Tampa Bay Buccaneers weekly 7-round mock draft (Vol. VII)
By Cory Kinnan
Round 2, Pick 39: Justin Layne, CB, Michigan State
The Bucs need some secondary help and there is really no way around it. Even after investing a second round pick in Carlton Davis just a year ago, Tampa Bay is faced with the necessary evil of drafting one early this year as well. With the 39th pick in the draft, the Buccaneers take a rising prospect in the cornerback class in Justin Layne from Michigan State.
While his tape is not all that impressive, Layne, a former wide receiver converted to corner, has a knack for tracking and high pointing the ball and has the lanky size that could turn into a lockdown corner at the next level. Measuring at nearly 6’2, 192 pounds, with a wingspan and arm length ranking in the 96th and 93rd percentile respectively, Layne has the size necessary to stick with the division rival wide receivers such as Michael Thomas and Julio Jones.
Ranking in the 97th percentile among all corners in this year’s draft class, Layne leapt to a 134 inch broad jump; he also hit 37½ inches on the vertical jump, putting him in the 70th percentile in that test. Layne managed to run a 4.5 flat 40 yard dash as well, displaying that he has plenty of speed to go with his athleticism, giving him a great mold for defensive coordinator Todd Bowles to work with at the next level.