Recent mock draft has Tampa Bay Buccaneers landing Ed Oliver

Mock drafts are at a frenzy as the draft is now just two days away, and in one published by NFL Spin Zone, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers landed Ed Oliver.

There are a sandstorm of mock drafts available now as the 2019 NFL Draft is right on top of us, and in one published by NFL Spin Zone’s Randy Gurzi, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers land Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver with the fifth overall pick in the draft. With Kyler Murray, Nick Bosa, Quinnen Williams, and Josh Allen going with the four picks before Tampa Bay went on the clock, the Buccaneers opted to bypass Louisiana State linebacker Devin White in favor of Oliver.

Depending on how the draft board falls, it is almost a foregone conclusion the Buccaneers have their draft board narrowed down to four players to round out the top-five: Williams, Allen, White, and Oliver. Here they add depth to their defensive line, a position group that desperately needs bodies to shuffle in and out.

With longtime Buccaneer, ten-year veteran, and former first round pick of the Buccaneers Gerald McCoy carrying a cap hit of $13 million on an outright broke team, it looks like he has one foot out the door of Tampa Bay and could possibly be traded during the draft. Oliver would provide the Buccaneers with an immediate replacement and a day-one impact player along their defensive front.

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Oliver, far and away the most athletic tackle in the 2019 draft class, was thought to be a top-two prospect entering the 2018 season, but due to the rising nature of Allen and Williams, and concerns about his size, he has slipped down boards. Falling prey to the media perception and lying season in the NFL, there was concern Oliver could fall out of the top-20 at one point in the pre-draft process

However, as the draft has been inching closer, his name has gathered more steam as a potential top-ten lock once again., and deservedly so. He is an elite defensive tackle prospect and stands only behind Williams at his position.

At 281 pounds, Oliver has a vertical jump of 36 inches, can run a 4.73 second 40 yard dash, and a 7.15 second 3-cone drill; in case there was worry about his strength, he also hit 32 reps on the bench press. While he may only be 281 pounds, Oliver has the strength, speed, agility, and explosiveness necessary to become an elite defensive tackle in the NFL.

With every team looking for the next Aaron Donald, Oliver may not be that, but he could be pretty close. Tampa Bay fans would be happy to hear Oliver’s name called Thursday night when the fifth overall pick rolls around, and in Gurzi’s mock draft he finds a home with the Buccaneers.