The Pewter Plank
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3 positions Buccaneers could draft in first round of 2023 NFL Draft, 2 to steer clear of

By Josh Hill

KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 12: Hendon Hooker #5 of the Tennessee Volunteers before the game against the Missouri Tigers at Neyland Stadium on November 12, 2022 in Knoxville, Tennessee. The Tennessee Volunteers won the game 66-24. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 12: Hendon Hooker #5 of the Tennessee Volunteers before the game against the Missouri Tigers at Neyland Stadium on November 12, 2022 in Knoxville, Tennessee. The Tennessee Volunteers won the game 66-24. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images) /
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BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA – NOVEMBER 05: Joey Porter Jr. #9 of the Penn State Nittany Lions on the field in the game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Memorial Stadium on November 05, 2022 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA – NOVEMBER 05: Joey Porter Jr. #9 of the Penn State Nittany Lions on the field in the game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Memorial Stadium on November 05, 2022 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /

Target: Cornerback

Possible Picks: 

  • Deonte Banks, CB/Maryland
  • Joey Porter Jr., CB/Penn State
  • Christian Gonzalez, CB/Oregon

Christian Gonzalez could qualify as a pipe dream, as he’s widely seen as the second-best cornerback in the draft class. Devon Witherspoon from Illinois seems to be the far-and-away top choice at the position, but this group’s depth feels a lot like it does at tackle.

It’s a top-heavy group, and it’s hard to go wrong with most of the guys on the list.

Tampa Bay brought back Jamel Dean this offseason in free agency, which was a huge boost to both morale and the depth chart. The Bucs retained their top cornerback and can continue to pair him with Carlton Davis III, but need to find a third guy to come in and fill the gap.

Early mock drafts had the Bucs looking at Emmanuel Forbes, but he’s likely a late-first round pick or an early Day 2 selection. Deonte Banks from Maryland was slotted to the Bucs early on but as most experts turned their attention toward the team addressing the tackle position he began to land elsewhere.

A scenario exists where the Bucs don’t trade up and/or miss out on a tackle if there’s a run on them. That could put the team in a situation where drafting a guy like Banks is on the table, with other options available in top guys like Joey Porter Jr.

In that vein, how cool would it be if the Bucs had the sons of two former NFL greats in the same secondary together?

For what it’s worth, Davis is a free agent after the 2024 season so whoever the Bucs draft this year might factor into being the No. 2 next to Dean if Davis leaves.

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