Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 3 biggest draft steals in franchise history
By Cory Kinnan
1. Derrick Brooks, 28th overall pick, 1995
Yes, Derrick Brooks was a first round pick, but considering he may go down as one of, if not the best linebacker of all-time, the failure of 27 teams before Tampa Bay make him the biggest steal in franchise history. Joining his teammates Barber and Lynch, Brooks adds to a solid era of draft picks which spanned throughout the mid-90s.
A first ballot Hall of Famer in 2014, Brooks put together quite the decorated 14 year career, playing every year in Tampa Bay with the Buccaneers. In that time, Brooks was named to 11 Pro Bowls, was anointed as the AP Defensive Player of the Year in 2002, and was named an All-Pro five times throughout his time in the league.
Next. Buccaneers: 7-round mock draft with three days to go. dark
Not only did the Buccaneers have their best uniforms during the late 90s and early 2000s, the era of Lynch, Barber, and Brooks, but also fielded one of the fiercest defenses in NFL history. While Lynch and Barber were cornerstones of the Super Bowl winning defense, Brooks was the backbone of the entire team throughout his career. The fact Brooks almost fell out of the first round entirely makes him the biggest draft steal in Tampa Bay franchise history.