Time For A Taco
January 20th, 2017
Could Bucs target another DE like Taco Charlton?
Joe is not much of a fan of helmethair Mel Kiper, Jr.
The BSPN draft analyst does a good job researching players. Joe’s problem is Kiper changes his mind almost as often as Joe changes underwear. This guy will have the Bucs picking 18 different players between now and the draft.
And that is why Joe has a major, major issue with NFL draft mockers. Pick a mock draft and stick with it! Any fraud can guess each week. Joe can find children and drunks in a bar that can do that, big deal!
The only reason Joe is bringing the following is because it is Kiper’s first mock and it is rather interesting and makes sense.
Kiper has (at this hour) the Bucs picking Taco Charlton, the scary defensive end from Michigan.
Charlton plays with good leverage for his height (6-5) and has active hands and an incredible wingspan. I’m curious what he’ll measure at the combine. He can play on his feet, too, which means he could fit in a 4-3 or 3-4 scheme. The Bucs took Noah Spence in the second round last year, and he improved in their 4-3 as the season progressed (5.5 sacks). Charlton would be a great pick.
Joe likes this for several reasons. One, Charlton is damned good. Two, the Bucs still don’t know what they have in Noah Spence. It sure looks like Spence might be a quality player, but he’s still young. Second, eventually Mr. Beasting, Robert Ayers, will be gone. Third, Jacquies Smith, with his injury history, cannot be counted on.
This is why Joe was bummed when the Bucs drafted Roberto Aguayo when they could have gotten Yannick Ngakoue (8 sacks) in the third round to go along with Spence.
January 20th, 2017 at 4:16 am
With Corey Davis still on the board. Hard to see us passing on a stud wr like that.
January 20th, 2017 at 5:00 am
I think that it all still depends on who’s available at #19 since the Bucs have so many priority needs. Right now I think those priority needs are a #2 WR, a #1 RB, a Safety and a beastly DE (even when we re-sign Will Gholston). Hopefully we can fill at least one (preferably two) of those needs in free agency, and at least buy ourselves a couple of years. Beyond those 4 positions though Bucs might find it hard to pass on a top center, tackle or TE.
Since free agency doesn’t seem to be overflowing with talent in those positions this year (and since everyone has money it seems), this draft will be critical for us. Hopefully we can hit on 3 starters/key rotational players (tough to do) and grab some great developmental players for depth. Lots of needs.
January 20th, 2017 at 5:31 am
As long as we get a #2 WR in free agency I would actually prefer if we went DL round 1. Daniel Jeremiah had us taking Charles Harris, another DE in round 1. However Mel has us passing on Corey Davis I believe so if he is there and we didnt sign a WR we would have to pick Davis
January 20th, 2017 at 5:58 am
Can never have enough pass rushers. If they go DE that means they better sign 1-2 WR’s in FA. Licht can’t mess up this offseason
January 20th, 2017 at 7:10 am
DE is the way to go in the 1st round, IF that is the best player available. We can beef-up at other positions thru FA and later in the draft. But DE is too expensive and more of a crap shoot in FA
January 20th, 2017 at 7:15 am
Make some quality decisions in FA so you can go BPA and if that means a stud DE, great! Just about every position group could use another quality player.
January 20th, 2017 at 7:39 am
You see a lot of children in bars, joe?
January 20th, 2017 at 7:48 am
I think it’s great to look at top 50 prospects from the ‘experts’. I love watching highlights of who might be there. Hoping certain players could somehow end up on our roster. But mocking is beyond crazy until after the FA frenzied period is over. Then, and only then can someone (including) ‘experts’ make a decent mock. Until then, enjoy highlights and wonder what might be. Anything else is like a rocking chair. Gives you something to do, but won’t get you anywhere.
January 20th, 2017 at 8:08 am
@Hands – why the need to state the obvious. Of course it is simply entertaining day dreaming right now. What else should Joe be writing about the Bucs in January when they are out of the playoffs.
January 20th, 2017 at 8:14 am
Mock drafts before Free-Agency is just plain stupid.
January 20th, 2017 at 8:21 am
I wouldn’t be surprised by the pick, Coach Hayes has a track record of developing big, athletic ends. Dunlap and Johnson are both over 6’5″ while both being second rounders.
January 20th, 2017 at 8:48 am
He’s got a bums name written all over him. All Pro Taco Charlton?
January 20th, 2017 at 9:24 am
I get your consternation with Kiper’s changes but in fairness Joe if you want him to come up with just ONE list…he or anybody else for that matter have no business doing mocks right now.
We haven’t seen all star games…the Combine…and just as we recognize our draft will be dramatically effected by our FA acquistions that’s also true for the other 31 teams.
IE Nobody can forecast an accurate mock before all star games..the combine and FA…not to mention pro days on various campuses and the private interviews and team visits.
At least we JBF posters are smart enough to realize we’re just havin’ some fun here. It’s fun to pretend and wish.
My totally unrealistic wish list…
Sign FA’s Eric Berry (KC won’t let him get away)
Terrelle Pryor and perhaps one more WR if he has blazing speed
Sign AP…
Turn to the draft and load up BPA’s on both lines.
Yeah bring on the TACO. I agree with Tampa Tony you can never have enough DE’s. I think Noah will blow up this year…wouldn’t hurt to have another game changing DE on the other side.
January 20th, 2017 at 9:24 am
TouchDown: I was commenting my opinion on mock drafts in general. By no means was I coming down on Joe. Even he/they are not fans of mock drafts. You must have misinterpreted what I wrote.
