Drafting Nelson Moves RB Search To Day 3?
April 15th, 2018
Notre Dame manbeast guard Quenton Nelson
Some Bucs fans might want to be careful what they wish for.
Many ache deeply for general manager Jason Licht to draft Notre Dame guard Quenton Nelson, the manbeast considered by many to be the safest overall pick.
Their logic is simple: Nelson (6-5, 325 pounds) is a rare talent that would instantly transform the Bucs’ offensive line into one of the NFL’s best.
And Step 2 of their logic? Any decent running back could thrive running behind Donovan Smith, Nelson, Ryan Jensen, Ali Marpet and Demar Dotson (from left to right along the line).
Joe has shared several times that Joe believes Licht will pounce on Nelson if he’s there at No. 7. But if Licht went that route, then Joe is confident Licht would then let the inevitable running back selection by the Bucs fall to the fourth-round or later (or perhaps trade back up into the third round to grab one).
With Tampa Bay’s painfully glaring need at cornerback, it’s hard to imagine Licht picking Nelson and then passing on a corner with a second-round pick. The Bucs lost their third-round pick in the Jason Pierre-Paul trade.
Joe noted earlier today, with help from Helmet Hair, there will be decent running back options after Round 2.
And effective running backs are still on the street who could complement/compete with Peyton Barber, such as Orleans Darkwa, who had a couple of 100+ yard games last year behind the Giants’ brutal offensive line.
Simply stated: if you want the Bucs to draft a stud running back this year, then expect a Nelson pick to wipe out that dream.
$20 all-you-can-eat buffet kicks off at 6 p.m. and runs all night long. Be there!!
April 15th, 2018 at 9:01 am
This has the smell of when the Bucs picked Gaines Adams and passed on Adrian Peterson.
Please Bucs…DO NOT REPEAT BAD HISTORY.
Get a running back.
April 15th, 2018 at 9:06 am
By this logic, any pick other than Saquon or Ward means the same thing.
April 15th, 2018 at 9:27 am
Draft
1st Quenton Nelson
2nd Running Back of Choice
>>>>Trade for CB Ronald Darby.
April 15th, 2018 at 9:28 am
We also passed on Kuechly for the safest pick Baron as well. Safe doesn’t mean great.
April 15th, 2018 at 9:28 am
If Chubb is gone it has to be Nelson. Dude is going to be a stud and he’ll help keep the pocket clean for Winston – or whoever is playing QB here in a couple years.
April 15th, 2018 at 9:29 am
I’ll say it again…
Everything cannot be fixed in a single offseason.
But the trenches can be.
Nelson in round 1
Young DE in round 2
Dominate trench warfare.
FIX THE TRENCHES, FIX THE BUCS!!
April 15th, 2018 at 9:30 am
Whatever is done, it’ll be judged harshly in year 1, then put more on the back burner until more results come in over time, whether its Barkley or Nelson. Everyone knows its a crapshoot, and good luck trying to figure it out. Except for a few franchises that seem to get it mostly right, the rest, including the Bucs, mostly don’t.
April 15th, 2018 at 9:30 am
Ur right, great means great
April 15th, 2018 at 9:31 am
In this scenario Joe, I would still prefer to have Nelson and take my chances on a RB later. It’s easier to pick up a RB on the street than a potentially dominant piece of our O line for next 10 years.
April 15th, 2018 at 9:32 am
Hahahaha
Helmet hair….
April 15th, 2018 at 9:33 am
LG Quenton Nelson
OC Ryan Jensen
RG Ali Marpet
Just Plug-In-Play.
April 15th, 2018 at 9:40 am
Jordan Howard, Kareem Hunt, Alvin Kamara, Devonta Freeman, David Johnson, Alex Collins, C.J Anderson, and Jay Ajayi are starters drafted outside of the first 2 rounds in the draft..
Plus the likes of Jame White, Kenyan Drake, Jerick McKinnon, Dion Lewis, DeMarco Murray(when healthy, and Chris Thompson are all legit RB’s as well
Marlon Mack and D’Onta Foreman look like the real deal
Just naming a few to show all is not lost if we don’t get your favorite RB in the 1st or 2nd round
April 15th, 2018 at 9:49 am
The lines are much more important than RB or the secondary. Period. Make them both elite, and the rest of the team will benefit immensely.
