Mocking Phidarian Mathis To The Bucs
April 14th, 2022
Joe’s favorite kind of mock draft is a full seven-rounder, all 263 picks.
That’s effort. That’s dedication. That’s worth seven minutes.
What Joe loathes is team-specific mock drafts. “Here’s our 7-round Bucs mock draft.” That’s like a hamburger without the beef, or one sip left in a can of Bromosa.
CBS NFL writer John Breech manned up and fired off his complete mock draft today. He’s got Alabama defensive tackle and team captain Phidarian Mathis landing in Tampa via the second round.
Mathis intrigues Joe, in part because he’s a finished product in many ways.
He redishirted with the Crimson Tide in 2017, and he turns 24 this month. At 6-4, 310 pounds, Mathis has had elite coaching and is a run-stuffing nose tackle type that might be able to rush the passer at the NFL level. That’s his big unknown. He had nine sacks last season but may not have enough juice to push the pocket on Sundays.
Analysts say Mathis has good feet and will be versatile in the NFL. If he turned out to be only a nose tackle with the Bucs, then Joe wouldn’t cry about that. Vita Vea only plays a shade more than half a game and Rakeem Nuñez-Roches is in a contract year at 29 years old.
Of course, Mathis could turn out to be much more than just a run-plugger nose tackle. General manager Jason Licht has looked for plug-and-play linemen in the past, and mature Mathis could be that kind of guy.
April 14th, 2022 at 2:44 pm
He would have to bulk up at only 315 to be Prime Beef.
April 14th, 2022 at 2:47 pm
Love the name! Pick him for that alone
April 14th, 2022 at 2:52 pm
Doesn’t look like the Bucs have met or interviewed him, so I doubt he is the 2nd round pick.
April 14th, 2022 at 2:53 pm
OMG, he is HUGE! My Daughter In Law is over right now, and she saw the picture of him! She said “No Way his Mom gave birth to him through natural childbirth” !
LOL, so she thinks Phidarian arrived by cesarean!
He would find a warm welcome here in Tampa!
April 14th, 2022 at 3:19 pm
I don’t see him as a replacement for Suh or being a good 3 technique in our defense. If we’re talking about drafting him to replace Gohlston at the 5 technique maybe but we could do better in the second round at another position. He’s a rotational player at best.
Not overly impressed with this year’s DT class. I know we need youth on our dline but wait till we get closer to training camp and then pillage someone’s practice squad or look towards cut players. Then next year when there’s a better crop get a few dlineman. Most of this year’s DTs will only be mediocre rotational players at best. We don’t want to be picking DTs every year because we’re drafting players who aren’t the answer.
April 14th, 2022 at 3:24 pm
If Bucs wait until the 2nd Rnd to grab a DT then Mathis would likely be a reasonable selection, since probably 5 or 6 DTs will already have been drafted by that point (CBS Sports’ latest mock draft had us taking BC’s Zion Johnson in Rnd 1 (as the 6th OL taken), Bama’s Mathis in Rnd 2 (as the 7th DT taken) and Cincinnati’s Edge Mijai Sanders in Rnd 3 (as the 14th Edge taken).
Had we taken a DT in Rnd 1 in their draft, we could’ve had either UComm’s DT Travis Jones or Houston’s DT Logan Hall.
April 14th, 2022 at 3:24 pm
Thought the Bucs were looking for someone with more quickness on the line. Was pretty sure Arians or someone said so. Smokescreen? Personally would agree we could use some quickness next to vita. We already have nacho to rotate with him at nose
April 14th, 2022 at 3:25 pm
Current starting lineup is nobody-vita-gholston if I remember correctly with nacho backing up vita
April 14th, 2022 at 3:32 pm
I’m tired.
April 14th, 2022 at 3:37 pm
looks fat
April 14th, 2022 at 3:52 pm
Robert, so did Sapp. And no, I’m not comparing them.
April 14th, 2022 at 3:56 pm
I’ve read that Mathis is a high character/team leader type. If he can play, then yes.
April 14th, 2022 at 4:08 pm
Better hope for the best huh 🐦 lol
April 14th, 2022 at 4:17 pm
Sounds good unless Jordan Davis drops to us in Rnd 1
April 14th, 2022 at 4:25 pm
Wide receivers are breaking the owners bank this season Ditto QB’s quickly filling up the 40M club.
Follow the money and fook the run stuff BS.
Bucs need someone to rush the passer. I’d go first round with a stud WR/returner or a premium OLineman. Thereafter, its all defense.
April 14th, 2022 at 4:25 pm
Aaroon do you enjoy smashing a hammer against your nutz for fun? Asking for a friend. Maroon.
