Buccaneers go defense at No. 19 in Mel Kiper Jr.’s latest NFL Mock Draft

In his latest NFL Mock Draft, ESPN expert Mel Kiper Jr. has the Tampa Bay Buccaneers spending the No. 19 pick on a defensive standout. 

Among the many questions the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have entering this offseason, the team needs to determine how to spend the No. 19 overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft.

The Bucs are all over the place in expert mocks, with some folks predicting a trade for a quarterback and others mocking a running back in the first round. What’s clear is that no one seems to have a good read on what Tampa Bay will do, which makes the pick even more exciting.

A trade up is likely out of the question, both in terms of what it would cost and the type of player the Bucs would realistically land. Unless Tampa Bay moves into one of the top two spots, it will be settling for the next-best option.

No offense to Will Levis, but let another team like Carolina take that gamble.

Realistically, the only trade that makes sense for the Bucs to make would be sending picks to Chicago for Justin Fields and essentially re-drafting him with this year’s first, but even that seems like a giant logical leap.

The only trade the Bucs will probably make is in the other direction of a top pick. A trade down could be useful in gathering future assets, but standing pat at No. 19 could offer a useful piece for the roster moving forward.

NFL Mock Draft: Bucs find Jamel Dean’s replacement in Mel Kiper Jr.’s latest mock

In his latest NFL Mock Draft, Kiper has the Bucs selecting cornerback Emmanuel Forbes with the No. 19 overall pick.

Here’s part of his reasoning:

"If Jamel Dean leaves in free agency, the Bucs will have a huge void at one cornerback spot. Forbes is a great option to fill it. He’s a bit of a boom-or-bust defender — he had 14 interceptions over three seasons, but he also gave up a few long touchdowns — and he has a smaller frame; he was listed at 180 pounds. If he puts up a great 40-yard dash time at the combine, this is the range he will go in April’s draft."

Kiper is spot on; how the Bucs spend the No. 19 pick will likely have more to do with filling key areas of the roster and less to do with finding a quarterback. The offensive line is a major area of need, and making sure the defense doesn’t take a step back is going to be crucial as well.

It’s not how most folks are looking at the Bucs pick but it’s perhaps the most practical. The guy Tampa Bay lands in the first round will be someone who can either step into a current area of need or one that will be created by a player like Dean leaving.

Think of it along the lines of how the Vikings swapped out Stefon Diggs for Justin Jefferson.

Whether the guy the Bucs draft turns into a Justin Jefferson-type player is yet to be seen, but the logic Kiper uses is the one fans should begin adjusting their expectations for because it’s likely the route Tampa Bay will go.