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NFL Mock Draft: Bucs pull off three trades in 7-round prediction

By Josh Hill

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - DECEMBER 31: Deuce Vaughn #22 of the Kansas State Wildcats is tackled by Brian Branch #14 of the Alabama Crimson Tide during the first quarter of the Allstate Sugar Bowl at Caesars Superdome on December 31, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - DECEMBER 31: Deuce Vaughn #22 of the Kansas State Wildcats is tackled by Brian Branch #14 of the Alabama Crimson Tide during the first quarter of the Allstate Sugar Bowl at Caesars Superdome on December 31, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /
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COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND – OCTOBER 08: Cory Trice #23 of the Purdue Boilermakers celebrates after a victory against the Maryland Terrapins at SECU Stadium on October 08, 2022 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND – OCTOBER 08: Cory Trice #23 of the Purdue Boilermakers celebrates after a victory against the Maryland Terrapins at SECU Stadium on October 08, 2022 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) /

Round 5

CB. Cory Trice. 153. player. 848. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Purdue

From here on out, all of these picks belong to the Bucs and weren’t traded for in this mock (although pick No. 179 was acquired from Houston in the Shaq Mason trade).

Much like the Coburn pick, Purdue’s Cory Trice is a high-upside flier who could become a great replacement for Sean Murphy-Bunting or MJ Stewart, or he could bust out in camp and not make the team.

The pros on Trice are that he’s a burly cornerback who scouts have compared more to a linebacker than a defensive back, which could work in making him a swing defender who plays some safety in certain packages as well. PFF notes that he allowed only one catch in 88 attempts last season, which should bring a smile to Todd Bowles’ face.

His downside is that there seems to be some uncertainty about his draft stock. PFF has him as the No. 95 best prospect in the class, but his ADP is in the 200s. This might be a sign he’s underrated or that he’s being over-graded. Nothing seems more like a mid-round wild card pick than that exact description of a rookie. However, if the Bucs can get a Top 100 prospect in the fifth round, one that adds depth at a position of need, then it seems like a good gamble to make.

Round 5

We’re deep in the throes of sleeper territory this late in the draft and McClendon Curtis embodies exactly that. He’s an offensive tackle from Chattanooga, flying under the radar in most mock drafts and largely not in the conversation among offensive linemen.

That doesn’t mean he’s lacking the skills to be a sleeper pick.

Trevor Sikkima over at PFF wrote:

"When you’re evaluating smaller school offensive linemen, you want to see them dominate, and McClendon absolutely does. He’s 6-foot-5 and 325 pounds with 35-inch arms (hilarious that he was playing guard with arms that long), so he’s definitely a player to keep an eye on during  Day 3."

For a team that could use some offensive line depth, Curtis seems like a small school sleeper who could add some serious value.

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