We could have the best RB in the NFL, but place him behind an average line and he will under perform.
Address OL in round one. DL in round two. In round four take Dimitri Flowers.
People look at last year’s RB pick and use it to assume they do not work out. That was one case, and the player was football stupid. He couldn’t learn a playbook.
That is not the norm.
April 15th, 2018 at 9:51 am
Nelson then go get chubb in round 2
April 15th, 2018 at 9:57 am
Joe #2, I know your against it at the moment, but you should thank your lucky stars if we draft Quenton Nelson at #7 overall. Behind a line of Smith, Marpet, Jensen, Nelson, and Dotson/Benenoch, our run game will thrive with Barber and Quizz.
And if we get Nelson and manage to add a prospect like Rashaad Penny or Nick Chubb with a trade down in the 2nd, or Josh Adams, Mark Walton, Akrum Wadley, or Bo Scarborough in rounds 4-6, then we should have a potent rushing attack on Sundays no matter who we’re playing against.
Just think back to this time last year when you were staunchly against drafting O.J. Howard. I bet once you see how huge, strong, and technically sound Nelson is in training camp, your reservations against him will wash away just as they did with O.J. da juice man.
April 15th, 2018 at 9:57 am
I would trade down as many times as possible.
Try to get our 3rd rounder back plus 2 2nd rounders.
1 late 1st round pick. 3 2nd round picks. 1 3rd round pick.
5 picks in the 1st 3 rounds.
CB, SS, RB, OG. DE.
Trade our 4th and 7th for a late 3rd rounder.
Draft another RB.
CB, SS, 2 RB’S, OG, DE
Boom.
April 15th, 2018 at 9:58 am
This is why you fill holes through free agency, then you can take the best player at your draft position. there are still corners out there, sign some.
I’m perfectly OK with Nelson in the first and the best running back in the second. There will be corners before, during and after the draft and after camp cuts. As is often mentioned on this site, we don’t need D. Revis and D. Sanders, since our pathetic defensive scheme allows receivers to run absolutely scott-free. anyone can do that.
Also, don’t conclude that the DL is complete either!
Guard- 8-10 yrs
RB- 4-5 yrs
However, I personally would have an extremely difficult time passing on Saquan.
April 15th, 2018 at 10:01 am
That’s why you don’t draft Nelson at #7. Defensive back; James, Fitzpatrick or Ward if you can’t trade back. Then you can possibly get Hernandez or Wynn, who are very solid guards in the second round or I am hoping for Guice.
April 15th, 2018 at 10:03 am
I am fine with upgrading our offensive line. We need to protect Winston better if we want more accurate deep passes. However, if we don’t upgrade our defensive backs we better be able to score 40 points per game.
April 15th, 2018 at 10:05 am
Dimitri Flowers is a n Alstott type. Runs hard. Catches. Goal line runner. Moves the chains.
Who did we draft first? Alstott or Dunn?
Go power first. Dimitri is the pick.
April 15th, 2018 at 10:07 am
It would be extremely difficult to pass on Barkley or Chubb. I’d take Nelson. But if that trade down option comes and its not to far down….you gotta bite
April 15th, 2018 at 10:10 am
The 2nd round is the sweet spot for CB’s in this draft. We should take a CB in the 2nd regardless of who we pick in the 1st other than Ward. There will be better RB’s in the 4th than CB’s. Trade back in the 2nd, grab a CB and an extra pick. I would prefer taking Kerryon Johnson in the 3rd to other backs in the 2nd.
April 15th, 2018 at 10:21 am
Are there any decent CB’s left in Free Agency that we could pick up if we went OG 1st Rd & RB 2nd Rd?
April 15th, 2018 at 10:21 am
The RB’s worth a damn will be gone in the 4th guaranteed. This draft is loaded with CB’s not RB’s I don’t know why people keep thinking we’re gonna find value there (THIS YEAR) unless you want another McNichols project. We’ll be taking a RB no later than the 2nd whether we get Nelson or not.
