Buccaneers 2020 NFL Mock Draft: Jameis Winston returns
By Rob Leeds
This pick should come as a surprise. Most Buccaneer mock drafts do not have tight ends on the board as the Bucs already have three healthy tight ends on their roster, one of whom is 2017 first round pick O.J. Howard.
Unfortunately for the Buccaneers, O.J. Howard is not far off from being a disappointment. The title of “draft bust” shouldn’t be placed on Howard yet, but at the very least it should be taken out of the closet and dusted off.
O.J. Howard has never played at the elite level that his athleticism would lend itself to. A combination of injuries, misuse, and not showing up in big moments have all plagued Howard throughout his football career.
During his time at Alabama, many of the NFL scouts overlooked Howard’s minimal production as they were star-struck with his frame, saying “His athleticism is there, the results will come.” The Buccaneers are still waiting on the results.
Especially in a Bruce Arians offense that neglects the tight end as a pass-catcher, the Buccaneers’ best course of action right now would be to trade O.J. Howard away for draft picks or other compensation and start over with a cheaper option.
Thaddeus Moss would be an extremely intriguing option for the Buccaneers if he is still available in the third round. He is a unique blend of a receiver and blocker and put on a show in LSU’s national championship run in 2019 with 47 receptions for 570 yards and four touchdowns.
Moss has a very high level of talent, will certainly sell jerseys due to his last name and talent, and would be a cheaper than O.J. Howard who will likely bring the Buccaneers a second round pick if traded to the right team.