Round 2, Pick 58: Tyler Nubin, S/Minnesota
Improving the offense will be a focal point for the Buccaneers in this year's draft, but that doesn't mean the defense should be neglected. Tampa Bay could double dip on offensive linemen with its second pick from the Patriots trade, but an even better player is sitting right there for them who fills another major need.
The Athletic's Dan Bugler described Tyler Nubin as having a 'four-down skill set with playmaking instincts', which sounds delightful to have next to Antoine Winfield Jr for the next handful of years. Nubin is the top safety in this year's class and coincidentally went to Minnesota which would give the Bucs a pair of potential Pro Bowl Gophers in the secondary.
In case you needed a reminder of how much of a playmaker #Gophers Tyler Nubin is.
— GopherHole.com (@GopherHole) February 13, 2024
Here he is telling Huskers fans they started the wrong quarterback to start the season.
pic.twitter.com/h3qauRpGJ6
Christian Izien deserves to be a part of the future but everything else about the safety position is a total crapshoot. Ryan Neal was largely a bust and Kevon Merriweather battled injuries all season. Tampa Bay needed to solve depth issues at the position last season and it seems we've circled back around to arrive at the exact same spot again.
Adding Nubin is sort of a luxury given the Bucs have an All-Pro at free safety and a stud rookie in Izien playing next to him, but that shouldn't stop them from making the pick. Part of the team's identity has been a brooding defense (one that won a Super Bowl) that has oftentimes kept the team in games it otherwise shouldn't have been.
Reloading with young guys like Calijah Kancey and Yaya Diaby worked fantastically last year, and adding Nubin into the mix makes the Bucs better and sets a solid foundation for the future.