April 15th, 2018 at 10:22 am
*DB’s
April 15th, 2018 at 10:26 am
Joe – any idea why we haven’t looked at CB Breeland since the deal fell through with the physical? Does anyone know what he failed for?
April 15th, 2018 at 10:29 am
I think there is a very good chance they would this take a RB in the second round, sign a free agent CB, and draft CB in forth and fifth.
April 15th, 2018 at 10:34 am
All the potentially starting CB’s will be gone before the 4th rd regardless of how loaded this draft is with CB’s. Practically every team needs CB’s. There will be a run on them in the 2nd rd and again in the 3rd. CB’s are still valued much higher than RB’s. There will still be good RB’s available in the 4th but we’ll probably pick up a 3rd rd pick along the way and grab a RB there. I would target Kerryon Johnson.
April 15th, 2018 at 10:38 am
“Any decent running back could thrive running behind Donovan Smith, Nelson, Ryan Jensen, Ali Marpet and Demar Dotson”
That is money. Give Barber a chance behind that line and we may be surprised at how well he can run. Anyone can run behind a great line and we have seen that theory proved time and time again using the Cowboys as an example. Alfred Morris was excellent behind Dallas’ line last year and their run game did not suffer at all. Thats what we need here inTampa.
Build The Wall.
April 15th, 2018 at 10:41 am
I’ll say it again, trade the first round pick along with Dex Jack (Bucs and deep threat recievers have never work out) for both of NE first round picks and both of their second round picks
New England
1st Round 7 (Baker Mayfield-QB)
Dexter Jackson-WR
Tampa Bay
1st Round 23 (Joshua Jackson-CB) or (Harold Landry-DE) or (Sam Hubbard-DE)
1st-Round 31 ( D.J. Moore-WR) or (Courtland Sutton-WR) or (Joshua Jackson CB) or (James Daniels-C)
2nd Round 38 (Ronald Jones-RB) or (Calivn RIdley-WR) or (Will Hernandez-G) or (Connor WIlliam OT)
2nd Round 43 (Donte Jackson CB) or (Mike Hughes- CB) or (Derrius Guice-RB) or (Dorance Armstrong DE)
2nd Round 63 (WR/CB/RB/OL/DE)
April 15th, 2018 at 10:49 am
I disagree w this theory Joe. There r still bridge corners on the market. I can see them going guard then rb in second if the right guy is there. My dream scenario is them trading down and recouping the pick for JPP and maybe another pick and drafting Guice in the first rd. My gut is he will be more productive than Barkley. Then maybe getting the guard price from osu. He got hurt at combine but he was a projected first rd pick before injury. Even Wynn or Hernandez should b there in 2nd. Then a solid cb or safety w pick we got to trade down with.
April 15th, 2018 at 10:52 am
@Bao Qing Tian
That trade would NEVER happen.
April 15th, 2018 at 10:52 am
Trading DJack would be bad juju. If you want potential Free Agents to come here you can’t trade them away after 1 year for no reason. It’s one thing to cut a Swaggy Baker or Robert Ayers who underperformed, but not DJack. We need FA’s to trust the FO.
April 15th, 2018 at 10:55 am
Batman Wood Says
“Trading DJack would be bad juju.”
I disagree with that entirely. Jackson isn’t going to be much use to the Bucs this year anyway. But the most we would get for him is a third rounder…if that.
He was never as good as advertised. He drops more passes than he catches. He just happens to break for yards once in a while. Koetter and Winston are too busy catering to his drama queen personality to speak the truth about him…but Jackson will be gone by next year.
April 15th, 2018 at 10:56 am
And it really doesn’t matter what other free agents think. This is Tampa. They already think poorly of us. Money does our talking…and unfortunately, that is why we end up overpaying for guys like Jackson.
April 15th, 2018 at 11:04 am
Yeah…@RjBucnut is right. There’s not any proof one way or the other that Bucs would pass on a RB in round 2 than there is that they would take a DE/CB/S there. Just isn’t. And with the atrocious philosophical failed ecperiment of McNichols last year in round 5, they wont make that mistake again.
Plus…in a year of you-better-have-a-winning-record or else…who affects the outcome of the game more, a 2nd round CB, or a 2nd rd RB??
