The Tampa Bay Buccaneers won't be on the NFL Draft clock until pick 15. The draft will be a little faster this year as the first round drops from 10 minutes to just 8. Earlier bedtime for those on the East Coast.
With less than two weeks before the draft, the Buccaneers themselves released a new mock draft for all seven rounds and all 32 teams. What do they know that the fans don't? Should more be read into their draft selections?
Buccaneers.com contributor Gabriel Khaian believes the best way to start the draft is to address the needs of the defense.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers go edge rusher in latest team released mock draft
Tampa has holes all over their roster and seven draft picks won't fill them all, especially when you consider that three of them will come in the later rounds where players are more developmental. Hitting on the first three or four selections is key to making the most out of this draft.
Kendric Faulk in round one makes sense, but is he truly the best option for the Buccaneers? In this mock, tight end Kenyon Sadiq is off the board early at 9 to the Chiefs. The options were limited for the writer, but one has to wonder if Jason Licht would try to move down and acquire an extra pick or two instead. Faulk is good, but there are questions about his consistency.
This year's class is deep with edge talent, and that, too, makes this pick somewhat of a reach. The differences between Faulk and others that could be had in round two are slim.
In round two, the Bucs stick with defense, adding standout linebacker Jake Golday. Golday has been a popular mock pick for the team in round two, and that's because he makes sense. With a non-stop motor and great awareness, Golday is a Swiss Army knife-type of defender. He could come out of this draft as the most versatile player.
Things got interesting in round three, where they selected tight end Sam Roush of Stanford. A quality TE, Roush has some growth he needs to do before he can make an impact. A great NFL Combine workout has bumped his stock. Well-rounded, Roush has shown enough tape to prove he can be equally good as a blocker and receiver. It might be another year before Bucs' fans get to see what he can do, but it will be worth the wait.
- Round 4 - LB - Jimmy Rolder - Michigan
- Round 5 - CB - Hezekiah Masses - California
- Round 6 - S - Jalen Huskey - Maryland
- Round 7 - G - Ar'maj Reed-Adams - Texas A&M
Beyond the third round, the Bucs are hoping for players that can provide depth on both sides of the ball, but the talent drops off quickly after round three for likely starters. On one hand, the Bucs have all of their picks, but on the other, they need more to make an impact on the upcoming season.