Bucs must Focus on defense in draft
With the NFL draft less than 24 hours away, Jason Licht, Dirk Koetter and the rest of the front office are going over their mock drafts for the last time. Soon their number will be called and the Bucs will be on the clock.
Whoever the Browns take at No. 1, Josh Allen or Baker Mayfield, one thing is for sure, with the Bucs picking at No. 7, they have no reason not to a DB regardless of how the first 6 picks are slotted. The Bucs did absolutely nothing to help themselves in this area in free agency. Coming off the season they had defensively, the Bucs have to take a DB at 7.
I Like Minkah Fitzpatrick as the choice for the Bucs. He brings the most versatility to the position and will be able to help the Bucs in different defensive formations and could be an impact player from the start.
Derwin James out of FSU would be my second choice. James is probably the most mature of the top prospects, and has the best leadership ability. James is primarily a SS and would be an improvement over the current group of Tandy, Conte, Robinson, and Isaiah Johnson.
If Fitzpatrick and James are off the board, Denzel Ward the CB out of Ohio State would be my next choice. The only thing I don’t like about Ward is his height. He is only 5-10 and would have trouble covering some of the larger receivers in one on one coverage. He has good speed and good ball skills and is very physical.
There is no other option for the Bucs. Jason Licht has gone out and improved the OL, revamped the DL, even signed a new kicker. The Defensive backfield is one area that he did not address in free agency. When your defense is ohe of the worst in the NFL and the DB’s were a big reason why, you have to address it, and I think Licht will with the No. 7 pick.
RB is another area where the Bucs are really thin. Peyton Barber and Jacquizz Rodgers would be the RB’s if the season started tomorrow. I think the Bucs need to look to take a RB with their second selection.
Derrius Guice of LSU should be their when the Bucs pick at No. 38. He would be a nice addition to Barber and Rodgers. Nick Chubb of Georgia could also be there at 37. Chubb has seen his stock drop since his season ending ACL injury in 2015. Chubb seems to have lost a bit of his overall speed and explosiveness since the injury.
If his is there, I would take a chance on Chubb. He has a lot to prove and believe he will work hard to get back to running the ball the way he did before the devastating injury.
Rashaad Penny of San Diego State, and Kerryon Johnson of Auburn could also be on the Board when the Bucs number is called.
I will be disappointed if the Bucs do not take a DB at No. 7. I know it would be hard to pass on Quentin Nelson or Saquon Barkley if he would be there at 7, You draft to improve the deficiencies on your team, not necessarily take the best player.
Should the Bucs take Nelson or another player at 7 they will live to regret it when Drew Brees, Big Ben , and Carson Wentz are putting up big numbers against this secondary. The Bucs will have no one to blame but themselves.
Hopefully Jason Licht will do the right thing for the team and get this Bucs team back on the road to respectability.
