Great Minds Think Alike
April 12th, 2021
There are a couple of things Joe knows about NFL draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah.
First is Jeremiah was a successful scout for the Browns and Crows.
From the ex-NFL suits who pontificate on Twitter, Jeremiah is one of the very few NFL draft experts these guys respect for knowledge of the game and how the draft actually works from an NFL suit perspective.
Joe also knows Jeremiah generally is not going to throw out crap. While Jeremiah has publicly stated he hates mock drafts, that doesn’t mean he is going to lie. So if Jeremiah thinks a guy could be first-round worthy, he’s using his NFL evaluation eye test.
Those who listen to the Ira Kaufman Podcast heard JoeBucsFan.com draft analyst and Bill Currie Ford general manager Sean Sullivan hype up a receiver from Mississippi as a possible Bucs target last week. That would be Elijah Moore.
As if Jeremiah himself was listening to Sullivan, Jeremiah in his lastest (yawn) mock draft has the Bucs selecting Moore.
This is a luxury pick for the Bucs as they try to run it back with some insurance in case they do not re-sign Antonio Brown. Moore is a dynamic playmaker with a different skill set than Mike Evans and Chris Godwin.
Well, luxury pick unless you factor in furniture-tossing, bicycle-throwing Antonio Brown is still walking the streets and the very real possibility that Chris Godwin won’t be on the roster in 2022.
This Moore, 5-9, 178, is super quick. He ran a 4.38 40-yard dash. Dane Brugler of The Athletic in his “Beast” draft preview believes Moore is the sixth-best receiver in the draft and projects him to be a second-round pick at No. 35 overall.
So Jeremiah isn’t reaching much to suggest Moore could go at No. 32 to the Bucs.
Here’s Brugler’s breakdown:
STRENGTHS: Balanced athlete with the ability to gear up/down and accelerate out of his cuts…runs routes with tempo and controlled urgency…quick-thinking, decisive ball carrier to set up moves and force missed tackles…able to win vertically with sluggos or double-moves…quick to reach his route depth, calm his feet and give his quarterback a clean target…strong hands with excellent focus at the catch point (credited with only one drop on 101 targets in 2020)…looks comfortable going across the middle of the field…short, but not small with firm muscle definition…not shy lowering his pads to barrel through tackle attempts…emerged as the featured playmaker in the Ole Miss offense, breaking AJ Brown’s school record for receptions in a season (86).
SUMMARY: A three-year starter at Ole Miss, Moore was a high-volume slot/backfield target in head coach Lane Kiffin’s up-tempo spread scheme. He thrived with quick, underneath throws (jet sweeps, screens, slants, etc.) and took advantage of being force-fed the football, leading the SEC in catches (10.8) and receiving yards (149.1) per game in 2020. Moore plays fast, decisive and dependable and can be used as a matchup receiver in space, tracking the ball and making defenders miss. He was more of a specialty receiver in college and has plenty to prove as a downfield target. Overall, Moore doesn’t have the tape of a well-rounded receiver, but he is an athletic and controlled route runner with strong hands. He projects as a flexible chess piece who can be as productive as his volume.
Joe sees wide receiver almost like Joe sees drafting a running back at No. 32. The future is now so “development” shouldn’t even cross anyone’s mind with the Bucs this spring. Draft guys you think can make an impact now, not in 2024.
Running backs and receivers are the two positions on offense that seem to have the lowest learning curve. And like running back, it’s no sure thing at all Playoff Lenny or Ronald Jones will return in 2022, as both are in the final year of their contracts.
Joe also likes the fact that Moore comes from a pro-style offense like Lane Kiffin’s at Ole Miss.
April 12th, 2021 at 2:12 pm
Thats my pick also!
April 12th, 2021 at 2:12 pm
Wide receiver/returner.
April 12th, 2021 at 2:14 pm
Byron leftwich would have some serious fun in his offense with this guy…even though i would prefer *Kadarius Toney #1* out of UF they’re the same type of utility playmaker that could be utilized nice in our offense with the goat! GREAT TO BE A TRUE BUCS FAN RIGHT NOW.
April 12th, 2021 at 2:31 pm
If Toney were to fall……….
April 12th, 2021 at 2:41 pm
5’9 185 isn’t much bigger than Scotty Miller. They both ran 4.3’s too. Although I guess Scotty is more of an outside receiver than slot which is where Elijah plays a lot.
I know that there is buzz that Elijah is the second coming of Antonio Brown, but I would shop elsewhere unless he has the same manic-like work ethic as Brown.
I would still draft edge rusher/ILB first, WR or RB, then Secondary. The inside defensive linemen are weak this year, so I believe the bucs should draft Suh’s replacement next year.
April 12th, 2021 at 3:00 pm
@Joe … “The future is now so “development” shouldn’t even cross anyone’s mind with the Bucs this spring. Draft guys you think can make an impact now, not in 2024.”
That’s a very myopic view of this year’s draft Joe, and it’d come back to bite us in the ass if JL takes that approach. Bucs have a solid starting rotation on both offense & defense, and a solid S/Ts group. But a lot of them are on 1-year contracts & we may very well not be able to afford a number of them in 2022.
We need to be focused on building depth for this year via the draft, in the expectation that at least 3 of this year’s draft picks will be starters next year. This is the year to get them familiar with and comfortable in the system while we’ve got the luxury of having quality starters. Build the trenches especially.
April 12th, 2021 at 3:06 pm
Over Najee Harris if he’s there? I hope not.
April 12th, 2021 at 3:07 pm
Sounds like a Godwin type….
