Safeties Exodus Tips Bucs’ Plans At No. 19?
March 31st, 2023
Alabama safety Brian Branch.
The Bucs are now thin at safety.
Now hold up! Joe isn’t saying anything will happen to Antoine Winfield. He’s fine and he’s the starting free safety. He’s not going anywhere.
However, in the past two offseasons, the Bucs have lost three quality safeties to free agency.
Hard-hitting Jordan Whitehead bolted to the Jets last offseason. And this offseason, ballhawk Mike Edwards signed with the Super Bowl champion Chiefs. Just last night, bone-crunching Keanu Neal signed with the Steelers.
So the Bucs are down to Winfield, and that’s about it.
(For the roster junkies, reserve safety Nolan Turner is still with the Bucs. And he has a grand total of one defensive snap to his NFL résumé.)
Joe sort of figured the Bucs were going to draft a safety and last night’s news that Neal signed with Pittsburgh just screams the Bucs will draft a safety, maybe at No. 19.
Joe has noticed some pining for Alabama safety Brian Branch. And if you read his bio from the football thinktank/advanced analytics outfit Sports Information Solutions, Branch’s background with Bama just screams “Bucs.”
Brian Branch is a safety in Alabama’s heavy Nickel defensive scheme. He played in 40 games, starting 23 of them. Although listed as a safety, he has played the majority of snaps in the slot, with a handful coming as a deep safety or even as a Dime linebacker as well. Even though he is slightly small for the position, Branch poses very good athleticism and good length to match. He is physical when running downhill and has a very good motor and a strong competitive edge.
SIS believes Branch is the 11th-best player in the draft. However, Joe sees a couple of anti-Todd Bowles red flags with Branch.
SIS dinged him for shedding blocks and tackling (which seems really, really odd for a Nick Saban defensive back).
Branch best projects as a high-end, starting free safety at the next level. Although he has the ability to play anywhere on the field, he is best utilized as a slot corner who can play in space or in the box if needed. On 3rd down, he is best utilized in the slot, but can play in the box in obvious run situations.
So what do the Bucs need? A slot corner. With Branch, in theory, you wouldn’t have to take him off the field.
Still, Joe gets the shivers remembering the last time the Bucs drafted an Alabama safety in the first round (Mark Barron).
If the Bucs do select Branch, that’s a ton of cash tied up in the secondary. Aside from Carlton Davis and Jamel Dean, Winfield will be looking for a contract next season and God forbid the Bucs even think of letting him go.
And then you add a first-round pick salary to the secondary? That’s a lot.
March 31st, 2023 at 4:54 am
Sports Information Solutions … ‘Even though he is slightly small for the position, Branch poses very good athleticism and good length to match.’
Branch is very good IMO, but at 190 lbs I think he’s better suited to nickel CB than safety. And we NEED a safety to pair with Winfield. Besides, with our #19 pick, Bucs SHOULD be looking for a LEFT TACKLE. We can draft a perfectly functional thumper to go with Winfield at Safety in Rnd 2 or even Rnd 3.
March 31st, 2023 at 5:14 am
RD 1 needs to be left tackle.
March 31st, 2023 at 6:15 am
If we go defence at #19we should go edge
March 31st, 2023 at 7:08 am
Battle is better value in the third. First should be OT, OLB. Second should be ya boi Hooker. And then go nuts with OGs and DBs
March 31st, 2023 at 7:12 am
Good safeties can be found in latter rounds i.e., Tanard Jackson, 4th round Jordan Whitehead 4th round. 1st round pick Mark Barron was a product of a traditional Alabama system. He didn’t pan out. Let’s not go 1st round on secondary. Our first n second round pick, respectively should be what we need, an edge rusher as in Felix from Kansas St n the OLineman from Georgia or Tennessee.
March 31st, 2023 at 7:17 am
Good safeties can be found in latter rounds i.e., Tanard Jackson, 4th round Jordan Whitehead 4th round. 1st round pick Mark Barron was a product of a traditional Alabama system. He didn’t pan out. Let’s not go 1st round on secondary. Our first n second round pick, respectively should be what we need, an edge rusher as in Felix from Kansas St n the OLineman from Georgia or Tennessee.
March 31st, 2023 at 7:18 am
I’m not keen on drafting a safety in the 1st. Not with our needs, anyway. If that were the lone piece, you could make an argument.
Not even Winfield, our best safety was drafted in the 1st, he was a 2nd round pick. Edwards was a 3rd and Whitehead a 4th.
No to drafting a safety in the 1st.
March 31st, 2023 at 7:27 am
Nah, not at 19, but I’m biased because JL Skinner is my favorite safety in this class. Just something about a 6’4 200lb that runs like a damn gazelle, doesn’t shy away from contact, and can match up with TEs over the middle. That type of length flying around our secondary will eventually thin out/occupy passing lanes as Skinner develops.
March 31st, 2023 at 7:40 am
We need safeties but I don’t believe we will select one at 19……
We could go offense with #1…..OT, TE, RB,
March 31st, 2023 at 7:41 am
They need to go pass rusher in the first round should take FOSKEY!
Thumbs down on Branch, not enough speed could be another Mark Barron.
