Revisiting The 2017 Draft
July 17th, 2018
Yeah, it is understandable how folks want grades for every team’s draft the moment the draft concludes each spring.
Shoot, now with the three-day format, Joe has seen grades handed out for each draft day, not for the draft as a whole, as if the end is too late to slap a grade on it.
Generally, Joe is of the mind that a draft can be fairly analyzed after three years. For example, Bucs fans (Joe included) raved about the 2014 draft. Four years later, Mike Evans is the only thing saving it from being a complete trainwreck.
(Don’t get Joe started on drafting Charles Sims over Devonta Freeman. It’s a long day. Thanks, Lovie.)
Maurice Moton of Bleacher Report decided to grade each NFL team’s 2017 draft. So far, that Bucs draft is aging well, as Moton ranks it the No. 7 draft.
O.J. Howard led the Bucs class in starts with 14 and tied with fellow tight end Cameron Brate for a team-leading six touchdowns. Wideout Chris Godwin logged 525 receiving yards with a 61.8 percent catch rate as a high-end No. 3 wide receiver. Defensively, linebacker Kendell Beckwith and safety Justin Evans combined for 20 starts as playmakers at their respective positions.
Moton explained his grades are based on total starts by rookies and — here is a novel concept — production.
It sure helped Justin Evans that in his first NFL start, he picked off the great Tom Brady.
July 17th, 2018 at 10:08 am
“(Don’t get Joe started on drafting Charles Sims over Devonta Freeman. It’s a long day. Thanks, Lovie.)”
Was Lovie really calling the shots on the draft, or was that Lichts territory???
July 17th, 2018 at 10:09 am
The way the Bucs drafted in 2017 is what every GM says to do and that is to draft the Best available player. Overall it was a successful draft, but practically ignoring the two biggest positions of need(RB and DE) significantly hurt 2017 performance.
July 17th, 2018 at 10:13 am
Howard, J. Evans, Godwin, Beckwith
4 picks – 4 talented starters
Grand Slam!
“But, but we NEEDED a DE…. How come Licht never drafts for NEED??”
OJ Howard or Taco Charlton? Hmmmm…. That’s a tough one…..
July 17th, 2018 at 10:15 am
Charles Sims was a Jeff Tedford pick
July 17th, 2018 at 10:16 am
Still hard to believe that joe and the sheep wanted the RB in the first that only lasted 3 games!!!!!!!!!!
July 17th, 2018 at 10:25 am
Draft best available and let the cards fall. If you draft for need you will never get the best talent.
July 17th, 2018 at 11:22 am
Hey Buc Realist,
When you call someone that disagrees with you a sheep – just so you know – it devalues everything single thing you say to complete gibberish.
For the record, I’m the one who says “FIX THE TRENCHES, FIX THE BUCS” — and “GET A QB TO COMPETE WITH FITZ” and most importantly “DON’T DRAFT RBs in THE FIRST ROUND”
So, we’re on the same page when it comes to that. But there are SOOOO many teams that would be so happy and excited to have Dalvin Cook as their starting RB heading into this season.
He’s a damn good RB and his injury last season is not predictive of more injurues in the future.
July 17th, 2018 at 11:37 am
Are drafts always look well after year one, then when you check them out 4 years later… not as much.
July 17th, 2018 at 11:53 am
@Tony
Yeah that was a freak injury no one could have predicted. Weird thing to gloat about later imo. If he’s recovered Dalvin should do real well this year
July 17th, 2018 at 11:54 am
Lovie, what a nightmare on the organization
July 17th, 2018 at 12:05 pm
If that’s Lovie then Mike Evans, Donovan Smith, Ali Marpet, Jameis Winston, Kwon Alexander, Cameron Brate, Adam Humphries is Lovie too. Are you ready to go there, Joseph?
Picking Sims over Freeman isn’t nearly as bad as picking Aguayo over most everyone else.
The 2017 draft is a win IMO. All that proves is that Licht is a good scout. It doesn’t mean he’s a good GM.
July 17th, 2018 at 12:12 pm
Pickgrin
Oh yes, the “Speed in Space” era.
I remember that month!
July 17th, 2018 at 1:35 pm
Doosh Says:
“Oh yes, the “Speed in Space” era. I remember that month!”
Ha – that’s about the size of it.
I was serious though. I think Tedford’s wishes played out pretty heavily in that 2014 draft.
All those offensive picks certainly weren’t the result of Lovie and Leslie Frazier pounding the table…
July 17th, 2018 at 4:55 pm
Jeff Tedford. What a joke.
OJ is a stud. Going to explode this year!
July 17th, 2018 at 6:32 pm
Imagine our weapons with a top 5 qb?
July 17th, 2018 at 6:58 pm
@Tony
I couldn’t agree more about sheep and hater and all the other mindless ad hom attacks.
It’s bad enough to resort to meaningless ad hom attacks but when guys can ‘t even get creative enough to come up with something original it’s simply boring and meaningless and as you say Tony….”it devalues everything single thing you say to complete gibberish.”
BTW also agree with your basic commandment..fix the trenches fix the Bucs.
Of course that’s true for most NFL teams.
July 18th, 2018 at 6:45 pm
“(Don’t get Joe started on drafting Charles Sims over Devonta Freeman. It’s a long day. Thanks, Lovie.)”
To be fair, most around here (including myself) were giddy about the potential of Sims. Waiting until the 5th round to address the o-line… no so much.
But hindsight is always 20/20