David Long
Long, the defensive back from Michigan, not to be confused with the linebacker from West Virginia, started only two seasons for the Wolverines before declaring for the draft. In those two seasons, he managed to tally three interceptions and broke an additional 12 passes up for the Michigan defense. Long could have benefitted greatly from staying in school one more year.
At the combine, however, Long put on a show as he testing as an elite athlete in Indianapolis. Measuring in at 5’10½ and 196 pounds, Long ran a 4.45 second 40 yard dash, hit nearly 40 inches on his vertical jump, 10 feet on his broad jump, and ran a blazing 6.45 second 3-cone drill and sub four second shuttle.
The Buccaneers have expressed their support for Vernon Hargreaves and Carlton Davis, but given Long’s agility, he could be a fit in the nickel role in 2019 for the Tampa Bay defense. Long could potentially be selected as early as the second round as teams love to flock to elite athletes even if their production does not quite match. Realistically if the Buccaneers want to have a chance to land Long, they will have to utilize the 70th overall pick in the draft in order to put him in the pewter and red.