Which is why none of that will happen.
SAQUON BARKLEY, skip Nelson (or gone).
Go Bucs!
April 15th, 2018 at 11:14 am
Waiting to get a GOOD RB until the 4th round this year makes zero sense and would be bad management. We don’t have the luxury of gambling and HOPING our RB will be there in the 4th like other teams might. There’s no argument to support that being a smart move AT ALL.
April 15th, 2018 at 12:00 pm
Where did this o line crowd come from. This offensive is not bottom of the league and Jason Licht probably would have no issue finding one in a later round. Nelson does not have to be the pick at 7 and neither does running back, hope the top 3 are gone because everyone talks like if we don’t get one of them it will somehow define our season.
Corner, safety and running back are biggest needs, bucs haven’t needed to draft an o lineman in the 1st since who Davin Joseph? Nelson is a luxury pick and if he and Barkley are on the board I’d hold the league ransdom trying to get as many picks as we can to trade down
Dallas invested heavy in the line which didn’t produce a thing besides them starting to leave in free agency for bigger pay day
April 15th, 2018 at 12:03 pm
@Not there yet
Any football fan worth his salt realizes that victory begins by dominating the trenches.
The difference between an Average O-line and a Great one is substantial.
April 15th, 2018 at 12:17 pm
My fantasy draft is somehow stealing Saquan Barkley at 7.
Next fantasy is Chubb at 7
Next is Nelson and Guice in the 2nd.
Nelson has a reputation as a man with a mean streak…Guice is an RB who runs hard and enjoys the contact…Our new center is a wild man..and Ali is a tough customer as well.
Those two draft picks give this team…at least on offense a mean attitude. I think #3 LOVE ‘tude….he would love having the core of his offense full of nasty boys.
April 15th, 2018 at 12:18 pm
@Joe
Lee, cmon man. What did Nelson do to you for you to be opposed of the Bucs drafting him? There will be some running backs on the board when we are on the clock in the second round.
April 15th, 2018 at 12:31 pm
I agree.
FIX THE TRENCHES FIX THE BUCS
Games are won and lost on the lines.
It’s simple math. Don’t overthink it.
If you have a chance at greatness you take it.
Plain and simple.
And shut the F up about Derwin James at 7.
Didn’t stand out on a terrible team.
April 15th, 2018 at 12:42 pm
Trading down in the 2nd round to acquire an additional pick is also and option.
April 15th, 2018 at 12:46 pm
#TrenchWarFare (2018)
Offensive Line
LT Donovan Smith | Leonard Wester
LG Quenton Nelson | Caleb Benenoch
C Ryan Jensen | Evan Smith
RG Ali Marpet | Givens Price
RT Demar Dotson | Caleb Benenoch
Defensive Line
RDE Vinny Curry | Noah Spence
RDT Gerald McCoy | Mitch Unrein
LDT Beau Allen | Stevie Tu’ikolovatu
LDE Jason Pierre-Paul | William Gholston | Will Clarke
Note: Solid chance Sweezy’s either cut or reaches an injury settlement with the team.
April 15th, 2018 at 12:59 pm
If Nelson is there – you take him and thank your lucky stars you are getting such an amazing prospect at a position of need.
I would then look to trade down into the later 2nd and recoup a 3rd rd pick. Select Rashaad Penny in the late 2nd, then go pick the highest CB on your board in the 3rd rd. Go BPA at Safety/DL with the 2nd pick in the 4th round and then bpa looking for gems (mostly on defense preferably) with picks 5,6,6,7
1. Nelson
2. Penny
3. CB
4. Safety/DL
5. BPA defense (DL?)
6. BPA defense (DB?)
6. BPA RB/Returner
7. BPA
Do something similar to that and hit every strength in the draft early while filling needs with great to good prospects within the 1st 102 selections taken.
Getting a Generational OG prospect and a solid yet somewhat dynamic 3 down RB prospect (who provides a nice complementary running style to Barber btw) in rds 1 and 2 would “complete” our offense with an exclamation point!
Then you turn full attention to filling defensive needs with 5 of the next 6 picks.
