Jessie Bates & The Bucs
April 15th, 2018
The NFL Network’s year-round draft gurus are in agreement: elite athlete Jessie Bates is a sweet and likely fit for the Buccaneers in Round 2 of the NFL Draft next week.
This is a head-scratcher.
Ironically, Bates, a safety out of Wake Forest, is considered a clone of Justin Evans, Tampa Bay’s second-round pick last year.
That’s a mixed bag. Evans was a highly questionable tackler in college (like Bates) but was better with the Bucs. Evans proved to be an impressive Bucs ballhawk, three picks in nine starts, but he also missed the last two games of last season with an ankle injury. Overall, he showed promise but he’s got plenty of learning to go.
General manager Jason Licht obviously loved Evans, hence he picked him ahead of running backs the Bucs’ desperately needed. So does that make Licht likely to fall hard for Bates, too? Maybe. Ex-NFL scout Daniel Jeremiah and ex-NFL defensive back Bucky Brooks, the NFL Network draft gurus, sure think so.
Man, the Bucs are desperate for cornerback help. Would Licht really draft a safety again in Round 2? If anything, Licht has proven very challenging to predict in Rounds 1 and 2.
April 15th, 2018 at 10:49 am
I think much of this depends on whether or not the Bucs are able to trade down. A trade down provides extra picks and may include S.
If we have a shot at one of the big three, I think it will be Nelson….if that is the case it will be Nelson & a RB.
IF we trade down….we could pick up a CB, G, RB & S in rounds 1-3…..plus maybe another pick which could be DE.
April 15th, 2018 at 11:14 am
Just sounds like lazy reporting by them.
April 15th, 2018 at 11:32 am
Man that kid really loves to torment FSU! 🙂
April 15th, 2018 at 11:34 am
NOSBOS, I’m home visiting bro! Carver Shores has not changed a bit….LOL
April 15th, 2018 at 11:46 am
Mock Drafts are stupid.
April 15th, 2018 at 11:51 am
This is a very deep safety class. Unless it’s James in the 1st, the Bucs should wait until at least the 4th rd to address safety. There will be plenty of safeties in the 4th and after that are better than Conte.
April 15th, 2018 at 11:52 am
I think Licht knows he has to shore up at least one side of the ball in this draft…..The side with the least holes is the offense…..I would argue o-linemen are Licht’s strength from a scouting perspective and RBs tend to be stumbled upon in rds 2-4 regularly. CBs are not a strength of Licht and they wont have the same impact on the game as a running game will for Winston.
April 15th, 2018 at 12:00 pm
Nearly every Tampa mock draft has us taking either a safety or defensive back with our first pick.
Some edge rusher proponents fail to realize that good coverage effects sack totals. The 2 stats go hand in hand.
One reason why even Daryl Revis was exposed during his time here in Tampa.
April 15th, 2018 at 12:12 pm
Again I just do not see ANY Patrick Petersons in this draft. He was a 5th overall pick. I don’t see them but I suspect there may be a Richard Sherman in this draft…somebody with lots of question…selected in the 5th round.
I do not want a DB at 7…I simply do not see a DB with top ten value…especially compared to some of the other positions where we also have need.
If the “3” are gone obviously everybody wants a trade down. I agree but if there is no good trade down and we’re going to take a flyer I’d rather do it at DL like Vea…he has a TON of upside and COULD grow into a value at 7.
April 15th, 2018 at 12:14 pm
Why put out this article? They’re ZERO chance we take Bates. He is a FREE safety. We have Evans for that position already, and he had a decent rookie year. We need STRONG safety upgrade which is Derwin James or Shaquem Griffin to fit that role.
April 15th, 2018 at 12:59 pm
RB Carter out of Grambling…late or UDFA
April 15th, 2018 at 1:12 pm
What happens if we take a QB with pick #7? Winston is currently under investigation by the NFL because of the “Uber” incident. I am surprised we are not discussing this possibility.
