The 2020 NFL Draft has come to an end, and here are the final draft grades for each of the picks for the Buccaneers by the members of The Pewter Plank.
The 2020 NFL Draft has finally come to an end, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have mostly solidified their roster heading into Summer.
The Buccaneers were mostly lauded for their selections and were able to get great value for several picks who slipped into the later rounds.
It was also clear that Bruce Arians had a heavy hand in the drafting process. Many of the players taken fit Arians’ system well and are similar to players that he has drafted in the past.
For those who have not yet seen the new Buccaneer draft picks, here are the results of the previous days:
Round 1: Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa (The Buccaneers traded the San Francisco 49ers their remaining 2020 fourth-round pick to switch spots between #13 and #14. Tampa Bay also received an additional seventh-round pick)
Round 2: Antoine Winfield Jr., S, Minnesota
Round 3: Ke’Shawn Vaughn, RB, Vanderbilt
Round 5: Tyler Johnson, WR, Minnesota
Round 6: Khalil Davis, IDL, Nebraska
Round 7: Chapelle Russell, LB, Temple
Round 7: Raymond Calias, RB, Louisiana-Lafayette
The Buccaneers were able to address their biggest positions of need coming into this draft and fortunately dodged the bullet of drafting a kicker that has plagued the Tampa Bay draft process in the past.
Another point that should be taken into account is that the Bucs traded their other fourth-round pick to the New England Patriots for tight end Rob Gronkowski.
In all, there weren’t many surprises for the Buccaneers in this year’s draft. Often some players or positions come out of nowhere, but Tampa Bay mainly stuck to the areas of greatest need, and that could pay off in the long run.
Year two of Bruce Arians assisting with the process is now in the books, and here are the draft grades for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for their 2020 NFL Draft selections.
Rob Leeds
Round 1: Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa
The Buccaneers desperately needed a tackle and were able to find a steal. Tristan Wirfs is one of the most athletic players in this class, and he miraculously fell to the Buccaneers.
Trading up one spot was not as desirable as Wirfs falling to #14. Still, with Joe Staley‘s retirement yesterday, the 49ers were likely mulling over the idea of drafting a tackle, and the decision by the Buccaneers to trade up looks even better in retrospect.
Draft grade: A
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Round 2: Antoine Winfield Jr., S, Minnesota
The Buccaneer secondary experienced a renaissance during the latter half of the 2019 season, but the overall level of play from the safeties still left something to be desired. Tampa Bay passed on a J.K. Dobbins in the second round and made the decision that was substantially smarter in drafting a first-round talent to take their defense to the next level.
Draft grade: A+
Round 3: Ke’Shawn Vaughn, RB, Vanderbilt
In what was one of the most surprising picks of the night, the Buccaneers drafted Ke’Shawn Vaughn in the third round. Vaughn was likely going to be available in a later round, but the consensus is that Tampa Bay has found its third-down running back.
Taking a running back in the third round is still a little early, but Vaughn has the talent to be great in this system. Because Tampa Bay reached on this pick, they were able to find steals in the fifth and sixth rounds at greater positions of need for depth.
Draft grade: C
Round 5: Tyler Johnson, WR, Minnesota
He may not be the burner that the team needs, but Tyler Johnson in the fifth was an excellent selection for the Buccaneers. He gives Tampa Bay much-needed depth at receiver, and Tom Brady has another great receiver to throw to.
The only problem with this pick is that Tampa Bay now has two receivers that predominantly play in the slot, but if anyone can handle this embarrassment of riches, it’s Bruce Arians.
Draft grade: A-
Round 6: Khalil Davis, IDL, Nebraska
Tampa Bay needed depth on its defensive line coming into this draft and was able to find Khalil Davis in the sixth. Davis had a great final season at Nebraska statically and tested out of his shoes at the combine. The Bucs now have another depth piece alongside Rakeem Nunez-Roches and a player that can compete for a starting job down the road.
Draft grade: B+
Round 7: Chapelle Russell, LB, Temple
Chapelle Russell has a terrible history of injuries, tearing his ACL twice while in college. Still, he has seemingly put that behind him and gives the Buccaneers an additional linebacker on the depth chart while also being available for special teams.
Draft grade: B
Round 7: Raymond Calais, RB, Louisiana-Lafayette
The Buccaneers used their final pick of the draft on another running back in Raymond Calais. He immediately brings speed to the position and will be competing with T.J. Logan and Dare Ogunbowale for the final roster spot. Calais is predominantly a runner, but if he can learn to catch, he could be dangerous for the Buccaneer offense.
Draft grade: B-
Overall grade: B+
Shawn Spencer
Round 1: Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa
The Bucs traded up and got their man. Wirfs is the most physical offensive tackle in this class, and he can come in and fill that right tackle hole immediately.
