Buccaneers: Increased OT draft stock may leave Tampa without an option
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers want to draft an offensive lineman in the first-round, but odds are that several will be gone before pick No. 14.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were well-represented at the 2020 NFL Combine last week as we saw several impressive prospects go through drills and interviews.
As the dust settled on the event, though, offensive tackles were being praised for their extremely impressive performances- especially those at the top.
While the Buccaneers likely want to draft an offensive tackle, the truth is that this draft-stock increase at the position may leave Tampa Bay without much of an option when pick No. 14 comes across the board.
At this point, there are four clear top offensive tackles with a solid group beneath them in the 2020 NFL Draft class.
With their performances, there’s little-to-no chance that three of them will even be available when Tampa is scheduled to pick. Jedrick Wills Jr. (Alabama) and Mekhi Becton (Louisville) are absolutely going to be take as picks inside the top-10.
That leaves just two other options in that group of top-four linemen: Tristan Wirfs (Iowa) and Andrew Thomas (Georgia).
Wirfs was extremely impressive at the combine and there’s reason to believe that he could also be a top-10 pick, but I wouldn’t seem falling any lower than No. 14 to the Buccaneers. There’s probably a better chance at this point, though, that he’s gone before Tampa Bay ever pick.
Though Andrew Thomas is No. 4 at the position, there are still scenarios- depending on how high Becton and Wills Jr. are selected- where Thomas could be off the board, as well, by No. 14.
5 second-round prospects who'd fit perfectly in Tampa. dark. Next
All of that is to say this: Tampa Bay will have to play a wait-and-see game when it comes to offensive tackle, but the Buccaneers are likely down to an ‘Andrew Thomas or defensive lineman’ situation for the first-round. Though many Tampa fans want the offensive tackle position addressed, it’s just not seeming likely that the organization will have many options, at least in the first-round.