D.J. Humphries In Round 2?
April 16th, 2015
The Bucs need a left tackle, but the problem is they won’t be able to draft a slam dunk prospect after selecting a quarterback with the No. 1 overall pick.
And don’t start barking about trading down, Joe’s never seen a left tackle march a team for a game-winning drive.
Helmet-hair Mel Kiper, of BSPN, spit out a new three-round mock draft, and he’s got the Bucs doing the following in two weeks:
Round 1 (1) QB Jameis Winston, Florida St.
Round 2 (34) OT D.J. Humphries, Florida
Round 3 (65) DE Mario Edwards, Florida St.
Analysis: There’s no debate in my war room about the No. 1 pick. It’s not just because I think Winston is more NFL-ready than any other QB in the draft, and thus it serves me as GM to take him and perhaps help my own job security; it’s about talent, and I’m willing to bet on Winston’s here. We make this pick and start planning with the goal of Winston as our Week 1 starter. I think we have the weapons to help him succeed early. We also have a clear need for a tackle, and I’m happy to see Humphries available at No. 34, though I would have taken Jake Fisher ahead of him (the Titans grabbed him at No. 33). Humphries could push to start at right tackle. Edwards isn’t a great pass-rusher, but I think he’s really tough to move in the run game and is a pretty good value at No. 65.
Humphries is among a large crew of left tackles in this draft, and potential left tackles, with holes in their games. Whether it’s Humphries, Pitt’s T.J. Clemmings, Miami’s Ereck Flowers, and more, they all need solid coaching up.
Enter George Warhop, the Bucs’ offensive line coach, a situation that almost gives Joe the shakes.
Humphries is a specimen, at 6-5, 307 pounds. He moves very well and is known for his nasty edge. After just turning 21-years-old, he looks like he’ll comfortably add power and weight over the next two seasons.
Humphries made just 19 starts in college. So he’s talented but raw.
Kiper could be on the money that Humphries falls to the second round. And Joe knows the Bucs crave athleticism and anger in their linemen, but Joe believes the Bucs would prefer a guy with more experience, more ready to go on opening day.
April 16th, 2015 at 10:56 am
I see a possible trade up out of the 2nd round…
April 16th, 2015 at 10:57 am
That is awful. Why would we take 3 Florida players? Just because they are from Florida? Stupid Kiper’s part.
April 16th, 2015 at 10:57 am
No way is this guy better than Jake Fisher…
#1-Winston/Marcus
#2-Fisher
#3-Tre Jackson/AJ Cann
April 16th, 2015 at 10:59 am
O-line picks 2, 3, and 4.
April 16th, 2015 at 11:00 am
Besides, most Mocks have DJ going in the top 20. I guess if he slips somehow to us, but I’m guessing we take Jake Fisher.
April 16th, 2015 at 11:02 am
1. Winston
2. Fisher (go get him if need be)
3. AJ Cann
4. Best Guard available or Safety / LB
3 of the 4 must start given all the holes. That’s a lot of pressure to get the draft right.
April 16th, 2015 at 11:07 am
DJ’s history scares me. He doesn’t seem like a hard worker and has injury issues. He just reminds me of Kanyata Walker too much. I could be wrong and hope I am if he falls to the Bucs and gets selected.
April 16th, 2015 at 11:09 am
hey joe, you should check out the movie BLIND SIDE
the LT drove the defender all the way through the end zone. 🙂
trade back, get a LT
April 16th, 2015 at 11:15 am
i believe the bucs will trade down at the top of the 2nd to accumulate more picks it only makes sense as we need as much talent as we can. We already have 4 picks in the top 100. Get more picks and build this team the right way after missing on free agency the past few years
April 16th, 2015 at 11:15 am
I get that Fisher is a blue color type and versatile position wise but he has never been ask to hold a pass block for more than a second. How many games has the guy played LT? I think he is just popular because people have watched duck games and have heard his story. I hope he is great if selected but I’m not sold on him either.
April 16th, 2015 at 11:20 am
Left tackles will fly off the board in the first round online will dominate this draft
April 16th, 2015 at 11:25 am
I’ve been reading up on trend of building OL from Center Guard out. This theory claims Tackles aren’t as important as they once were due to teams putting rush pressure up the middle more and the shorter drops by QBs. Not to mention the rushing benefits of being strong at C and G. I think I’m buying into this and hope the Bucs are too.
April 16th, 2015 at 11:29 am
We are really luck this year guys in my opinion. This draft sets up excellently for our needs meeting value.