If the right player at Safety or whatever is there towards the end of the 3rd you look to couple your high 4th with 1 or 2 of the later picks and move back up into the 3rd for that “right” player – attempting to come out of this draft with 4 starting quality players (just like last year) at positions of need…
1. Nelson
2. Penny
3. CB
3. Safety
5. BPA (DL)
7. BPA (DL/CB/RB)
April 15th, 2018 at 1:03 pm
Buccaneer Bonzai says:
“Jackson isn’t going to be much use to the Bucs this year anyway”
April 15th, 2018 at 1:03 pm
Again, Joe cannot tell you how many hundreds of football games he has seen over the years. Joe has yet to see a guard change a game with one play. Joe is of the belief at No. 7, you get a game-changer.
April 15th, 2018 at 1:05 pm
With you 100 percent Pickgrin. The only thing we could do in rounds 1 and 2 that could rival Nelson and Penny would be Barkley and Hernandez.
April 15th, 2018 at 1:13 pm
@joes
You’re right a guard doesn’t change one play in a game.
He can change every single play in the game.
April 15th, 2018 at 1:18 pm
Nelson, if he’s there. Easy with the Adrian Peterson was there but we didn’t draft him stuff. As a rookie, Peterson ran behind an O-line that had 3 pro bowlers on that line. Barkley wouldn’t come close to walking into that situation in Tampa. Build from the inside out. O-line, D-line needs infusion of talent…young talent.
April 15th, 2018 at 1:19 pm
A running back is only as good as the line in front of him…
April 15th, 2018 at 1:32 pm
And for those who say, what good has a dominate O-line done for Dallas? Number 2 rushing attack in NFL, with their best player playing only 10 games at RB. Simple numbers game, that kind of ground game controls the clock and keeps a bush league defense off the field, which is what Tampa has at the moment.
April 15th, 2018 at 1:37 pm
@Blake_Bucsfan
Any BUC fan worth his salt knows the bucs draft history and they have rarely drafted offensive line with the first pick. People kill me with these can’t miss draft picks. Ali marpet is not a first round pick and neither is any guy on our line. I didn’t realize Nelson was the only draftable lineman possible of starting and dominating in the trenches. If you have draft fatigue you need to take a break for a week. Opinions vary and unless your some kind of supreme being you don’t know more than any other football fan, there’s more than one guy capable of dominating the trenches like Nelson.
If you were a football fan you’d know that, maybe your more of a mel kiper Todd mcshay fan. It happens every year so Chubb, Barkley and Nelson won’t be the only rookies to have great seasons and help their teams win
April 15th, 2018 at 1:48 pm
i see the Bucs trading up into the 3rd round there is a reason they traded there 3rd round pick an swapped 4th round picks with the Giants the bucs now hold the 2nd pick in the 4th round an have 2 6th round pick i could almost guarantee they will trade the 4th an a 6th to move up into the 3rd round thats is was Licht loves to do so i see up grabbing best RB or CB in round 2 or 3 depending on what happens in the 1st but they will draft a player in first 3 rounds
April 15th, 2018 at 1:52 pm
@Jjones
This year’s RB class is strong through the first 4 rounds. I wouldn’t wait ’til the 5th rd like last year because there’s a huge dropoff after the 4th rd. but there will be a starting caliber RB at the top of the 4th for us, especially now that we have the 2nd pick in the 4th rd. Researching a concensus of draft boards I have identified 16 RB’s with a 4th rd. grade or higher. 7 of those 16 have 4th rd. grades. Some of these 4th rounders will prove to be just as good as the 2nd rounders. I want Kerryon Johnson in the 3rd.
April 15th, 2018 at 1:54 pm
i want nelson or hernandez btw an i hope we draft guice or michel i like chase edmonds as a late round RB im excited for the draft cant wait to see how it turns out i would like nelson or trade back would rather get nelson unless its with buff an we can get both there 1st round picks then we could fill all needs 2 first a 2nd an we will trade into the 3rd with our 4th an 6th we do have 2 6th round picks so i love that
April 15th, 2018 at 1:56 pm
Joe you may have this one figured out. There may be no possible scenario where Licht gets out of round 2 without adding any help for our secondary.
When you really objectively look at it the secondary is our biggest need this draft. And it’s really not even close.
