What The Bucs Should Do
April 15th, 2022
Washington CB Kyler Gordon.
Many doing the mocks, at least Joe would hope, are trying to put themselves in the chair of each team’s general manager.
But as Michael Lombardi of the “GM Shuffle” podcast said this week, “I remember when mock drafts were accurate,” so who really knows what the motivation is for these things are currently?
(Lombardi also gave a special shoutout to the late, great Joel Buchsbaum.)
Adam Rank of NFL.com seems to think mockers don’t construct their mocks over what teams should do. So Rank decided he would do a mock of what each team should do. Rank thinks the Bucs should draft a quarterback at No. 27 but he doesn’t like the 2022 crop compared to next year’s.
So Rank thinks drafting cornerback Kyler Gordon of Washington is what the Bucs should do.
Oh man, do you dare draft a quarterback here thinking Tom Brady can’t play forever? I thought about it. I really did. However, you don’t want that evil on you. Not that he would be an Aaron Rodgers-level of petty here. There are quarterbacks worth targeting next year, so let’s just find a depth piece for the secondary for now.
Cornerback is what the Joe typing here would do as well. Joe understands folks are hollering for a defensive tackle but Joe doesn’t understand this. If Ndamukong Suh comes back, that means the starting defensive line from a team that won 29 games the past two seasons including a Super Bowl is retained: Will Gholston, Vita Vea and Suh.
What is Joe missing unless the folks pining for a defensive lineman are ready to turn the page on Suh?
BSPN believes there is over a 95 percent chance Gordon is available when the Bucs draft at No. 27.
April 15th, 2022 at 12:15 am
It’s just not that hard. Best player available, among the positions of need. Might be a DT, might be an edge guy, perhaps an offensive lineman, might be a cornerback. Whoever is highest on your list from the positions most in need, you pick that guy. End of story. That said, best player available is certainly subjective and won’t be known for a while. Only in retrospect can you know that.
April 15th, 2022 at 12:28 am
I was banging the table for DT, but now I’m good with a CB somewhere. Coby Bryant out of Cincy could be a great day 3 value if some of the other big names are gone.
April 15th, 2022 at 12:40 am
Seriously? This guy isn’t even aware we drafted Trask in the second round last year? If we can get Suh back, it’s wide open. Let’s start building Bowles defense in the draft.
1. DT/OG
2. CB
3. OLB/OG
April 15th, 2022 at 1:04 am
Joe,
You definitely have a good point. But …
Maybe, he was just blowing smoke. But, Arians said words to the effect that the missing piece is inside pass rush. Take him at his word, and give it the best shot at it in round one if the value is there. If successful, it helps the DB’s that are already on the team.
Question for you, Joe: Do they really think that they are set at LG with someone they already have on the team? I like Max Mitchell for LG/swing OT.
April 15th, 2022 at 1:49 am
Joe, we need some youth, energy, and pass rush from the interior DL. Suh’s return would be another 1 year patch. We need to load up on D-linemen. I thought Joe used to always be on board drafting DL… At this point, neither Suh nor Gholston are special and both are on one year deals (if Suh comes back). We do not have quality behind them. Nacho is okay, but we need to build up a D line that scares people. If we are stronger there, we can blitz less, which means we can cover better. Those changes would have won us the Rams game, and they’re necessary if we want to win another Superbowl.
So, CB at least is defense… and I wouldn’t complain… but we need to be eyeing DL as the priority.
April 15th, 2022 at 2:04 am
If Gronk comes back or TE starter is otherwise dealt with:
DE, DT, CB
If Gronk does not come back, TE crisis
DE, DT, CB, TE (those who can block are rds 3-5)
OL and RB depth should be addressed also
April 15th, 2022 at 5:46 am
Steven007
Agree with areas of need
D line / guard/ corner / tight end.
There is no tight end this year worthy of round 1
I read the bucs will have 6 free agent dbs next year. Which include dean and smb (edwards at safety) so a stud corner makes sense. Especially after last season.
April 15th, 2022 at 6:36 am
There are positions you need to fill with players who can contribute and those that are depth. You need a DT even if Suh comes back. Day 1 and 2 need to be DE, DT and TE in the order JL decides for solid contributors.
Bucs have 3 players ready to battle it out for LG. Starting CB and RB positions are set. All need depth = day 3.
April 15th, 2022 at 6:51 am
I’m partial to a dt too, but if the best available NON KICKER is wr or rb …. Well there’s always round two for a dt.
April 15th, 2022 at 6:53 am
Sorry JL, Roberto is your deflategate.
April 15th, 2022 at 7:02 am
Joe, you make a good point of the fact that we will likely have the SB players on the Dline Suh, Vea, Ghoston……but, using that same logic..
We will also have the SB starting CBs……Davis, Dean, SMB
So….what to do….how about a kicker?
April 15th, 2022 at 7:12 am
The Bucs should do everything they can to trade down.
Jets picks 38,69 and 117for our 27
April 15th, 2022 at 7:32 am
We need to draft Drake Jackson TBH, like JTS, he’s got the build AND skill set, to play inside/out on our defensive front.
April 15th, 2022 at 7:44 am
Drafting a DT this year – so he can get a year under his belt – is better than waiting till next year when Suh is gone. You don’t want to be starting a rookie next to Vea in 2023.
CB in rd 1 and DT in rd 2 or vice/versa seems to fit this draft and our needs.
April 15th, 2022 at 7:53 am
This dude ran a 4.52 at the combine which is damn slow for a first round corner. Hell no.
April 15th, 2022 at 8:04 am
Joe this is tru if suh comes back then drafting a DT early should be off the board unless there’s someone there who you just can’t pass up but at the same time suh is long in to tooth n there have bin plenty of games where you wouldn’t even know suh was out there. We’re in a passing league so you really can’t go wrong drafting DBs n pass rushers. I know LVD said he’s not ready to talk about retirement yet but he also is getting long in the tooth and when he was injured there was a big drop off in production. We need replacements that can have impacts now n don’t need much development
April 15th, 2022 at 8:51 am
I think Logan is going to be the slot corner and Dean and smb are going to compete for that outside corner spot opposite of Davis I have a feeling they might draft a safety in the first depending on if Wyatt is there or not which I doubt he will be.
April 15th, 2022 at 8:57 am
Please dt or de with 1st 2 picks. We can find a corner to develop late in the draft. Let the grave diggers(SMH) see what they can do this year if they stay healthy. The kids played great during the superbowl run. Last year was just a comedy of injuries. It seemed like every week a cb went down w some bs injury.
April 15th, 2022 at 9:04 am
Addressed that in a story that published later in the morning.
April 15th, 2022 at 11:36 am
We’ll draft or sign a QB next year….
We need Olave
April 15th, 2022 at 11:58 am
If Suh comes back the only difference is maybe you go round 2 instead of round 1 (depends who is there, you don’t pass on a steak at dt because you have a guy in his mid 30s back). Regardless we need depth, as we would still have nobody to rotate in with our starters other than nacho. I’m not entirely comfortable pinning all of my hopes on an ever aging Suh and eevryone staying healthy all year. We need 2 dline still, whether that includes Suh or not. I agree with Steven though that it comes down between dline/online/corner/edge whomever is rated highest.. but if Suh isn’t back puts a lot of pressure on DT early