2020 NFL Draft: Tampa Bay Buccaneers best options for Day 1
By Rob Leeds
The 2020 NFL Draft is finally here, and the Buccaneers are looking to put the finishing touches on a playoff-contenting roster starting with the first round.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have to make a statement in the 2020 NFL Draft, and that will start with their first-round selection. The Bucs already have a good team in the making, but tonight’s pick will likely play a massive role in the 2020 season.
The most significant position of need for Tampa Bay is currently starting right tackle. Players like Tristan Wirfs and Jedrick Wills would be great fits considering their time playing on that side of the line, allowing Donovan Smith to stay in at left tackle.
Making as few personnel moves as possible is always the best option, but there is a chance that the Bucs could see Smith as a better right tackle and would want their rookie to play on the left.
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If the Buccaneers did want a rookie to start on the left, Wills probably has the best chance of being the most successful from this group in the first year, but Andrew Thomas is hard to pass up given his experience playing on that side.
If Tampa Bay is considering playing the long game with their tackle, Mekhi Becton has the highest upside of all the available tackles based on his massive size and undeniable talent. He will take some time to refine, but the Buccaneers would still be very happy to land Becton.
While tackle would be the top option for the Bucs, there is a great chance that none of the top tackles will be available at the 14th overall pick.
Most of the teams in the top-10 have been linked to one of the tackles at some point, and if the Buccaneers are unwilling to trade up, it will be hard to guarantee that one of those franchise-caliber players are still available.
If none of the previously-mentioned tackles are still on the board, the next best place to look would be at defensive tackle.
Javon Kinlaw is one of the top defensive players in the class and has been tied to the Buccaneers in mock drafts since January. Kinlaw would be an immediate improvement on the defensive line and would be a frightening addition to the quickly-improving Buccaneer defense.
The final place that the Buccaneers can realistically look is at wide receiver. Tampa Bay needs a WR3 and may not be sold on the players that are currently on the roster. This draft class has remarkable talent at receiver, and most of the top options will likely come off the board in the 10-20 range.
The Bucs would have their pick of the more talented options. While they would be overpaying, the addition of talent such as this to an offense that already has Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski, Mike Evans, and Chris Godwin could be the move that gives Tampa Bay the best offense in the NFL.
Next. 4 projections for the Buccaneers in 2020 that fans will love. dark
It will be hard for the Buccaneers to go wrong with their first-round selection. Tackle may be preferable to everything else, but any players that are taken from this first group have a high likelihood of fitting in immediately and helping the team compete for a playoff spot in 2020.