Cutting draft pick made too much sense for Buccaneers

Today was mostly quiet for the Buccaneers as they only made a handful of cuts, but a draft pick getting cut may still surprise some fans.

No rookie should ever be safe on a team like the Buccaneers when winning in the short term is all that matters.

As much as it would be nice to always focus on building for the future, teams just can’t afford to let their least-valuable picks make the roster over veteran options that can contribute in the short-term.

It is also worth understanding that late-round picks are never locks to make any team.

That is what happened to Andre Anthony of the Buccaneers.

As much as some people would deny it, Anthony was always a long shot to make the active roster for the Buccaneers. Seventh-round picks usually are.

The Bucs already had a good trio of pass rushers to lean on when they really needed it, and even with Cam Gill on the roster, the team was always going to need more help from a veteran presence.

Carl Nassib is already a much better option on the defensive side and special teams, and adding in guys like Genard Avery made it clear that Anthony was not going to make the 53 at the start of the season.

Now, this is probably not where Avery’s NFL career ends. The Bucs have a lot of practice squad spots that are open, and it stands to reason that they will do everything in their power to keep Anthony in pewter and red as he develops further.

An injury could be all it takes to bring the former LSU player onto the field for Tampa.

Now wasn’t the time, and while the Bucs were right to make this decision, more choices from the team could follow that will keep this dream alive for the young pass-rusher.

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