1 – get franchise QB – lucky to have the #1 pick in a year with 2 potential ones
2- get a LT or OG – lucky because the value of Tackles is in the mid 1st to late 2nd – meaning we should get a shot at a LT prospect that isn’t a reach at all
3 – get an OG – lucky because some of the top guards in this draft are pushed to the 3rd/4th rounds
In the past drafts we’ve seen OTs that are all in the top 15 and then a big drop off; but this year sets up for ust o get one in that 2nd round or by trading back into the 1st.
OGs typically always seem to provide value in rounds 2-4 each year so maybe nothing special about this year but at least hte best guards in the country are going to be available still possibly in that early 3rd round
April 16th, 2015 at 11:33 am
Food for thought…
Would you rather have the #4 rated Tackle or the #2 rated guard???
April 16th, 2015 at 11:37 am
Bucs should do this.
1. D.Fowler
2. DJ Humphries
3. Matt Jones
No brainer.
April 16th, 2015 at 11:38 am
I like Teflon Don’s plan as well.
I’d be ecsatic if we traded down in the 2nd to get an extra 2nd next year or something; and went for 2 premier guards/centers since that value would still be there. That could give us a starting RG and depth/eventual replacement for Mankins or EDS. Move Dotson to LT and sign a FA RT. (or sign FA LT and keep Dotson on right).
If this were madden though I literally would go with a LT 2nd round, RG 3rd round, and a C/G 4th round. Then WR. Then S/CB/LB.
Offense would pretty much be set outside of needing a Vjax replacement. Then next year go get your premier pass rusher, a MLB or S or WR (or sign a few of these positions since we’ll have tons of cap space)
I am full of optimism today woo!
April 16th, 2015 at 11:39 am
#2 rated guard.
April 16th, 2015 at 11:41 am
@ Celly – it depends. If we think that the OT can be a franchise LT then I don’t care if he’s the 7th best OT I’d take him. There should be guards in the 3rd that can immediately start for us.
However, if we project the remaining tackles as RTs only; then give me the guard. And then go get another later. Make the interior of the line our strength like New Orelans has done
April 16th, 2015 at 11:41 am
You think La’el Collins #2 rated guard will be there?
April 16th, 2015 at 11:42 am
I’ve seen mocks where we take Arie Kouandjio, as well in the 3rd. He is the 4th rated Guard.
April 16th, 2015 at 11:43 am
Bonus though La’el is also the #3 rated OT.
April 16th, 2015 at 11:45 am
Now what if Gregory fell to the 2nd, take him?
April 16th, 2015 at 11:49 am
That’s not happening Skyline. It would be hard to pass up Gurley if he fell to the 2nd. I think that dude will be a Arian Foster in his prime type back.
April 16th, 2015 at 11:57 am
Watch the Bengals 1sr rd draft pick because if they select a OT that means they’ll be cutting one of their OT to save cash. Who gets the 1st shot at these guys- The Bucs. There are going to be some good players cut after the draft and people are underestimating the importance of getting the 1st shot at these guys.
April 16th, 2015 at 11:59 am
I remember the last tackle we got from Florida but I’m sill trying to forget him.
Why we are at it, lets draft another Clemson DE.
Drafting for need instead of best player available on the board is always hazardous and has snake bitten this team in the past.
April 16th, 2015 at 12:01 pm
@drdneast
The thing is – if you look at mocks and big boards – the value range for OT is mid 1st to mid 2nd. Humphries / Fisher / etc have all gone as high as mid 1st in a lot of mocks; so getting them isn’t really reaching. It may even be a steal
April 16th, 2015 at 12:04 pm
Skyline did you think Jimmy Johnson was stupid years ago for doing the exact same thing. Funny how that philosophy worked out.
April 16th, 2015 at 12:08 pm
@ MelKiper’sHair Says:
April 16th, 2015 at 10:57 am
No way is this guy better than Jake Fisher…
#1-Winston/Marcus
#2-Fisher
#3-Tre Jackson/AJ Cann
——————————
BINGO! We have a winner.
April 16th, 2015 at 12:11 pm
You should be ashamed of yourself, Joe’s, for soiling your site with “who the hell is Mel Kiper”.
April 16th, 2015 at 12:12 pm
Who cares what state they come from. Can he play,can be produce.
April 16th, 2015 at 12:16 pm
1. Winston
2. Jake Fisher
3. Gerod Holloman
3. Tre Jackson (trade into 3rd)
5. Stephon Diggs
April 16th, 2015 at 12:22 pm
I really like Clemmings film.
April 16th, 2015 at 12:24 pm
“Curtis Gatorboy Says:
April 16th, 2015 at 11:37 am
Bucs should do this.
1. D.Fowler
2. DJ Humphries
3. Matt Jones
No brainer.”