April 15th, 2018 at 1:16 pm
Bucs won’t come out of the first 102 selections (picks #7 (1), #38(2) and #102(4) if we stand pat and don’t trade down) without selecting a RB and a CB.
That could happen in a # of ways:
1. Barkley
2. CB (Alexander/Hughes/Jackson)
1. Nelson
2. RB (N. Chubb/Penny)
4. CB
1. James/Fitz
2. CB (Alexander/Hughes/Jackson)
4. RB
Trade Down
1. Josh Jackson
1. Guice/Michel
April 15th, 2018 at 1:20 pm
Marine Buc Says:
“take a QB with pick #7… I am surprised we are not discussing this possibility.”
Because less than .01% chance of that actually happening does not rate as an actual “possibility”…
April 15th, 2018 at 1:41 pm
Let’s say the big three are gone and Rosen is there at 7. You’’re getting multiple phone calls, but time’s short and you think you’re not getting your full fleece on. Would you take Rosen to trade, Pickgrin? Now you get another 25-30 minutes till Miami and Buffalo pick to hold a full scale auction, winner gets what may be the best QB in the draft, losers are left with their 가지s in their hands—SOL unless they want to waste a pick on a Christian Ponder, Jonny Manziel, E.J. Manuelesque player.
Picking a guy for another specific team is verboten, but taking a guy intending to trade is not…
April 15th, 2018 at 2:00 pm
Nah I don’t see this happening at all.
BTW bucsfan1988- Shaqueem Griffin is an /OLB, not a safety.
April 15th, 2018 at 2:41 pm
@marine but
a QB at #7?
Um. Ok.
The big 3 or trade down 1-3 times!
Stockpile 2nd round picks!!!
Ideally, I want a late 1st and FOUR 2nd round picks!
So we can get draft the following: DE, CB, SS, OG, RB: In any order.
Boom. Our franchised just evolved.
April 15th, 2018 at 3:52 pm
Anyone who seriously suggests drafting a QB this year can’t be taken seriously…the bugs problem isn’t QB folks
April 15th, 2018 at 3:56 pm
If a talented QB falls to the Bucs at #7 I wouldn’t be surprised if the Bucs draft a QB. What if Winston gets suspended and all we have are Fritz and Ryan Griffin? At very least we would have a backup plan if these allegations against Winston are true.
April 15th, 2018 at 4:37 pm
Stpetebucsfan-
2 things about Richard Sherman-5th rd pick
He is a very intelligent guy
He played receiver in college and high school as well as DB
Also- Several pro bowl corners and safeties in NFL history played running back in college
April 15th, 2018 at 6:37 pm
Unbelievable, Shaquem Griffin is a HYBRID linebacker/blitzer and played some at strong safety as well. He’s too small to really function as a pure LB. just under 6’1”….Might be an OK weak side LB but we are set there. He will be a strong safety as main position and possibly a hybrid role if they are in buckle/fine defense.
April 15th, 2018 at 6:38 pm
Ughhhh that’s supposed to say Nickle/Dime defense…stupid phone, lol
April 15th, 2018 at 6:48 pm
Marine Buc, too many people around here have compromised vision due to their Garnet and Gold glasses to even consider the possibility of J-miss (I.e. America’s QB, The Messiah, Jameis Christ etc.) being suspended or inferior to or matched by another young QB.
The Bucs won’t draft a quarterback this year to replace him, as they must save their jobs but, I sure as heck would to hold him hostage, if I can’t get outstanding value with the 7th pick. I’d force a trade-down.
Why the fixation with the safety position? We can surely upgrade at safety but, isn’t defensive line still an area of greater need and impact?
April 15th, 2018 at 6:51 pm
CB is a major need, however.
April 16th, 2018 at 4:54 am
Maybe with an 8th round pick👀…
Take him with a late pick but really, SMH on this one.
April 16th, 2018 at 4:54 am
Another SABBY!