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Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Final grades for the 2019 draft class

ByJoshua Omoregie|
Devin White of LSU after he was chosen #5 overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Devin White of LSU after he was chosen #5 overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
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TAMPA, FLORIDA – SEPTEMBER 22: Kicker Matt Gay #9 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers looks down dejectedly after missing what would have been the game-winning field as time expired during the game against the New York Giants at Raymond James Stadium on September 22, 2019 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA – SEPTEMBER 22: Kicker Matt Gay #9 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers looks down dejectedly after missing what would have been the game-winning field as time expired during the game against the New York Giants at Raymond James Stadium on September 22, 2019 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images)

Matt Gay

2019 Stats- 27 FGM /35 FGA, 77% field goal percentage, 43/48 Extra points

Matt Gay is one of the players from the 2019 draft who should be given a bit of slack. Although the rookie’s play starter to tinker towards the end of the season, 35 field goal attempts and nearly 50 attempted extra points in your first season is heavy workload for even a veteran kicker. Despite this, it’s understood that in the NFL kickers have some of the shortest leashes on the team.

Your one job is to kick a football through the uprights of a field goal post. Some make millions doing this every year and are able to support their families by doing so, With this being said, Gay has earned the right to be the Week 1 starter in 2020 and my bet is that the former Utah Ute will have a bounce back season and make everyone forget about his rookie kicking woes. A trip the Pro Bowl could be a part of Gay’s future if he just gets his accuracy up a little bit.

Grade: 7.3/10

Scotty Miller

2019 Stats- 13 receptions, 200 receiving yards, one touchdown

One of the more intriguing drafts projects of 2019 for Tampa Bay, Scotty Miller, proved he could be a valuable slot commodity down the stretch after Chris Godwin and Mike Evans went down with injuries. The speedster out of Bowling Green ran a blazing 4.36 40 yard dash and was a fan favorite during training camp, making countless plays downfield.

Even in a season where the rookie was buried on a talented receiver depth chart behind Godwin, Evans, Breshad Perriman and Justin Watson, Miller has shown enough to be able to eventually fill the role Adam Humphries filled before departing to Tennessee. With the likely departure of Breshad Perriman becoming more of a reality, expect Miller’s numbers to spike in 2020.

Grade: 6.2/10

Terry Beckner

No stats

Terry Beckner did not make the final 52-man roster. This was a long shot from the very first day even though the Buccaneers were always short on depth on their defensive line. Beckner was suspended to start the season which made the decision far easier for the Bucs to make.

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