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Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Re-drafting the historically bad 2016 NFL Draft

By Cory Kinnan

CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 28: Vernon Hargreaves III of Florida holds up a jersey after being picked #11 overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University on April 28, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 28: Vernon Hargreaves III of Florida holds up a jersey after being picked #11 overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University on April 28, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images) /
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BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – NOVEMBER 25: Defensive Tackle Michael Pierce #97 of the Baltimore Ravens reacts after a play in the first quarter against the Oakland Raiders at M&T Bank Stadium on November 25, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – NOVEMBER 25: Defensive Tackle Michael Pierce #97 of the Baltimore Ravens reacts after a play in the first quarter against the Oakland Raiders at M&T Bank Stadium on November 25, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

Round 6, Pick 197: Michael Pierce, DT, Samford

Original Pick: Danny Vitale, FB, Northwestern

With their last selection in the 2016 NFL Draft, the Buccaneers selected fullback Danny Vitale from Northwestern. Vitale did not make the final 53-man roster that same year and was later picked up by the Cleveland Browns and is now a member of the Green Bay Packers.

Going undrafted in 2016 was Baltimore Ravens’ defensive tackle Michael Pierce out of Samford. Pierce has been a high quality starter for the Ravens ever since his arrival and was graded out at a score of 91 according to PFF. C.J. Mosley, who just became the highest paid linebacker in the league can thank Pierce for eating up blockers for him.

While he has only recorded three sacks and 11 tackles for loss over his career, Pierce has done his job well, plugging up lanes and eating up multiple blockers so linebackers have a clear path to the football. Adding a space eater like Pierce to round out their draft would have been a big win for the Buccaneers who have struggled against the run over the past few seasons.

Next. 3 easiest games on schedule in 2019 for Buccaneers. dark

Living in fantasy land, this draft would have been a slam dunk for the Buccaneers, who have yet to get even one significant contributor from their 2016 draft class. Maybe the 2019 draft is the foundation the Buccaneers need to build towards the future and leave this class in the past.

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