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5 reasons to be pessimistic about the Buccaneers in 2019

By Cory Kinnan

CINCINNATI, OH - OCTOBER 28: Jameis Winston #3 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers walks on the sideline during the fourth quarter after being benched in the third quarter of the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on October 28, 2018 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Cincinnati defeated Tampa Bay 37-34. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH - OCTOBER 28: Jameis Winston #3 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers walks on the sideline during the fourth quarter after being benched in the third quarter of the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on October 28, 2018 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Cincinnati defeated Tampa Bay 37-34. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – APRIL 25: Devin White of LSU reacts after being chosen #5 overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft on April 25, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – APRIL 25: Devin White of LSU reacts after being chosen #5 overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft on April 25, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

Poor drafting by the higher ups

I said it in April after the first two days of the draft, and it is coming to fruition now: the Buccaneers did not prioritize their draft board well, and are now paying the consequences. It is baffling that the Buccaneers did not choose to address their main areas of concern, but rather stacked players at already thick positions.

First of all, linebackers are luxury positions that are easy to find in the mid rounds of draft, and the Buccaneers decided to pass on Kentucky pass rusher Josh Allen as he fell to Jacksonville a few picks later while they took Devin White. While White could turn out to be a great player, elite pass rushers do not grow on trees, and the Buccaneers passed on one that is set to be great for a long time.

The Buccaneers then used their next three picks on defensive backs Sean Murphy-Bunting, Jamel Dean, and Mike Edwards. Fast forward to now and Murphy-Bunting and Dean are getting beat out for significant playing time by Vernon Hargreaves, Carlton Davis, and M.J. Stewart at the cornerback position.

Next. 3 Buccaneers who shined vs. Browns in week 3. dark

Taking a kicker in the NFL Draft is never advised as only less than one-third of kickers currently in the league were drafted. The Buccaneers took Matt Gay in the fifth round after re-signing Cairo Santos to an extension. Imagine if the Buccaneers had used only two of these four picks to address the defensive or offensive line?

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