Early Signs Point To Unpredictablity
January 18th, 2017
Guessing game.
As Joe has stated, the week of the East-West Shrine Game for Joe marks the beginning of draft season.
Yeah, Joe’s been out at practices talking to the hundreds of scouts and coaches and suits and general managers that have descended upon St. Petersburg.
One former scout who now works for the NFL Network, Daniel Jeremiah, recently released his Top 50 draft prospects. Clearly the Bucs need #WeaponsForWinston and wide receiver and running back are easily the two biggest needs.
Here is the problem as far as wide receiver: The Bucs pick No. 19. Jeremiah only has three wide receivers in his Top-30. That would be Corey Davis of Western Michigan, Mike Williams of Clemson and John Ross of Washington. Davis and Williams are ranked Nos. 8 and 9. Ross is rated No. 27.
So if Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht is targeting either Davis or Williams, he better pray there is a run on quarterbacks and offensive linemen. Even with that, Licht might still have to trade up to get either Davis or Williams.
Some suggest the draft is loaded with running backs, but getting a top running back in the draft will be equally dicey in the first round for the Bucs based on Jeremiah’s rankings. He has three running backs in his Top 25. Leonard Fournette at No. 6, Dalvin Cook at No. 11 and Christian McCaffrey at No. 25. By those rankings, Licht might have a prayer at landing Cook.
January 18th, 2017 at 5:10 am
I’d be fine with with any of these in the first round
Corey Davis
Davlin Cook
O.J Howard
Solomon Thomas
I’ve also seen a lot of mocks having Jahlil Peppers fall to us.
January 18th, 2017 at 5:27 am
The good news about a 9-7 record is that we finally had a winning season. Bad news is that we have to wait until #19 to pick in the draft. Much prefer the winning record.
There’s plenty of talent available at #19 that’ll meet one of our priority needs. WR & RB may be our two biggest needs as you say Joe (some like myself think that’s too restrictive), but I would hope that Licht doesn’t overreach just to fill one of those two needs. Would be perfectly happy if we grab BPA if they happen to be a TE, T, C, DT/DE or Safety. I think that those are all priority needs, in addition to WR & RB. Hopefully free agency will fill several of those priority needs and that’ll give us a much better picture of what we need to accomplish in the draft.
January 18th, 2017 at 5:45 am
Best player on the board! We need one of everything except for a punter so it should be a easy pick!
January 18th, 2017 at 6:11 am
I never really thought of this till now but could Ayres recruit JPP seeing at they were DEs together in NY,between that and playing his college ball here. Passing downs move Ayres inside next to McCoy with JJP and spence on the outside would be pretty sick
January 18th, 2017 at 6:49 am
WR-Terrell Pryor (FA)
RB-Mixon (Rd 3)
1st Rd-best available DL
2nd Rd-Safety or TE
January 18th, 2017 at 6:50 am
Meh no big deal as mock drafts are rarely right. Draft is too unpredictable for the media to be right this early
January 18th, 2017 at 6:57 am
Nascar his it’s silly season, MLB the hot stove league…and we enter the NFL’s draft season. Part of the draft season includes the March dinner bell for FA’s.
It’ all speculation but perhaps that’s what makes it fun. And nobody is right or wrong we’re all just throwing darts against the board.
We all agree we need a RB. Lots of disagreement about who and where in the draft.
One name that hasn’t been mentioned here and he’s the 3rd pick in Walter Football’s list of RB’s right after Fournette and Cook. And if you look at their 40 times Fournette, Cook and McCaffery are within .02 of each other…it’s a virtual dead heat although Dalvin seems to have more burst but I’m not really sure.
I think there are two reasons we’re not excited about McCaffery. One he plays on the West Coast and we simply do not see him that much.
And 2ndly…not playing the race card, not saying one race or another feels this way..I think both races are simply no longer used to seeing a white RB. It’s like the movie White Men Can’t Jump. It’s so unfamiliar that we tend to dismiss white RB’s and CB’s.
But again McCaffery, Fournette and Cook have virtually the same speed. McCaffery’s father was an NFL player and I’ve always been partial to children of NFL players….they are used to the big stage…it’s no big deal to them.