You don’t like having to give up the fourth-round pick, but it was worth it to get one of the top offensive tackles in this class.
Grade: A-
Second Round: Antoine Winfield Jr., S, Minnesota
Antoine Winfield Jr. is a guy who shows great athleticism and absolute ball-hawking ability. Look for Winfield Jr. to compete for a starting job right off the bat and shore up that Buccaneers secondary.
Grade: A
Third Round: Ke’Shawn Vaughn, RB, Vanderbilt
Ke’Shawn Vaughn was a bit of reach in this spot, in my opinion. He has a lot of talent and is a guy who is going to be a great complementary piece to Ronald Jones II, but I would’ve liked to see Tampa trade back or potentially look at a defensive lineman here. Still, I like the play-making ability of Vaughn.
Grade: C+
Fifth Round: Tyler Johnson, WR, Minnesota
Tyler Johnson doesn’t have the high-end speed that you’d like to see in a WR, but he has everything else. This is a great addition in the fifth-round for the Bucs to have a guy of this caliber fall in their laps to fill the third WR option.
Grade: A-
Sixth Round: Khalil Davis, DT, Nebraska
Khalil Davis isn’t going to replace Ndamukong Suh next season, but he is a great depth piece and shows plenty of explosiveness and physicality to be successful at the next level.
Grade: B-
Seventh Round: Chapelle Russell, LB, Temple
Chapelle Russell is an athletic linebacker who has the ability to be successful in pass-coverage at the next level.
Grade: C
Seventh Round: Raymond Calais, RB, Louisiana-Lafayette
Raymond Calais is undersized, but he shows great speed and athleticism. He could be another explosive piece to that Tampa Bay offense and a really solid pick-up in the seventh round.
Grade: B-
Overall grade: B
Thomas Brady
Round 1: Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa
Bucs move up to pick 13 and get one of the big four tackles in this year’s draft. Wirfs is probably the best one, too.
Grade: A+
Round 2: Antoine Winfield Jr, S, Minnesota
Described as the next coming of the honey badger and exactly the player the Bucs needed with this pick. Perfect.
Grade: A
Round 3: Ke’Shawn Vaughn, RB, Vanderbilt
I can’t help but feel this was a reach and that Vaughn wasn’t the guy the Bucs wanted here. Hope I’m wrong.
Grade: C+
Round 5: Tyler Johnson, WR, Minnesota
Probably my favorite pick of the whole draft, Johnson should’ve gone in the 3rd or 4th round. Licht earns his money and gets a beast to complete the receiving corps in the fifth round.
Grade: A+
Round 6: Khalil Davis, IDL, Nebraska
The best defensive tackle left on the board at this stage and provides a solid option in rotation for an increasingly talented defensive line.
Grade: B+
Round 7: Chapelle Russell, LB, Temple
Probably a special teams guy this year but has great athleticism and can learn from two of the best in Lavonte David and Devin White.
Grade: B
Round 7: Raymond Calais, RB, Louisiana
Described by Arians as a human joystick, this guy will get fans out of their seats whenever he gets a chance with the ball. Fun pick so late in the draft.
Grade: B+
Overall Grade: A-
One of the best drafts for many a year with many needs now filled. If I’m wrong about Vaughn and he can prove his worth as a 3rd round pick, then this grade quickly rises to an A+.
Jamil King
Round 1: Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa
The Bucs needed to address the tackle position in a bad way. They also needed to find a way to get one of the top four players at the position. The Bucs were able to do that and didn’t have to go far at all. Moving up only one spot, the Bucs were able to get their man and fill a huge need.
Grade: A
Round 2: Antoine Winfield Jr., S, Minnesota
The Bucs had two needs after the first round that were another running back and safety. The Bucs were able to let the draft come to them again and were rewarded yet again. Winfield is one of the best centerfield safeties in the draft and caused havoc in the secondary last season. The Bucs needed to get a ball-hawking safety and got a steal in the second round.
Grade: A
Round 3: Ke’Shawn Vaughn, RB, Vanderbilt
The Bucs selected a need here, but the player was the question mark. Vaughn will provide third-down help for a Bucs team that did not have a pass-blocking or catching back in place. Vaughn will slide into a shotgun roll for the Bucs specializing on third down. Look for him to be the new Dion Lewis/ James White for Tom Brady.
Grade: C
Round 5: Tyler Johnson, WR, Minnesota
The Bucs were able to add depth to a wide receiver room that is top-heavy. Johnson was a baller at Minnesota and had an odd draft process causing him to fall. The Bucs will gladly take him, and Johnson can carve out a starting spot day one next to Evans and Godwin. If one is to get hurt again, Johnson can also slide right in for either as a replacement.
Grade: A
Round 6: Khalil Davis, IDL, Nebraska
The Bucs needed to address depth on the defensive line and got one of the more underrated interior linemen in the class.
