The NFL Draft is no longer a "next month" conversation. The calendar has flipped, April has arrived, and the draft will now begin in a few weeks. That also means that now is the time of year to keep your lips sealed about potential draft plans; something Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles might have heeded earlier.
Bowles spoke with the media at the Annual Owners Meeting in Arizona. Naturally, the draft and the roster are important topics. When asked about the status of the CB room, Bowles was quick to point out that the team needed to address the position.
The Bucs have starters on the roster, but they are not confident in them at this point. That's a problem considering last year the drafted Benjamin Morrison in round two and Jacob Parrish in round three.
Todd Bowles' CB comments sends a direct message to last year's draft class
It's hard to imagine that Bowles is already giving up on Morrison and Parrish, but it's clear they need to get better.
""We definitely need another cornerback," said Bowles. "Whether it's a veteran or whether it's a draft pick, that remains to be seen. We'd like to add one or two to the mix and kind of go forward from there. There are some good cornerbacks coming out in this draft and then there are still a few good veteran cornerbacks out on the street, so we'll play it by ear and see what we come up with.""Todd Bowles via Buccaneers.com
The Buccaneers will pick 15th overall in the draft. Tennessee's Jermod McCoy should be available, but spending a first-round pick after back-to-back selections at the position last year proves those two still need to develop further.
The question is whether or not Bowles is telegraphing the Buccaneers' plans. This can be viewed in two ways. One, they need CB help and are actually looking for a CB; or two, they are hoping other teams may rush to take a CB ahead of them in hopes the player they really want will fall to them.
This time of year is typically smoke and mirrors, but one thing is for sure; the Bucs' defense does need to get better. Finishing below .500 in a division where the winner was also below .500 is inexcusable. With Baker Mayfield's contract talks picking up, it's time to get the defense up to the same level.