Allen’s pro day

Doing their due-diligence, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were present at edge rushing prospect Josh Allen’s pro day just in case he falls to them the draft.

There is a slim chance that potential top-three pick Josh Allen falls to the fifth pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. However, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are preparing themselves just in case he is pushed down the board by teams trading up for quarterbacks. On Thursday, Kentucky held their pro day for potential draftees, and in attendance was Buccaneers defensive coordinator Todd Bowles.

Only a few scenarios should prevent Tampa Bay from trading out of the fifth overall pick, and Allen still being on the board at five is one of those cases. With Jason Pierre-Paul being the only player in double-digit sacks a year ago, the Buccaneers must add some help in their front seven.

Having the opportunity to bookend Allen with new free agent signing Shaquil Barrett as their 3-4 outside linebackers is too enticing for the Buccaneers to pass on. Standing at nearly 6’5 and weighing 262 pounds, Allen has an ideal build to beat tackles off of the edge, especially considering his 80½ inch wingspan. Not to mention, Allen proved to be just whom everyone thought that he was at the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine earlier this month.

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Testing in the 83rd percentile or above in the bench press with 28 reps, the 20 yard shuttle with a time of 4.23 seconds, and the 40 yard dash with a blazing speed of 4.63 seconds, Allen has the strength, speed, and burst to wreak havoc in and opponent’s backfield the better part of a decade.

Allen produced to the tune of SEC Defensive Player of the Year in 2019, recording a massive stat line of 17 sacks, 31.5 tackles for loss, 88 tackles, and five forced fumbles. No one player benefited more from staying in school for their Senior season than Allen did at Kentucky.

This performance at the University of Kentucky has Allen being talked about in the ranks with Nick Bosa from Ohio State, and Quinnen Williams from Alabama as the best possible player in the entire 2019 draft class. Allen deserves every once of praise that he has earned.

While the chances are slim that Allen will be available with the fifth overall pick for the Buccaneers, they are covering all of their bases and doing their homework on the elite pass rushing prospect from Kentucky just in case he happens to fall in their laps to round out the top-five. Having the opportunity to bring Allen to Tampa Bay is an opportunity that should get Bucs fans extremely excited.