And so would we be upset if Licht took McCaffery at 19? What if he picked up another draft pick by trading down and got him later?
Walter Football’s analysis of McCaffery…the forgotten guy on this board.
What really sets McCaffrey apart as a runner is his acceleration and explosiveness. He was a home-run hitter and a threat to rip off a huge gain every time he touched the ball last season. McCaffrey has a nice first-step and darts through the hole to get into the second level of the defense.
In the open field, he has a second gear to pull away from defenders and also is very elusive. He uses his feet, vision, and agility to weave around defenders. McCaffrey isn’t a power runner who simply runs over tacklers, but he does finish his runs well and can pick up some yards after contact.
January 18th, 2017 at 7:04 am
If the year can’t trade up, I’d say trade the 1st rd pick to stockpile a couple of guys later. Depth is a concern, so why not do that if you can’t get the guy you want in Rd 1?
January 18th, 2017 at 7:09 am
ITH
That makes perfect sense to me this year. Again the legendary Bobby Beathard ALWAYS did that if anybody made him an offer. More choices give us a better chance in the crap shoot that is the NFL draft.
January 18th, 2017 at 7:14 am
I have no problem with McCaffrey at all and race doesn’t enter into it, but I just get the feeling with him that he’s more of a day 2 pick for somebody. I wouldn’t be upset if we picked him, but I would be if we picked him at 19. With the needs we have, along with who else likely will be available at 19, I just don’t see it as good value. Maybe go DT, DE or OL at 19. And before you poo poo Mixon, watch his tape. Dudes not just fast, he’s got a wicked juke, and great hands. IF he makes it to our 3rd pick, it would be great value. However-due diligence must be done with Mixon to determine if his hitting that girl was an isolated incident.
January 18th, 2017 at 7:46 am
WR in FA is a must. You really cannot rely on a rookie WR (Evans is the exception, not the rule) to play big in his first year. The learning curve is steep. The McCaffery kid adds dimension in that he can lined up in the slot and has speed to break the big ones. Look at what Bell does for Pitts in the pass game. I like Dalvin Cook as well, more of 3 down back and has history w/ Jameis. I’m not sold on the WR from Western Mich. He was almost a non factor in the bowl game vs. a heavy duty team. We really could use another Safety and DT or DE. We were pretty light here during the season.
January 18th, 2017 at 8:18 am
Some seem to insist we take a WR in the 1st rnd, others insist on a RB. Bradinator makes a great point the you really can’t rely on a rookie WR to play big in his 1st year, thus a FA WR makes sense. No really standout FA RB’s this year (Pittsburgh will surely re-sign Bell), but there are some excellent prospects in the draft. And yes, even beyond Rnd 1.
PR has a great article about Toledo’s Kareem Hunt (5’11” and 225 lbs) … potential 3rd or 4th rounder who’s had solid performances for 4 yrs, great hands & a bear to bring down. But there are plenty of others too. Bucs need to be looking at ALL options, especially with our top 3 picks, because … we’ve got LOTS of additional needs: DT, DE, TE, T, C, Safety among them. Wouldn’t hurt either to add a LB and/or CB and another WR to develop.
January 18th, 2017 at 8:24 am
Licht is gonna show us all how crafty a draft guru he is and trade up in the first round for a long snapper!
Genius!!!
January 18th, 2017 at 8:38 am
Christian McCaffrey is an interesting prospect. Can’t argue with his production in a big football conference.
He reminds me a lot of Le’Veon Bell the way he’s patient and slithers through holes.
However, he’s kinda Charles Simms-esque…
January 18th, 2017 at 8:47 am
Dallas
Not only are you negative you’re so funny we all forgot to laugh. Did you work on that line all night?
Do you even remember the last time you had ANYTHING good to say about the Bucs?
January 18th, 2017 at 8:58 am
So funny you forgot to laugh? Ooohhh burn!!!
January 18th, 2017 at 8:59 am
StPete- well golly gee wilickers you’re right! All we need is more blind positivity of the nature you pedal and we would be sitting around with more SB rings than we know what to do with. Because positivity and JBF aas kissing is the real key to scoring points and winning football games in this league, not making good personnel decisions and talent evaluations. That’s for those blind negativity merchants who all they want to do is see things for what they are no matter how negative. Super bad people.
