Buccaneers Week 8 mock draft after loss to Titans
By Jacob Holley
Round 5. Alex Highsmith. player. 48. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Charlotte. DE
The defensive line has looked pretty good this season. Vita Vea has separated himself as a standout run stopper when healthy, but the Buccaneers still need help getting to the quarterback.
Jason Pierre-Paul has been out the entire season up until Tampa Bay’s most recent game against the Titans, which has exposed the lack of depth at the position.
That’s where Alex Highsmith comes in.
He’s a player that some scouts think is unfairly flying under the radar.
He’s 6’4 240 lbs, so the Bucs might opt to move him to linebacker, but he’s explosive off the line and is usually the first to jump off of the snap. He’s explosive in close-quarter situations with offensive lineman and has the speed to be a nuisance in the backfield as a pass rusher.
On the other hand, he could easily turn into a full-fledged defensive end if he put on 20 pounds or so of muscle. His strength isn’t something he’s been known for anyway, so that could be something that a team would focus on after drafting him. An edge rusher with great finesse, he has a nasty spin move and has been turning heads this season.
If moved to linebacker, he would need to improve at dropping back in coverage, but he could be an interesting tool for the Bucs on defense should they pick him.