Buccaneers 2020 NFL Draft: Pewter Plank final draft grades

JT Squillante

Round 1: Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers needed to snag one of the top four tackles in this year’s draft. When pick 13 came up, and the 49ers were on the clock with only Wirfs left on the board, Tampa had to make a move. It wasn’t likely that the Niners were going to take Wirfs, but it was too big a risk to take. In the end, Tampa gave up a 4th and got a 7th in return to move up one spot. Tristan Wirfs is a powerful man, but he lacks the ability to get vertical at times. With some NFL coaching and work on his technique, Tristen Wirfs will prove to be an excellent pick for years in Tampa Bay.

Grade: A

Round 2: Antoine Winfield Jr., S, Minnesota

Selecting Big Ten DB of the Year, Antoine Winfield Jr. in the second round with players like J.K. Dobbins still available was a bit of a surprise for the Bucs. The Bucs aren’t sold on Justin Evans yet, and adding Winfield was directly related to that. I rated this an A because this is the position that the Bucs have needed for so long. To have a safety like Winfield, who can diagnose plays and understand what the offense is doing, is long overdue for Tampa. The football IQ on this guy is top notch and something that will prove to be beneficial to every Bucs defender.

Grade: A

Round 3: Ke’ Shawn Vaughn, RB, Vanderbilt

Another glaring position of need for Tampa on offense was the running back position. Selecting Vaughn in the third round was a bit of a reach for me, but he likely wasn’t going to be left since Tampa no longer had a 4th round selection. He flashed at times in college but seems to play at a slower game speed than he really is. His production did drop in 2019 compared to 2018, but that is in part to a change in Vanderbilt’s offense that limited him a bit. Either way, this is the perfect player to fit a Tom Brady led offense, so look for Ke’ Shawn Vaughn to get his share of touches in 2020.

Grade: B

Round 5: Tyler Johnson, WR, Minnesota

I absolutely LOVE this pick, and at 161, this could be the steal of the draft. Tyler Johnson has insane body control and seemed to have a wider catch radius than he should. Having a player like Johnson in the slot lined up with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin is going to make one of the best receiving trios in the league.

Grade: A

Round 6: Khalil Davis, IDL, Nebraska

Buccaneers went for rotational help on the defensive line with pick 194. Khalil Davis is going to be a 3rd down gap shooter of sorts in the NFL. He will likely help fill in when a big stop is needed. Davis is coming off a solid 2019 with eight sacks. He isn’t the flashiest player, but he can be a great piece to the top-ranked defensive line in Tampa.

Grade: B

Round 7: Chappelle Russell, LB, Temple

This is a player with a high motor who can earn his way onto the roster with special teams play. The Bucs believe this player has a big upside, but with seemingly a set group of linebackers, Russell will need to work extremely hard to make this team come opening day.

Grade: C

Round 7: Raymond Calais, RB, Louisiana-Lafayette

Calais has big-play potential averaging 7.8 yards per carry, but he is a smaller back. Likely won’t do much for the Bucs has a pass blocker and only caught 17 career passes in college. With his speed, though, he could find himself a position as a kick returner, something the Bucs have also need for what seems like forever.

Grade: C

Overall Grade: B

The Bucs had to draft a little different than most teams; they are going for the Lombardi Trophy this year. So, with that being said, they need to find some players to step in and make immediate impacts. They did that with the first four picks. This is one of the best drafts for General Manager Jason Licht in recent years.