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Mock Draft Monday: Buccaneers use another high pick at cornerback

By Cory Kinnan

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - OCTOBER 06: Michael Thomas #13 of the New Orleans Saints scores a touchdown during the second half of a NFL game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the Mercedes Benz Superdome on October 06, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - OCTOBER 06: Michael Thomas #13 of the New Orleans Saints scores a touchdown during the second half of a NFL game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the Mercedes Benz Superdome on October 06, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /
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CHARLOTTE, NC – OCTOBER 27: Defensive end Alex Highsmith #5 of the Charlotte 49ers tackles running back Trivenskey Mosley #22 of the Southern Miss Golden Eagles during the football game at Jerry Richardson Stadium on October 27, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Mike Comer/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC – OCTOBER 27: Defensive end Alex Highsmith #5 of the Charlotte 49ers tackles running back Trivenskey Mosley #22 of the Southern Miss Golden Eagles during the football game at Jerry Richardson Stadium on October 27, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Mike Comer/Getty Images) /

5.144: Alex Highsmith, EDGE, Charlotte

Every year, relatively unknown players from small schools appear as highly intriguing draft prospects. Last year Nasir Adderley, Tytus Howard, John Cominsky, and Oshane Ximines were among those names; a name to watch in the 2020 draft is pass rusher Alex Highsmith from Charlotte.

Looking to become the third player in school history behind Cleveland Browns’ defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi and Tennessee Titans’ offensive lineman Nate Davis to be drafted, Highsmith has caught the attention of draft nuts and scouts alike. Listed at 6-4 and 242 pounds, Highsmith will wow you with his athleticism off the edge, and he already has six sacks five games into his senior season.

Last year for Charlotte, Highsmith tallied three sacks and a whopping 18.5 tackles behind the line of scrimmage; he also forced two fumbles and knocked a pass down at the line of scrimmage. On pace for his best season ever and showing consistent development, the Bucs should hand him to Todd Bowles and let him continue to develop the small school stud.

As the Buccaneers have a solid pass rusher in Barrett that they will look to re-sign, and a consistent performer in Carl Nassib, Jason Pierre-Paul will now be a free agent after this season and will more than likely walk. Adding another depth piece with Anthony Nelson is a necessity for the Bucs to give Nassib and Barrett (assuming the Bucs re-sign them both) a breather and keep them fresh.

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