January 20th, 2017 at 9:59 am
mock drafts are just crazy inconsistent….I don’t see why someone would do a draft before the combine….the mock draft I saw had corey davis being the first wr taken and mike Williams going #14….I don’t know about some of you but I would be willing to trade up 5spots to get him…that wouldn’t cost us that much maybe a 4th and 5th….it would be hard because we have a lot of holes to fill but I think he would be worth it….
but if both wrs are gone, I wouldn’t mind taco at #19…or trade down collect more picks and select jarred davis linebacker from UF….we got no production from D.smith last year and adding jarred davis would give us the best linebacking crew in the league and more picks creating more flexibility….a lot depends on FA….GO BUCS!!!!
January 20th, 2017 at 11:47 am
813, according to the trade value chart, a trade up from 19-14 would probably cost us our 3rd and 4th round picks.
January 20th, 2017 at 1:31 pm
The reason why there are mock drafts this early is because people read them! Simple as that. This ain’t rocket science. This is the offseason NFL and there’s still so much interest that any draft info generates interest, even if it’s BS. That BS makes people money. Seriously, this isn’t difficult. Now, why do Kiper’s drafts change so much? Well, simple-minded Joes, it’s because he’s operating from the best information he has at the time. As time goes on he develops new information, perhaps refines some of his impressions. This is the NFL offseason. This isn’t hard to understand – the hype machine must run year-round.
January 20th, 2017 at 2:27 pm
I havent watched Taco Charlton yet but I read his scouting report and he seems like an absolute stud. It seems like allof his “weaknesses” are in technique and timing, which both of those can be taught and improved with experience. Would absolutely love this pick. Especially if we lose Will Gholston.
January 20th, 2017 at 8:22 pm
If the scouts and coaches agree – then bring on the Taco!!!
You will never hear me complain about drafting a DL player in the 1st round.
In fact – you pretty much have to in order to get top talent to work with and mold. Its a premium position and the best of these guys make $15-$20M per year for a reason…
Sure we seem to have more talent at DE now with Spence and Ayers to go along with Jac Smith and Gholson – but until one of our ends breaks the 12 year streak of no one getting 10 sacks – then we need to just keep bringing them in – and continue to keep bringing them in – until we can find the magic combination that results in REAL pressure on a CONSISTENT basis.
You MUST have a great DL for a 4-3 defense to play well much less be dominant.
It all starts up front.
I hope we draft DE AND DT in this draft. Any defensive picks (aside from a stud safety that we need desperately) need to go towards the DL IMO.
January 20th, 2017 at 9:20 pm
@Pickgrin
I totally agree with you. You can never have too many pass rushers. The idea of having both a healthy Noah Spence and Taco Charlton getting after Brees, Ryan, and Cam is super exciting to me. Add GMC and hopefully an upgrade at the DT spot next to him and that is a super scary front 4
January 20th, 2017 at 9:34 pm
I Am cool with them going DE as long as they get some offensive playmakers in FA first.
January 20th, 2017 at 9:39 pm
So I watched the 4 games on draft breakdown that they have on Taco Charlton and this are some of the things I came away with
Negatives:
– Slow off the ball
– Needs to set the edge more consistently in the run game: A lot of times he collapses inside and allows the RB to get the edge
– Needs more power: He has the speed to get OT off balance quite often. When he does he tries to engage and bull rush them back, but lacks the power to do this effectively
Positives:
– Size: Particularly his length. His long arms help him shed blocks with ease
– Multiple moves in his arsenal to get to the QB: He can win with speed off the edge, has a nice inside step, and has a smooth spin move that is pretty effective (watch his tape against Wisconsin, he beats Ryan Ramczyk, one of the top OT this year, with the spin move a few times)
– Athletic: Even at 6′ 6″ he can bend low enough to get leverage on shorter OTs
– All his negatives can be taught: This isnt a positive on tape, but it is a positive that he can still be this good and still get to a next level, which is exciting
Overall he is a stud and has the tools to make an immediate impact on a team and still have more upside after that. Would love to see him in a Bucs uniform and be Robert Ayers successor. Him and Noah Spence on the field together will be SCARY.
And on a side note. After watching some of these tapes of the Michigan defense, Jourdan Lewis looks like a future lock down corner. Was very impressed with a lot of the plays he made while I was watching Taco.
January 20th, 2017 at 9:48 pm
Taco is my next choice if Barnett and Solomon are gone. I think we should hit D line first if the top WR talent is gone. Otherwise, trade back. A lot of nice looking 2nd round talent out there to trade back for and then trade up into….2nd’s and 3rd’s are no jokes in this years draft.
January 20th, 2017 at 11:48 pm
Everyone praises Jadon Licht but I’m sorry u can’t excuse him for the horrible trade back in the 2nd round to get Aguayo. It will never make sense to me. I always had a major issue with it. How bad was the pick, let’s say the Bucs were in the same situation that the packers were in. Koetter would NEVER have tried the 56 yard field goal against the Cowboys , he would have punted and most the Bucs would have lost the same scenario occurred . Mason Crosby was not a 2nd round pick .
January 21st, 2017 at 7:46 am
Talented player and lottsa room for improvement off the snap !! Very Very slow off the ball !!!
January 22nd, 2017 at 3:08 am
Love this time of the year.
And at last, I have faith that the team will make the right choices!
I intent to read hundreds of mock drafts, and read up on every FA
And this year- its much more fun, and much less desperation