Grade: B-
Round 7: Chapelle Russell, LB, Temple
Russell had two season-ending injuries before playing the last two years. Was productive at Temple and could be a nice depth piece given the time.
Grade: C
Round 7: Raymond Calais, RB, Louisiana-Lafayette
Calais will bring his speed to the Bucs backfield that could use a burner. Calais will look to challenge TJ logan for the return spot and will try to earn some looks in the passing game.
Grade: C+
Overall grade: B
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.
Kenny Barrett
Round 1: Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa
The only reason I couldn’t give the Bucs an A+ is because they had to give up the 4thround pick to move up the one slot. If anyone would have said the Bucs had to trade into the top 10 for Wirfs, it’s hard to find people who wouldn’t be on board, so the 4this small fries in the grand scheme of things. Wirfs has the most potential of the big 4 tackles in my eyes. He’s crazy athletic, nasty in the running game, and is coming from a great coaching staff that produces great tackles into the NFL. Wirfs steps in immediately as the starting right tackle with the potential of being a left tackle in the future. Many analysts are saying kick him into guard, just tune that noise out, he’s a pro-bowl caliber offensive tackle.
Grade: A
Round 2: Antoine Winfield Jr., S, Minnesota
Perfect value meets need. I wasn’t the biggest proponent of the Bucs drafting a safety UNLESS that safety was a centerfielder. Winfield is that and then some. He can play slot corner as well as over the top free safety. He has insane instincts, is a ballhawk, and is a leader in the secondary. He will step into the season as the starting free safety, regardless of Justin Evans health. In fact, don’t be surprised to see the Bucs implement three safeties with Whitehead and Evans deep and Winfield in the slot in some situations. His potential in the defense is Tyrann Mathieu‘s role, but with that added element of playing the deep third better. Find the tape against Penn State, and from the start, you’ll love what you see.
Grade: A+
Round 3: Ke’ Shawn Vaughn, RB, Vanderbilt
When Vaughn was first announced, I admittedly wanted to hate the pick; however, this is where watching film on a player becomes EXTREMELY important. Vaughn reminds me a lot of Ronald Jones, but with a little more added in the passing game with a significant upgrade as a pass protector. Watch the LSU and Georgia games in 2019 to get a broad scope of what Vaughn can offer. The lower grade has to do with value more than the player. If Vaughn was a 4th round pick, it probably would have received a B from me. There were plenty of other great players on the board at the time, and this felt like Licht and BA settled. The more film I watch of Vaughn though, the more I like him!
Grade: C+
Round 5: Tyler Johnson, WR, Minnesota
Tyler Johnson’s drops are the only thing holding him back. He offers a Chris Godwin light to this offense. His presence will definitely be needed if Godwin or Evans were to go down. He offers a similar compliment to them that Scotty Miller and Justin Watson cannot provide. Solid route runner with great contested catch ability. He will have a small learning curve, however, he is a welcome addition to the offense in the fifth round and will be the third receiver on the depth chart sooner than later.
Grade: B+
Round 6: Khalil Davis, IDL, Nebraska
Davis is a great late-round prospect. He’s explosive and extremely athletic for a lineman; however, he isn’t the type of defensive tackle that the Bucs play and seem to want. He’s a quick-twitch and get upfield kind of defensive tackle, as opposed to a profile like Ndamukong Suh or Vita Vea. The effort and hustle of Davis is admirable, and it will be needed for him to make the roster. The grade is less on the player and more on the fit, but still, a positive pick as the depth at the defensive tackle position was needed.
Grade: C
Round 7: Chapelle Russell, LB, Temple
Normally the idea of picking athletes for special teams is the right way to go, but in this case, the fact that Russell is from Temple left a sour taste in my mouth. I understand his credentials as a leader at Temple are noteworthy, but most of the coaching staff coached at Temple. Rusell also comes with medical red flags as he has had 2 ACL tears in one of his knees. On film, Rusell is a great athlete and tackles well, and he is a complete project. I don’t see how he will see the field as an inside linebacker in a meaningful way and will be relegated to a special teams only kind of player at least to begin his career, most likely on the practice squad.
Grade: D
Round 7: Raymond Calais, RB, Louisiana-Lafayette
Solid hands, quick, and can be a return specialist. In the 7th round, it’s hard to complain about those traits as the Bucs need competition in the return game. Calais was part of a great three-headed backfield and can have a role on offense as well as special teams. What really perked my ears was in Arians mentioned that Calais has some hands and can have some value as a back coming out of the backfield. Being able to provide value in several areas is where Calais can make a career. Where Vaughn is a threat to Dare’s job, Calais is a threat to TJ Logan’s job.
Grade: B-
Overall grade: B-