The NFL Combine will take place this week, which means draft talk is about to take center stage. While some teams will be looking to make splashy moves to try and get things back on track, Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans are preparing themselves to hear a familiar story.
It's unclear what Tampa Bay's plan is heading into the draft, which seems to be exactly the way Jason Licht likes it. Two years ago everyone though the Bucs would trade up for a quarterback but they stood pat and drafted Calijah Kancey instead. Ditto last year when experts predicted a trade up for an offensive lineman when the guy the team wanted all along -- Graham Barton -- fell right into their laps.
Read More: Jason Licht drops and absolutely incredible line about Calijah Kancey after drafting him
We all have a decent idea of what the Bucs will be targeting in the draft, just not who it will end up being. It wouldn't be surprising at all to see Tampa Bay go heavy on defense in the draft, and it's starting to look like a trade down might be on the table as well.
Buccaneers trade back and add an extra pick in latest NFL Mock Draft
In the latest PFF Mock Draft, the Buccaneers make a trade with the Rams and move back to No. 26 overall. The deal makes sense for two reasons: Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell is already off the board and Tampa Bay would pick up an extra selection in the third round as part of the return package.
While the Bucs moving back to No. 26 is notable, it doesn't take them out of the running to draft an edge rusher. PFF mocked Georgia's Mykel Williams to Tampa Bay at that spot, but other potential targets like Jack Sawyer and Jared Ivey are also on the board in this scenario.
It's an interesting thought exercise to think about what the Bucs would do if they moved back in the first round, but the real question becomes what they'd do with the No. 100 overall pick. Here's what two different mock draft simulations came up with if this trade were to happen:
- Round 1: Jack Sawyer, LB/Ohio State
- Round 2: Benjamin Morrison, CB/Notre Dame
- Round 3: Quandarrius Robinson, EDGE/Alabama
- Round 3: Cobee Bryant, CB/Kansas
- Round 1: Mykel Williams, EDGE/Georgia
- Round 2: Carson Schwesinger, LB/UCLA
- Round 3: Josaiah Stewart, EDGE/Michigan
- Round 3: Cobee Bryant, CB/Kansas
Both of those outcomes feel pretty ideal, as the Bucs would load up on young defensive talent to replenish depth that was tested last year. Edge rusher is by far the biggest need the Bucs have, but being able to still land a top guy at No. 26 while adding an extra pick seems like a dream scenario.
Especially if that trade helps bring someone like Cobee Bryant to the secondary and Carson Schwesinger to the linebacking corps. It's unclear whether Lavonte David will return next year and the Bucs got a glimpse of how thin things could be if he decides to retire. SirVocea Dennis missing the entire season didn't help, but in no scenario should Tampa Bay be entering next season relying on K.J. Britt and J.J. Russell as starters.
Adding Schwesinger in the draft and a veteran like Nick Bolton in free agency would be ideal, doubly so if David returns.
Of course, all of this is just hypothetical for now. A lot can happen between now and the Draft, as free agency could change some of Tampa Bay's plans. The real takeaway here is that there are plenty of options on the table, and the Bucs will have no shortage of ways to improve the roster exactly the way they want.
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