April 15th, 2018 at 1:58 pm
Guice couldn’t stay healthy in his lone season as the starter.. Not sure why anyone would want to run that risk as a 2nd round pick
April 15th, 2018 at 2:16 pm
Phillip. I have heard both a few fans and even one of our sports radio guy suggesting Guice at #7. Ya never know
April 15th, 2018 at 2:22 pm
Whoever those people are need to get off the drugs
April 15th, 2018 at 2:32 pm
How about we readers with New England and with two late rund choices we get W.Hernandez and D.Guice?
April 15th, 2018 at 2:33 pm
Lots of great guessing going on, but reality is that IF one of the Big-3 is there at #7 then Licht will snatch him up. Any of the Big-3 represent NEEDS for the Bucs (DE/RB/G) and all 3 are potential game-changers for years to come (it’s a beautiful thing when BPA = NEED). IF all 3 are gone by #7, then trading down is only an option if someone else is willing to dance & IF Licht perceives good value in the trade-down. LOTS & LOTS of IF’s in there.
Who Licht goes with in Rnd 2 is anybody’s guess at this point. IF there’s a CB there who we’re high on (BPA) then Licht may pull the trigger. But the same could be said for RB, G, DE or DT (probably not Safety in Rnd 2 though), again dependent on what we did in Rnd 1 AND on who’s still on the board. Fun to speculate, but it’s still all just guessing.
April 15th, 2018 at 2:33 pm
Trade* not readers
April 15th, 2018 at 2:36 pm
And BTW Joe, I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see the Bucs bring back Charles Sims, depending on who we draft to be a bell-cow RB.
April 15th, 2018 at 2:40 pm
There is a chance that Lichts top three prospects doesn’t match the “Big three” that most of us talk about……..I’ve seen Ward, Fitzpatrick and James all mocked inside of the top three non QBs.
Not out of the realm of possibilities that Lichts big three is not what we all assume it is.
April 15th, 2018 at 2:47 pm
CB, SS, RB, and OG are more pressing needs than DE after the JPP trade imo.. I definitely was hoping we would pick up a vet CB before the draft (I don’t count re-signing Grimes as he was already here) but I also think it’s smart to wait till after.
If JL plays it smart and takes BPA in conjunction with need (without forcing a pick) then we could be looking at Vets cut after the draft to fill the remaining glaring holes on this team for this season and revisit it next
April 15th, 2018 at 3:17 pm
@Batman…we are not waiting until the 4th round to get a RB. If we do anything we’ll be trading back in to get our RB. Imho I believe there’s going to be frenzy on RB’s and whatever you try and gamble on in the 4th will not be there. We don’t have that luxury this year, we just dont.
April 15th, 2018 at 3:26 pm
I know there are 30+ RB’s in the draft but after 12 (The 12th ranked) there’s a big drop off imo. It’s just makes no sense to go after another Peyton Barber type back when there’s real talent staring you down in the 1st and 2nd rounds.
April 15th, 2018 at 3:27 pm
JJones…….Some Bucs feel have a much bigger need at secondary then we do at RB. Now they may be able to adress both positions in the first two rounds but if not they may choose to wait til round 4 to get RB so we can get a DB.
April 15th, 2018 at 3:34 pm
just to play devils advocate let’s just pretend that the Bucs make no other roster moves besides the draft picks.
Look at our current team. Who would you rather have starting for us…..P.Barber or R.Smith?
April 15th, 2018 at 3:40 pm
@Jimmy…I understand how they might want to do that, I do but, I do believe If we get Nelson or Brad Chubb at #7 We’ll be moving back up to grab a higher caliber back. There’s room to maneuver and grab a decent CB with those extra picks but I just don’t see us hoping that there’s a game changing RB in the 4th, I find it to be TO BIG a gamble.
April 15th, 2018 at 3:40 pm
There are good veteran safeties and CBs available either through free agency or by trade after the draft. It wouldn’t be the worst thing to go Nelson and use our 2nd and 4th rounders to move up for Guice. Joe has spent every wakiing moment telling anyone who will listen that our team can’t delevope young CBs. Wouldn’t it be better to put the final pieces in place for a dominant offense than to try to fix everything at once?
