Re-drafting the Tampa Bay Buccaneers selections in previous six NFL Drafts
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have not had the best luck in the past in making franchise-changing selections in the first-round of the NFL Draft.
The Buccaneers have been one of the most disappointing NFL franchises when it has come to the draft (at least at times), but that certainly can’t be echoed this season following the big-time decision to bring in OT Tristan Wirfs.
Looking back at some of the first-round picks for the Buccaneers, though, it’s only fair to dream of what could’ve been.
Here’s a look each of the first-round selections in the previous six drafts (not including 2020) and what we would do if we could re-draft in the Buccaneers’ place.
2014: Pick No. 7 overall
- The original selection: WR Mike Evans
- The re-drafted selection: DT Aaron Donald
Now, some Buccaneers fans aren’t going to like this re-drafting because of the absolute love for Mike Evans. And that’s understandable.
Evans is one of the best wide receivers in the league and he has been vastly underrated during his time in Tampa Bay. He is a big-time play-maker and was certainly more than worth of his No. 7 overall pick. There’s no reason to look back at this pick as a failure in any way.
But if you could re-draft, you almost have to take Aaron Donald, don’t you?
Donald didn’t go until pick No. 13 with the Rams and was clearly one of the steals in that draft. There hasn’t been a defensive tackle more dominant than Donald in the league and that has resulted in him earning five-straight first-team All-Pro honors and being named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year twice.