April 14th, 2022 at 4:32 pm
Stop the run, yes, but pass rush pass rush pass rush. That needs to be the total focus from here on. If Mathis can’t pass rush, there are other options.
April 14th, 2022 at 4:35 pm
Just a guy……..no more, no less
April 14th, 2022 at 4:55 pm
Just a guy no more no less? That’s a lazy analysis. I’m sure him and Vita can push the pocket together Joe. He’d be a solid pick in round 2
April 14th, 2022 at 4:58 pm
The thing is, Mathis is not a nose tackle… or a nose guard. He’s a three technique DT with a little more pass rush versatility then several other top defensive tackles in this draft class.
Would not argue one bit with him being in the second round pick. At number 60.
Quite frankly, I hope the front office takes a double dip from the defensive tackle/defensive end position groups & comes out a Day2 with at least one of each.
April 14th, 2022 at 5:10 pm
Just wish the best for you guys lol gotta mess with you
April 14th, 2022 at 5:26 pm
Catcard if that’s the case sign me up. And I agree with doubling up
April 14th, 2022 at 5:31 pm
I agree with D Rules. You have to decide if you want the 7th best guy at a position or the 3rd best guy at another position.Bucs need DE, DT and TE on day 1 and 2 – assuming no trades. Doubtful a quality DE will be there at 27 and the Bucs believe in JTS (or at least want to give him a shot). So DT has to be the choice Wyatt (UGA may not be there), but Jones UCON and Hall UH both should be available as the 4th and 5th best DTs.
Then you decide if you want the DE in the 2nd or one of the top TES in the 2nd round. Doubtful any TES go in the first and no more than 3 go in the 2nd. So if the Bucs could get a top 5 DT and top 3 TE in the first two rounds, that would be great. Pick up your rotational DE in the 3rd round. Bucs could flip this and get a DE in the 1st and rotational DT in the 3rd along with re-signing Suh.
April 14th, 2022 at 5:54 pm
Don’t forget DeMarvin Leal from Texas A&M. He can stop the run, he can rush the passer. He can line up inside and outside. He’d be worth a look.
April 14th, 2022 at 6:02 pm
Jordan Davis(1st) or Travis Jones. Any other top level DT is either not big, strong, or fast, enough.
April 14th, 2022 at 6:06 pm
Our DL is a huge hole right now – have to believe they are awaiting the outcome of the draft to make any moves there
Pat OConnor resigned…see what I mean
April 14th, 2022 at 6:18 pm
If he is there and waiting for us, why not. He could be a steal in the second round, though I don’t think he is a plug and play guy. He needs a year of strength training to have enough upper body strength to fend off NFL O-linemen
April 14th, 2022 at 7:26 pm
Trade Darden to Miami for Flipper and build him a tank in the south end zone.
April 14th, 2022 at 9:16 pm
Count me out on drafting Alabama defenders.
April 14th, 2022 at 9:27 pm
gotbbucs … Being a huge Bama fan, I can tell you that their defense left a lot to be desired last year.
Bucs Guy … Still hoping that we go DT & DE/OLB in Rnds 1 & 2, going with the BPA at those positions. We’ve got to get younger on that DLine, but do it with quality talent that can hold their own rookie year then move into starting positions Year 2.
Not opposed to picking up a TE in Rnd 3 or 4, but this year’s crop isn’t all that sterling from what I’ve read. I’d be happy to get a really good blocker to take some of the pressure off of Gronk (I’m confident he’ll re-sign).
April 14th, 2022 at 10:21 pm
My thoughts on the TE position: There’s a 95% chance Gronk comes back, IMHO. Cam Brate would be okay if he could cut down on the drops. Do the Bucs need to replace OJ’s production from last year? What production?
April 14th, 2022 at 11:36 pm
JoeInMichigan
This draft sucks for tight ends. My guess is maybe they try to get one who can block in the later rounds or they snag another one when cuts are being made later in the year.
April 14th, 2022 at 11:44 pm
It would be a shame if the Bucs took this guy with Perrion Winfrey, DT, Oklahoma still on the board. Winfrey has a higher floor and ceiling.
April 14th, 2022 at 11:49 pm
Some times best at position doesn’t mean better then the 6th guy at another position if the draft is let’s say dt heavy
April 15th, 2022 at 12:27 am
Agreed, David. Although in the past few years, the blocking TE has been an offensive lineman, which makes sense. Those guys block better than most (all?) TE’s anyway.
April 15th, 2022 at 8:17 am
Awesome choice for us if he’s available in round two.
April 16th, 2022 at 11:39 am
If Jordan Davis and Devonte Wyatt are long gone… sure, he is a consideration along with Travis Jones from U Conn.