Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Mock draft with two weeks to go feat. a TRADE!
By Cory Kinnan
Round 1, Pick 11 (via CIN): Ed Oliver, DL, Houston
After trading back to the 11th pick in the draft from the fifth pick, the Buccaneers are still able to land defensive lineman Ed Oliver in this simulation. While Oliver could very well end up being the pick at the fifth overall spot, his draft stock remains a relative mystery.
The Buccaneers had a limited pass rush a year ago, with Jason Pierre-Paul as the only player to hit the double-digit mark in sacks. Now, it seems that Gerald McCoy’s days in Tampa Bay are limited, so the ability to land Oliver would give the Buccaneers a replacement right away.
While Oliver may be a bit undersized for an interior defensive lineman in the NFL, he makes up for it with his athleticism and explosiveness. He has seen his stock take a hit throughout the pre-draft process because of concerns about his size, but it has been a classic case of over-analyzing a prospect.
If the Buccaneers can land Oliver at the 11th pick in the draft after a trade down with Cincinnati, then they could be walking away with the steal of the draft. Here, he is still on the board, and Licht does not hesitate to turn in his draft card.