By my count we only need 4 major pieces not accounting for injuries. LG, RB, #2 CB and SS. We know that there are still some very good veteran SS left in free agency waiting until after the draft to pick a good spot. Drafting Nelson and Guice would leave us only looking for a #2CB and Robert McClain could fill in there if needed. It not my ideal choice but I gotten to like the idea.
April 15th, 2018 at 3:45 pm
Secondary can be addressed in non-conventional ways- sometimes a guy who played 1 position in college can be effective switching to secondary in NFL-
https://www.thesportster.com/football/top-15-nfl-players-who-changed-positions/
April 15th, 2018 at 3:48 pm
There might be some extra hidden value in drafting Nelson. He is a plug and play starter so Licht may be planning to cut Sweezy if we land a top Guard.
No matter which holes we still have after the draft they will be much easier to fill if we have more money.
April 15th, 2018 at 3:52 pm
^^Very true!!
April 15th, 2018 at 3:52 pm
Look at what every single running back did behind that offensive line of Dallas… Now look at what those running backs did when they weren’t behind that offensive line of Dallas… end of story. If Nelson is there you take him. Plain and simple. Protecting our franchise QB is of upmost importance too!
April 15th, 2018 at 3:57 pm
JJones…….You are right about that. We aren’t getting a game changing back in round 4 without a miracle.
The problem Licht may have is can he really go without legitimately getting us a player for our secondary? Personally I don’t think he can. While an upgrade at RB would be huge an upgrade in our secondary is basically necessary.
Worst case scenario at RB is P.Barber rushing the football. That scenario is not nearly as bad as having Conte and R.Smith covering half of the backfield.
April 15th, 2018 at 3:59 pm
Ali is going to LG. Makes sense for us to take Barkely (if he’s there) or best secondary prospect in the first round. Second round is for RB or DB (whichever was not addressed in the first). A trade should be made to take a decent RB late second or third. I like Hines to complement Barber. Barber has earned his opportunity to shine as the lead back. We should be looking to compliment him behind an improved line. Bucs should trust their developmental process and scouting. Barber is there for a reason.
April 15th, 2018 at 4:03 pm
@Bucballbaby84
Exactly, An old, injury prone, beaten down Darren Mcfadden had a 1000 season behind that line, but Joe #2, who constantly belly-aches about not having a running game. He whines about opposing defenses being able to make our Offense one-dimensional, but will turn around and call Dallas’ Oline over-rated.
Joe #2 isn’t alone in this tho, there are a bunch of people who just don’t realize how much impact a dominant Line has on an entire team.
If Nelson is there, I have no doubt he will be a Buc. The last thing we need around is letting what happened to Luck happen to Jameis.
April 15th, 2018 at 4:04 pm
*…1000 yard season…”
April 15th, 2018 at 4:04 pm
At the end of the day I like the guy we have running our drafts. If we go G and RB in the top 2 rounds I’ll be behind it.
I just don’t see that being their plan. It’s no mystery we needed secondary help this offseason……..and there were a lot of young/above average DBs on the free agency market this year. The fact that we didn’t add any DBs won’t make any sense if we also ignore that position in the draft……..Really think Licht is taking a DB before round 2 is over……Not because of the prospects just because that just seems to be the plan at that position.
That’s just a guess at what the plan really is. If we don’t come out of the draft without a high rated DB it will be very hard to see that they ever had any plan to adress that position.
April 15th, 2018 at 4:10 pm
LostinPA Says:
“go Nelson and use our 2nd and 4th rounders to move up for Guice”
Regardless of who the 1st pick is – that’s exactly what they would do PA – IF Guice were to fall to the very end of the 1st Rd.
The Bucs LOVE Guice and will try to get him if the value is reasonable. Anything beyond 25 and Licht will be itching bad to move up and get him.
Problem is though that the 4th rd pick (#102) along with #38 only gets you up to pick #30. maybe 29…
April 15th, 2018 at 4:11 pm
Jimmy…Im almost hoping Nelson, Chubb and Barkley aren’t there so we can trade down grab a couple extra from the Bills and land a 1st round CB then Wynn or Hernandez and finally our RB in the 2nd. I know many may not like that scenario but I’d be comfortable with it.