Could go safety or tackle in the second round.
March 31st, 2023 at 8:12 am
Will we take a safety in the draft yes. Will it be with the 1st pick probably not.
March 31st, 2023 at 8:16 am
Slot CB/ safety at 19 no way
March 31st, 2023 at 8:22 am
We need people who can get to the quarterback! Trenches, trenches trenches!
March 31st, 2023 at 8:45 am
I could see the Bucs taking him at 19 but like many other smart fans here I would rather them take an o line or d line player if one of the top players are still available. If not trading back out of 19 and getting more picks would benefit us more.
March 31st, 2023 at 9:02 am
We haven’t had much luck with Alabama players in recent years, pass
March 31st, 2023 at 9:09 am
Brian Branch will help elevate this defense to another level.
March 31st, 2023 at 9:23 am
NB/S Brian Branch
* 40-yard dash: 4.58 seconds
* Vertical jump: 34.5 inches
* Broad jump: 125 inches
Vs
S Jamal Adams:
* 40-yard dash: 4.56 seconds
* Vertical jump: 31.5 inches
* Broad jump: 120 inches
S Harrison Smith:
* 40-yard dash: 4.57 seconds
* Vertical jump: 34.5 inches
* Broad jump: 115 inches
S Landon Collins:
* 40-yard dash: 4.53 seconds
* Vertical jump: 35 inches
* Broad jump: 116 inches
S Kam Chancellor:
* 40-yard dash: 4.62 seconds
* Vertical jump: 32 inches
* Broad jump: 116 inches
S Tyrann Mathieu:
* 40-yard dash: 4.50 seconds
* Vertical jump: 34 inches
* Broad jump: 117 inches
S Antoine Winfield Jr.:
* 40-yard dash: 4.45 seconds
* Vertical jump: 36 inches
* Broad jump: 125 inches
March 31st, 2023 at 9:23 am
If BPA is an OT then grab him. If BPA is an edge rusher then grab him at #19
March 31st, 2023 at 9:37 am
There are only a handful of higher quality OTs in the draft. If one is still there when we pick at #19 the Bucs have to take him.
B. Jones from Georgia or A. Harrison from OK would both be capable of starting at LT next season.
Edge rusher or safety in round 2. Same in round 3… BPA
March 31st, 2023 at 9:41 am
The first two rounds should be for the exterior trenches. Offensive tackle and defensive end.
Then look at the secondary.
March 31st, 2023 at 9:46 am
Sidney Jones, Illinois. Possible round 2 safety.
March 31st, 2023 at 10:05 am
Suh. Just kidding. I agree about Sydney Brown from Illinois. Good tough hitter.
March 31st, 2023 at 10:21 am
Who has? Outside of wide receivers, Alabama players seem to be consistently overrated year in and year out.
March 31st, 2023 at 10:21 am
There are a number of solid safeties in this draft so while we would be taking the best of them (potentially) we could also fill the role later too.
March 31st, 2023 at 10:23 am
Trenches trenches trenches trenches edge edge edge edge trench edge
March 31st, 2023 at 10:30 am
Not at 19! No need to use our first pick on a safety.
March 31st, 2023 at 11:49 am
Don’t we need a strong safety, along with a nickel?
I don’t think you should pick either of those positions in the 1st round, personally.
March 31st, 2023 at 12:38 pm
Knowing how bad Joe-joes loving jason leight is, I’d expect JL to trade up to the top 10 and draft a kicker. That’s how bad JL is.
March 31st, 2023 at 12:54 pm
Do not use a first or 2nd rounder on a safety. Lt, edge or WR if a top 3 guy falls. Use your 3rd or 4th rounder on safety and guy might be a corner in college. I also wonder if mcullom can convert to safety.
March 31st, 2023 at 1:39 pm
Bimbo – bad GMs don’t come to a train wreck of a team and win a Super Bowl, make the playoffs 3 years in a row, win two consecutive division titles (never done before in Bucs history), attract some of the best free agent players in Bucs history, hit the draft as well as he has, and also be an all around good dude.
You want bad? Go look up “Mark Dominik” in Wikipedia.
March 31st, 2023 at 2:25 pm
Trenches with our 1st pick. Idc if it’s offense or defense. JL finds good offense lineman in the 2nd n 3rd rounds consistently. We will deff be drafting a safety at some point n prob a lot of defensive draft picks
March 31st, 2023 at 3:08 pm
Just fyi…talk in Green Bay about the Packers going safety at their pick. And last I heard, it was before ours.
March 31st, 2023 at 3:46 pm
You guys- I could be wrong, but I have a strong suspicion that jimbo is just a troll…
March 31st, 2023 at 6:23 pm
Tackle or D line in round 1 1000%. Sydney Brown in mid rounds and a couple FA signings will fill the void at safety. Logan Ryan may even return. I think they also need a CB whether through the draft or FA. Branch would be great, but Id rather the value of a high priced position like o line or d line taken in the draft. Better value for cash strapped Bucs.
March 31st, 2023 at 8:16 pm
TRENCHES!!!!
April 1st, 2023 at 8:28 am
Oline or Dline!
April 1st, 2023 at 9:40 am
Need to trade back unless a Top Tackle is still available.