Way to set it straight StPete!
January 18th, 2017 at 9:02 am
StPete- maybe you should start keeping track of all negative comments and all the positive comments that people here make. That way we can have fun contests for most positive Bucs fanboy and maybe even hold a raffle. Well golly gee that sounds swell doesn’t it StPete?
January 18th, 2017 at 9:03 am
BUILD A WALL! now I’m not suggesting that we reach on a o-lineman but we must continue to try and upgrade the o-line, having an elite o-line may mean being uncomfortable for the betterment of the team! Can you hear me now D. S., continue to build a wall!
January 18th, 2017 at 9:10 am
StPete, when dealing with children, it’s always best to not encourage them. ‘
January 18th, 2017 at 9:27 am
What’s this blakester no mention of your either of your boys mixon or foreman from Jeremiah??? The nerv of him.
January 18th, 2017 at 9:32 am
Best player available. Is how i see this playing out. I think the bucs will trade down in get more picks since in recent draft our picks have been pretty good.. Evans marpet smith vernon spence winston and ect.. I can see us having late first round plus two second round picks and a extra 4th.. If we drop from 19th to like 29th or something..
Top priority RB!!! Marlon MACK!!!! come on down!! This man has broke records running up in down raymond james Noway bucs not select him..
Second round WR & big TE… NO NEED TO TRADE UP AND SELL THE FUTURE WHEN YOU HAVE A FRANCHISE QUATERBACK.. YOU GOTTA SIGN PLAYERS THAT LOVE MAKING PLAYS AND THAT LOVE THE GAME!!! And CHAMPIONSHIPS WILL FOLLOW
January 18th, 2017 at 9:33 am
I’m finding difficulty in your statements. One minute RBs shouldn’t even be considered in round one, the next they’re too many RB needy teams ahead of us so any chance of Dalvin is unrealistic to begin with. Confusing guy pick a side of the fence and remain on it. So we would be dumb to take a RB in the first but it would make total since for any team ahead of us in the draft. Things that make you go hmmm.
January 18th, 2017 at 9:35 am
Forget RB and WR in the first round. Forget OL.
We need DE first, and there are plenty of good options in that list.
January 18th, 2017 at 9:38 am
@bighogheinous
I don’t disagree with your statement!!!! What if the wall is mostly there now, and just needs a piece or two to complete it!!!! But there are also parts that can make the wall imposing!!!! You can have a great wall, but if the once on the street 4th string rb cannot pick up a blitzer and misses his assignments then the wall looks weak!!!!!! The and Rb are parts of the wall too and were very weak last year!!!!
Also its freezing out here in Colorado Bighogheinous!!!! You would not like it, its very white, and it snows as well!!!!!!!!! Next week I will be back in sunny, warm Florida!!!!!!!
Go America!!!!!!!
And Go BUCS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
January 18th, 2017 at 9:42 am
MARLON MACK AND DALVIN COOK ARE EQUAL..
stats are dam near identical.
ONE WENT UP AGAINST GREAT PLAYERS
THE OTHER WENT UP AGAINST GOOD PLAYERS..
BOTH HAVE GREAT SPEED AND GREAT INSTINCTS
BOTH HAVE OVER 3 THOUSANDS CAREER YARDS.
COOK IS KNOWN TO HAVE SOME WHAT OF A NAGGING FOOT PROBLEM
WHILE MACK HAS BEEN INJURED MAYBE ONCE… MACK OVER COOK ANY DAY..
January 18th, 2017 at 9:55 am
Never heard of a nagging foot can you up load the link???
January 18th, 2017 at 9:57 am
Another DE Bonzai??? In the first??? Great I guess Fameis will continue running on to the playing field with jabawakiis as weapons to operate with. Just don’t complain about INTs when the ball gose to the opposite uniform.
January 18th, 2017 at 10:23 am
coon what they say in that All State commercial??? “SILENCE”.