April 15th, 2018 at 4:22 pm
JJones……..Wait dude, what’s up with you’re name? You’re playing with treason.
I would be very pleas3d with that trade down scenario. I’m also not here advocating these 2nd round DBs are better then the RBs. But when I follow the approach to the offseason it just looks like every move Licht made was in preparation for drafting a DB high in the draft. I don’t know enough about the players have much of an opinion about pure skills.
Just saying, if Licht doesn’t get a DB his plan for this offseason will look very confusing to me…..In short, if he never planned on getting a DB in the draft he should have signed somebody already.
April 15th, 2018 at 4:27 pm
“JJones……..Wait dude, what’s up with you’re name? You’re playing with treason.”
Right, LOL!
April 15th, 2018 at 4:28 pm
And he defientaly should have signed somebody this offseason if he didn’t plan on drafting a DB. Just go back and look at how many starting caliber DBs were signed or traded. It was a very good year in FA to need a DB.
It just doesn’t make any sense to pass on every FA DB that was avialable when it’s such a big need unless your planning on drafting some help.
April 15th, 2018 at 4:46 pm
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It wouldn’t shock me to see Licht draft Quenton Nelson at #7 and then go CB in round 2, strong safety in round 4 and wait until the 5th round to take a RB like Marc Walton or Bo Scarborough, etc.
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April 15th, 2018 at 4:50 pm
@NFLNut
That would be a solid haul, although I’d much prefer we sign Eric Reid to fill the SS spot and then use that pick on one of the many talented Defensive Tackles in this draft class. GMC has maybe 2 good years left in him, we should be preparing for life without him.
April 15th, 2018 at 5:04 pm
Drafting Nelson is a no brainer if he is available at 7. Top Guards are making between 10-13M a year now Nelson on his rookie deal will cost around $5M. Bucs can then cut Sweezy and take that money and spend it on a veteran CB or safety.
April 15th, 2018 at 5:14 pm
There’s a few reasons why I think he didn’t get a DB in FA but yes it’s a bit confusing he didn’t grab DRC or Breeland by now. Could be they want too much and won’t budge or he’s getting a few offers for our #7 and he might find it counter productive to pull the trigger, just not sure and I know that thinking might be a stretch.
April 15th, 2018 at 5:50 pm
Not too confusing why Licht hasn’t signed a guy like Breeland or DRC. Those two guys aren’t getting signed anywhere until post draft. DRC might not even be talking to anybody. At his age he may be waiting til after OTAs.
If we draft a top CB we would have a much lesser need for those two guys. The cash it would take to bring those guys in might be better off spent on Safety. It makes sense to wait until May, reevaluate your roster, then decide which position you want to invest more money into.
In a way, we are better off having holes at both CB and S entering the draft. We can look at the overall impact of each prospect, not just their positional impact……Of course that only matters if Licht makes the proper evaluation.
April 15th, 2018 at 6:08 pm
@HolyBuc, Exactly!!! Letting sweezy goes gives us the ammo to get a defensive back that is still available in free agency.
April 15th, 2018 at 6:11 pm
Good take Jimmy.
April 15th, 2018 at 6:47 pm
This is what I believe will happen for each scenario for the Bucs in the draft. Pick 7 they will take Nelson if available, then round 2 pick best cornerback available and then move up into round three to get a running back. If Nelson is not available they will try to trade back with the Bills and get their two first round picks. They then will draft Hernandez and Best cornerback available. Then in round 2 they will get a running back. They will move up to round three to get another running back. If neither scenario then I could care less at guessing lol.
April 15th, 2018 at 7:57 pm
BLAKE_BUCSFAN,
I agree with you … I’d like to see Licht sign a SS like Reid, Tre Boston or Kenny Vaccaro so he doesn’t have to draft one.
April 15th, 2018 at 11:58 pm
Joe, why does nobody ever talk up about Scarborough? He’s a beast
April 16th, 2018 at 1:14 am
Lot of reasons. NFL folks don’t like his durability, don’t like his running style, don’t think he has great vision, don’t think he can avoid tacklers well. Projected third-day draft pick.