Mock day before the draft sends Josh Allen to Tampa Bay Buccaneers

On the day before the 2019 NFL Draft, a mock draft from NFL Spin Zone’s Cory Kinnan has Josh Allen falling to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

On the eve of the 2019 NFL Draft, NFL Spin Zone’s Cory Kinnan has mocked Kentucky All-American pass rusher Josh Allen to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the fifth pick in the draft. With two quarterbacks falling in the top-five, Allen fell down the board and right into the lap of Bucs general manager Jason Licht.

In the decision to mock Allen over Louisiana State linebacker Devin White, also a target for the Buccaneers, Kinnan states:

"“While White is a talented prospect, edge rushers are at a much higher premium in the league than linebackers are. With two starting caliber linebackers already on the the roster, the Buccaneers can afford to wait until a later round to add one in the draft.”"

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The two starting caliber linebackers Kinnan is referring to are Lavonte David and free agent addition Deone Bucannon. In new defensive coordinator Todd Bowles’ 3-4 defensive scheme, only two linebackers are fielded in the middle of the defense. If the Buccaneers want to add another linebacker to allow Bucannon to roam the field, where he is best at, then a linebacker could be in play in the first three rounds.

The SEC Defensive Player of the Year in 2018 for the Wildcats, Allen recorded a massive 17 sacks and 21.5 tackles for loss on his way to being named a first team All-American as well. A third round prospect from a year ago, Allen took a chance on himself by returning to Kentucky for his senior season, and that bet has paid off well.

Allen would join new addition Shaquil Barrett in bookending the Buccaneers front seven, and allow them to deploy Carl Nassib and Noah Spence in a rotational role in 2019. When it is stated like that, the depth on the defensive side of the bacll does not sound so bad.

Beware Drew Brees, Matt Ryan, and Cam Newton, the Buccaneers defense has been overhauled.Looking to make significant strides on the defensive side of the football, the Buccaneers carry the momentum into the draft and select Allen with the fifth pick in the draft.