Homer.
April 16th, 2015 at 12:42 pm
I would be thrilled if Humpheries was there at 34. Very raw but very physical. That’s why you pay coaches.
However I doubt Cann and/or Jackson will be there in the third. Josuse Matias might though. He is arguably the best pass blocking guard in the whole draft. BJ Finnley at center could be nice too.
April 16th, 2015 at 12:48 pm
since the bucs are taking Dante fowler the edge rusher from the gators with the #1 overall pick they might as well draft another gator an o-lineman with the top pick in round 2.
April 16th, 2015 at 12:55 pm
I like Holliman too 14 interception is disgusting but watch video of S Adrian Amos from PSU who the Bucs’ had visit One Buc Place and are interested in. They both are great perfect 4th rounders or late 3rds…
April 16th, 2015 at 1:43 pm
Cann, Sambrailo, Marpet and Jackson are more appealing to me.
April 16th, 2015 at 2:12 pm
All I see is kenyata Walker.
April 16th, 2015 at 2:31 pm
Trade a later pick to trade up to get Jake Fisher.
April 16th, 2015 at 2:40 pm
I saw a story where LT is one of the most overvalued positions these days similar to RB because of the way NFL OCs and OL coaches slide protection in such ways that the position is not stationary, so if you are coached up then the position does not need to be superstar like but cannot be a turnstile like we have and they must be coached properly which is yet to be seen
April 16th, 2015 at 3:06 pm
Nole on Sat.-Bucc on Sun. Says:
April 16th, 2015 at 12:04 pm
Skyline did you think Jimmy Johnson was stupid years ago for doing the exact same thing. Funny how that philosophy worked out.
_______________
Jimmy never took 3 florida players back-to-back-to-back. So he never had that philosophy. Also, he drafted a bit from the Hurricanes who were the most dominant team in college football. I can’t say that for Florida or FSU at this time.
April 16th, 2015 at 10:23 pm
People honestly listen to Kiper??? I base my mock on the opposite of what Kiper says
April 17th, 2015 at 8:53 am
I hope the Bucs have taken the top 15 or so LT’s and compared how they did against the top 15 or so DE’s in this draft and the same with Guards against tackles… If you think about this draft like a fantasy football draft, about 8-13 OT’s will probably go in the first round. Very few guards will go. We could take a top 2-3 guard and then since so many tackles were taken those teams are unlikely to take a second tackle so we should have similar choices in round 3…
April 17th, 2015 at 2:32 pm
With the #1 pick in this years 2015 NFL draft.. the Tampa Bay Buccaneers select from the University of Florida, DANTE FOWLER JR –
Bucs should do this.
1. Dante Fowler Jr (OLB Florida 6-3 261)
2. Owamagbe Odighizuwa (DE UCLA 6-3 267)
3. Donovan Smith (OT Penn State – 6-6 339)
4. Josue Matias (OG FSU – 6-5 309)
5. Gerold Holliman (FS Louisville – 6-0 218)
6. Trenton Brown (Florida 6-8 355)
7. Aaron Ripkowski (FB Oklahoma 6-2 257)
7. Terrell Watson (RB Azusa Pacific 6-2 245 4.52)
April 18th, 2015 at 12:03 am
Humpheries will not be there at PK 34. Bucs should give Glennon the shot he deserves. Take Dante Fowler Jr who is not injury prone and can be a cornerstone of our defense for the next decade. Fowler led the Gators 2014 with 15 tackles for loss and 17 quarterback hurries and had 8.5 sacks. Had at least one tackle for loss in all but one game in 2014. Had five forced fumbles in his career and 34 tackles for loss. “He will be way better in the pros than what he is now.” — AFC East college director of scouting. The Bucs first pick in the draft as well as how well they pick this entire 2015 draft will define Lovie and our GM future with the Bucs. Let Winston’s off field activities make headlines for another team. Let Mariota bore another team to sleep.
April 18th, 2015 at 9:24 am
So. Many. Stupid. Bucs. Fans.
OK, back to reality … after we draft Jameis we do indeed have to pick a tackle. Like it or not, that is the stupid position our front office painted itself into. But as someone who was in and around the Florida locker room for the last 10+ years, I wouldn’t touch D.J. Humphries. Way too many questions – injuries (many of them of the minor-yet-nagging variety), unable to put on and keep on weight (until mysteriously gaining 20 pounds right before the combine), and being beaten by edge rushers more often in his junior year than his sophomore year. Humphries has WAY too much bust potential for the Bucs to take that kind of risk. Better off with a proven commodity with a torn ACL – Cedric Ogbuehi – a top-10 relent before his injury.