Buccaneers Week 8 mock draft after loss to Titans

The secondary is the most glaring area of need in the Buccaneers defense, but Tampa Bay should be very cautious about their offseason moves in trying to make upgrades.

The Bucs have drafted nine defensive backs in the past five seasons. Jason Licht has proven that he is not a good judge of talent in that area. He even passed up on Greedy Williams, the best cover corner in the draft last year, instead opting to take Sean Murphy-Bunting even though Bruce Arians’ new defense calls for better man-to-man defensive backs. Willaims’ style of play would have fit this new defense like a glove.

On the other hand, J.R. Reed is much more of a physical player than most other safeties. He can be suspect in coverage, an area where the Buccaneers still need more talent, but he’s player who could end up shooting up the draft boards.

Reed is a ball hawk and a heat-seeking missile on defense. Whoever has the ball on offense has to deal with him every play. He’s a tackling machine in the open field.

That kind of aura is something that the Buccaneers desperately need on defense. The secondary has been one of the Bucs’ many weaknesses over the years and it’s about time the team found a safety who plays with some bravery.

Though he can struggle a bit in coverage, some scheming on defense could fix that. Reed is the kind of threatening presence that the Bucs need right now.