Jachai Polite visits with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

As the Tampa Bay Buccaneers continue to visit with potential draft prospects, embattled pass rusher Jachai Polite has met with the team.

With a week to get in the rest of their pre-draft top-30 visits, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been busy meeting with potential prospects. Add University of Florida pass rusher Jachai Polite to the list of players who have made their way to Tampa Bay to meet with the Buccaneers.

Entering the offseason, Polite was looked at as a top-15 pick and a first round lock, however he has put together quite possibly the worst pre-draft process of any prospect in NFL history. Now he hopes to hear his name called on the second day of the draft and could see his stock slide into the fourth round.

At the combine, Polite measured in at 6’2 and 258 pounds and was touted as one of the most athletic players in Indianapolis. Instead, Polite ran a 4.84 40 yard dash and then bowed out of the rest of testing, pulling up with a very suspect pulled muscle. The only other test that he completed at the combine was the vertical jump were he posted an average 32 inch leap.

To add insult to injury to his weekend, Polite bombed his interviews as well and turned off teams from wanting to draft him. It would not be a surprise if he has fallen off the draft boards of multiple teams completely.

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At his pro day, Polite only ran the 40 yard dash, hoping to improve upon his time. Instead he did himself more damage than good, posting a time of 5.04 seconds. In addition, it appeared that the pass rusher showed up extremely overweight and out of shape for the workout.

Polite is probably the most worthy player to bring in for a top-30 visit as teams need to figure out what is truly going on with him and why he has tested and interviewed so poorly during this pre-draft process. The former Gator edge rusher should see these visits as his saving grace as well and as a chance to redeem himself.

The Buccaneers could be looking to really dive deep into investigating Polite and if they feel comfortable with him and if he performs well in their workout, he could be a steal with the 39th pick. He could even be on the board for their 70th pick and land a guy with first round film in the third round.

After signing Shaquil Barrett in free agency, the Buccaneers are looking for some added help to their pass rush. If Polite passes their tests when they brought him in for a visit, then Tampa Bay could be the team to stop his slide on draft day.