April 12th, 2021 at 3:09 pm
He DOES play like AB. Way more shifty and sudden than Scotty Miller. Much stronger. I could see it.
April 12th, 2021 at 3:16 pm
I’d prefer to sign AB and get Najee Harris but this is definitely a good option.
April 12th, 2021 at 3:19 pm
Stop it with the “no development” crap. It makes no sense. You can still be all in and develop players. If they hadn’t been developing those DBs last year, there would’ve been no Superbowl win. If you didn’t have development, you would’ve had a RG getting steamrolled after Cappa went down.
April 12th, 2021 at 3:30 pm
YUP !
I had read about him before the this article ….I loved the line that he is “as tough as a burst steak “….
we have great pass catchers but NONE are explosive KC type guys, adding him to the roster would loosen up the whole defensive backfield for other WR’s RB’s…
Scotty Miller is not…”as tough as a burnt steak” and under this scenario would not make the final 53
April 12th, 2021 at 3:33 pm
i’d trade down and grab 2 trench players in the 2nd round….
but if JL feels we need another weapon i’d rather go with K. Toney…but this kid is nice…
GO BUCS!!!!
April 12th, 2021 at 4:14 pm
Are the Bucs trying to win a Super Bowl now or are they playing for 2025?
April 12th, 2021 at 4:15 pm
And the Bucs — rightfully — have a very myopic view of the season.
April 12th, 2021 at 4:19 pm
Normally I would not want a reciever because normaly you have holes in more important areas of need like DL or OL.
But this is not a normal year. This is a fine time to get even stronger at WR. Especially if he can return kicks. Then you potentially can get a big impact.
April 12th, 2021 at 4:23 pm
Get this Moore guy then Left can put him and Scotty out wide. Let Mike get a sip of water while Grok and Chris play off the line……That sound like fun…..so long as your not the Defense
April 12th, 2021 at 4:24 pm
DR says: We need to be focused on building depth for this year via the draft,
LOL…now you want to “BUILD” depth…lol…not “tweak” it….lol…
make up your mind man!!!!!
with that said, player development are like elite pass rushers….you can never have too much…
GO BUCS!!!!
April 12th, 2021 at 4:34 pm
If we need depth you might wanna look at interior DL. When V went down you notice we went outside the team and got McClendon. Whats that tell ya?
When we lost OL we had replacements ready to go. We might be in good shape there.
CB may be another area of concern. Not sure where Cockerell came from but pretty sure he was an addition like McClendon was.
April 12th, 2021 at 4:46 pm
Joe … “And the Bucs — rightfully — have a very myopic view of the season.”
Agree 100% Joe, because we’ve gone all-in on 2021 (that’s being ‘myopic’ about the season). But we’ve achieved that by re-signing high-quality starters, with some experienced depth in certain position groups (guys like Minter, Brate, RNR, Gholston, etc). But next year, by my count at least, we’ll have at least 10-11 starters who’ll be unrestricted FAs. And likely an equal number of quality depth players, none of whom look like future starters (to me at least). We’ll never be able to afford to re-sign them all, and we need to draft several quality starters/key rotational players in both 2021 and 2022 just to have a chance of fielding another competitive team IMO.
April 12th, 2021 at 5:03 pm
If they can get another WR who can return kicks/punts… seems good. I would think they could do that in a later round though.
I keep seeing DT Barimore from Ala being available at the round 1 pick.
Whenever I saw him , he dominated. Seems like a no brainer pick if he’s there.
April 12th, 2021 at 6:08 pm
Last time I checked Tristan Wirfs didn’t play wr/rb… He had no learning curve , please stop the nonsense about “Development”
April 12th, 2021 at 7:29 pm
Some of you have never ever listened to Arians talk about running backs if you think he’s going to okay using a first round pick on one. They are all replaceable in his eyes.
April 12th, 2021 at 7:33 pm
Either Moore would be a solid pick.
April 12th, 2021 at 7:59 pm
People get way ahead of themselves thinking Miller is the answer to start a long period of time if one of our WR goes down. If we get some more early, mid round picks I would say WR round 3-5.
April 12th, 2021 at 8:31 pm
I really don’t like a WR in the 1st and 2nd rounds for the Bucs. Elijah Moore, IMO, is undersized for the new prototype slot receiver (aka Chris Godwin). The slot has to be a fierce blocker, capable to be decisive in open holes for the running game and short routes
And the Bucs already have a super fast proven deep threat receiver in Scotty Miller
The trenches are the priority and a premier CB would be a good pick too
April 12th, 2021 at 8:32 pm
I’m with DR, Joe.
We’ve re-signed a SB squad.. the whole damn squad. Now is the time to draft for development. The exact time. DL, OL, LB, DB, maybe even QB.
April 12th, 2021 at 8:44 pm
I’ll say it again with all the trade down get more picks chatter. We have more draft picks than open roster spots. If we do trade out of the first. We need to trade up with our second and third. 3 studs and call it a day.
April 12th, 2021 at 8:51 pm
I’ll be interested to see what Matt Corral plays like next year. He’s got loads of talent at QB, just has some major “Jameis Winston” moments some games.
April 12th, 2021 at 9:47 pm
Can he return punts?
April 12th, 2021 at 11:01 pm
Nice – but Tommy loves AB and his experience. Tommy wants ring #8 and wondering if Tommy will be patient to teach a rookie how to run solid routes vs. asking JL to get AB signed and extend last years success. Me thinks the latter…Am on the bandwagon that AB makes all the WR’s better.
I did not like AB signing last year, but AB delivered and TB loves him.
April 13th, 2021 at 7:23 am
Redzone
AB’s SB TD catch was the wrong route…. JS.