The NFL world is starting to turn its eyes towards the 2022 NFL Draft. Here is one of the ways that day can fall for the Buccaneers.
The Buccaneers don’t have many pressing needs to address in the upcoming draft. The team is well-constructed, and Tom Brady should be in a great position to go for ring #8 with Todd Bowles at the helm, but a couple of well-placed draft picks never hurt.
Pick #1: Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas
The Bucs need receiver depth. Tampa has a couple of depth guys that could start at left guard without much drop-off, but the receiver depth did little to impress last season. The Buccaneers find a great weapon for Tom Brady in the first to contribute in pass-heavy sets.
Pick #2: Travis Jones, IDL, UConn
A bit large, but Jones would replace Ndamukong Suh on a much cheaper deal and would be a great addition to a defensive line that is almost impossible to run against.
Pick #3: James Cook, RB, Georgia
The Buccaneers could easily roster four running backs if Todd Bowles really does want to run more in 2022. Cook would at least give the Bucs another guy on the roster for 2023 with great upside if they aren’t sold on Ke’Shawn Vaughn just yet.
Pick #4: Chigoziem Okonkwo, TE, Maryland
Rob Gronkowski should be back, but Tampa needs at least one more pass-catcher at the position to round out the room.
Pick #5: Kyler McMichael, CB, UNC
The Bucs suffered a lot of injuries in their secondary last season, so going after another cheap guy with the tools Todd Bowles likes never hurts for a defensive head coach.
Pick #6: Amaré Barno, Edge, Virginia Tech
The defense could always use more bodies on the outside, especially those that could provide some decent depth if called upon.
Thoughts:
A little offense-heavy, but it doesn’t feel like there are many glaring defensive needs outside of the line and some depth. IOL wasn’t addressed either, but it may be easier to replace that position on the free agent market with a cheap rental or with a guy that is already on the roster.
Tom Brady gets more weapons, the defense rounds out a few positions that struggled with injuries last season, and the team is one step closer to competing for a Super Bowl in Todd Bowles’ first season.
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