January 18th, 2017 at 11:13 am
This past year he had shoulder and hamstring issues… The year prior it was ankle in other issues.. Cook will go first round but i dont think he goes past 12… He is a better talent then vernon comming out in vernon went 12th in the first round. Cook is good but even if we had a chance to get him i think a speed wr who can catch goes to bucs.. Cook is another cadillac mack is another peterson!!!!
January 18th, 2017 at 11:21 am
I honestly don’t care what position gets the benefit of a 1st round talent – the important thing with the 1st pick and really the 1st 3 picks is to get the best football player you can identify when its your turn to pick.
Obviously need comes into play to at least some degree – IE: we are certainly not going to pick a QB in the 1st round regardless of where he’s at on the Bucs board.
But thanks to Dom leaving the talent cupboard so bare on his way out the door – and even though Licht has obviously done a good job of raising the young talent level at a bunch of positions – the Bucs still have need for higher starter talent at RB1, WR2, TE1/2, C, RT, NT, DE, SLB, SS, FS.
Aside from ASJ being a total headcase/bust and Noah Spence looking good in his rookie year despite playing through a significant injury, Jason Licht has not had or taken the opportunity to address any of those positions properly via the draft yet.
So thats like 6 different general positions where need and BPA can come together perfectly for our 1st couple of picks and it would hopefully be a significant upgrade – RB, WR, TE, OL, DL, Safety.
I imagine/hope a few of the above mentioned “holes” will be filled to whatever degree in free agency and that will likely narrow the focus of certain positions they would like to draft for in the early rounds.
Aside from Aguayo who the jury is obviously still out on – I do think this GM has done a good job so far of drafting talented football players in the early rounds of the draft who can contribute quickly. That’s really all you can ask for and certainly was not much the case the previous 10 years before Licht got here.
January 18th, 2017 at 11:27 am
I like the tackle bolles out of Utah. Looks like a mauler and I love Solomon Thomas.
January 18th, 2017 at 11:32 am
What Licht does when the FA dinner bell rings will determine what may happen in the draft.
First things first.
January 18th, 2017 at 11:39 am
And I see multiple people talking about trading down in the 1st round….
LOL – From pick #19???
That doesn’t happen very often and would usually only occur in a very situation specific way. Its certainly not something you plan for or say you hope it happens because its so highly unlikely.
Just sayin
January 18th, 2017 at 11:44 am
Good post Pick.
January 18th, 2017 at 11:45 am
Ateast you can be reasonable.
January 18th, 2017 at 12:01 pm
The dream for bridge players (3 quality years left in the tank), etc.:
Calais Campbell (FA DE)
Adrian Peterson (FA RB; McCoy Oklahoma connection)
Coradelle Patterson (FA WR)
Jimmy Graham (FA TE)
Cornerback or Safety
Draft:
WR, DL, S, RB, RT; take best available
January 18th, 2017 at 12:08 pm
NOS-BOS
I know you want Dalvin Cook badly and I certainly understand why. He is indeed a special talent.
I am typically against the idea of drafting RBs in the 1st round – and there are a # of legit reasons why that is a sound philosophy as a generality – especially in today’s NFL.
That said – if I was Licht and Cook was sitting there at #19 – I wouldn’t hesitate to draft him now that we suddenly find ourselves in need of a #1 RB (thanks again DM)
But there’s no way Dalvin is getting out of the top 12 and I’d be surprised if he isn’t one of the 1st 8 or 9 players drafted.
It would cost at least our 1st 2nd and 4th round picks to move up into the top 10. And you can be quite sure Licht is not stupid enough to even consider that sort of a move.
I guess what I’m saying is that the odds of Cook becoming a Buccaneer are not very good and you don’t seem to be accepting that really at all.
Again – Just Sayin
January 18th, 2017 at 12:15 pm
Gilhealy
Your are correct sir. I take and accept your point.
January 18th, 2017 at 12:23 pm
StPete- let us know when that positivity tracking is up and running? Can’t wait to compete, maybe win a fanboy badge!
January 18th, 2017 at 12:45 pm
@47allin – Jimmy Graham is not a FA. He’s owed a large sum of money, but there is every indication Seattle will keep him.
January 18th, 2017 at 6:25 pm
Can’t determine any names at this point just possible positions.