Amara Darboh, Dominik & The Bucs
April 25th, 2017
Fine fit
Former Bucs rockstar general manager Mark Dominik drafted receivers Arrelious Benn in the second round of the 2010 NFL Draft and Mike Williams in the fourth round.
Seven months later, Williams was tearing up the league, Benn was blossoming and the Tampa Bay offense was cruising.
That offensive line jelled with youth and veterans, and an off-the-street rookie named LeGarrette Blount was a regular on SportsCenter, often running behind rookie Ted Larsen and NFL nobody James Lee. The Bucs’ 22-year-old quarterback was efficient while turning in big play after big play.
Ahh, great memories.
Joe realizes most Bucs fans think Dominik was a trash general manager. And JoeBucsFan.com columinst Ira Kaufman himself is in their corner. But Joe doesn’t share that attitude.
Dominik was ok, and he caught terrible breaks with injuries and bizarre decisions that appeared to be in someone else’s control, such as absent free agent spending and a paltry payroll in 2011, as well as a quarterback who had a mental breakdown, and the unexplained goodbye to Michael Bennett.
Fast-forward to 2017, and Dominik is grinding away as an NFL personnel guru for ESPN, in addition to working for SiriusXM NFL Radio.
In a piece for ESPN.com behind a paywall, Dominik explains that film study and talking with NFL personnel men led him to identify five players who will be drafted much sooner than most expect.
One of them is Michigan wide receiver Amara Darboh, who smells like an excellent fit for the Bucs.
Many have Darboh as a Day 3 prospect. That’s not what I saw at the Senior Bowl, at the combine or (most importantly) on tape. At 6-foot-2 and 214 pounds, Darboh ran an outstanding 4.45 40 at the combine. He has strong hands and long arms (just over 32½ inches), which creates a large catch radius. Here’s what really sets him apart: Darboh runs almost like a running back with the ball in his hands, breaking tackles and gaining a lot of yards after initial contact. I think he’ll be drafted on Day 2 and become a fine No. 2 receiver in the NFL. Remember this: Darboh had eight catches and a touchdown against Ohio State and the Buckeyes’ two first-round cornerbacks.
Joe likes that Darboh is a mature prospect, a 23-year-old fifth-senior who had steady production the past two years. Everything about him screams NFL-ready.
He smells a lot to Joe like a faster version of Falcons No. 2 receiver Mohammed Sanu, a guy the Bucs should have signed last offseason.
There should be no question that Tampa Bay needs to invest early at receiver. They’re one ankle turn of DeSean Jackson away from entering the same sinking receiver ship they were in the past two seasons.
April 25th, 2017 at 10:17 am
8 tds against Ohio st. DBs is impressive.
April 25th, 2017 at 10:21 am
We have plenty of roster spots at receiver. 3rd round sound right. Especially if he can use that 4.45 speed on special teams.
April 25th, 2017 at 10:36 am
Wait we have two posts already and neither had the used the oft used “if Dominik recommends him stay away” automatic reply!
April 25th, 2017 at 10:47 am
I’ll side with the HOF voter Dominik was awful
My Wife went to Michigan so I watch their games with her and this kid played very well and is a nice suggestion by Dominik who is better at tv than being a gm
April 25th, 2017 at 10:50 am
NOSBOS…great point because every single OSU guy is a 1st round pick….and there was not some star at QB for UM getting him the rock
April 25th, 2017 at 10:58 am
I dont dislike him, but i like 3 other guys MUCH more if we go wr in rd 2-3.
1. Juju smith schuster- had his breakout at 18!!! He would have been the top receiver picked if he could have come out last year. Had a down hear due to injuries, otherwise he would be in the discussion with davis and williams imo. He is only 20 and wont turn 21 until november. A physical nasty receiver who can take advantage of smaller corners.
2. Chris Godwin. Also young, he broke out at 19 years.
April 25th, 2017 at 11:02 am
Godwin dominated adoree in the bowl game and did well against michigan state and i think michigan too. Plays well in big games. He is big and fast, can win with speed or size.
Zay jones- He isnt as young as the other 2, but he is very polished. Great at high pointing the ball, runs fast, progressed every year in college, ending up with the most receptions in fbs.
All 3 of those guys could be great #2 or even 1b (think crabtree) receivers. The exception is zay, i REALLY think he could be a true #1 guy.
April 25th, 2017 at 11:07 am
No prob to me if we draft him. However, continuing to pin your hopes on a Rookie WR to be the savior of our offense if there is a injury isn’t very smart. A rookie TE who can catch would have a bigger impact on the inside keeping safeties honest then a rookie WR on the outside…
April 25th, 2017 at 11:08 am
Curtis Samuel sounds pretty fun too
April 25th, 2017 at 11:40 am
Watched The Domer basically punk/talk down to Corey Davis ( in short taking credit for P.J. Fleck’s success ) on ESPN yesterday. Having said that, I prefer him on ESPN holding Bill Polian’s jock vs. bidding against himself to pay Revis 1 million per game for a rehab assignment not to mention the 2 picks he gave up.
April 25th, 2017 at 11:41 am
The YAC ability is intriguing!
April 25th, 2017 at 12:01 pm
There’s a lot of quality WRs in this draft.
April 25th, 2017 at 12:05 pm
I prefer A&M’s Josh Reynolds if we are talking about a 3rd-4th round WR. Zay Jones or Godwin in the 2nd – Corey Davis is the only WR I would take in the 1st. Hope we wind up with one of those 4.
April 25th, 2017 at 12:08 pm
I’m a fan of Darboh. I think he can end up being a high-end #2 WR, which is what the Bucs need. If he is there on Day 3 that is an absolute STEAL for whoever takes him. I would want the Bucs to take him if he is there in the 4th even if they already drafted a WR.
As Lakeland said, there are a lot of quality WRs this year. Maybe not #1 WRs, but the Bucs got that already.
April 25th, 2017 at 12:23 pm
I’m hoping we actually take two of these mid round WR this year
April 25th, 2017 at 12:27 pm
Playing the role of fantasy GM here, but imagine if we went all offense early and landed Dalvin Cook, Curtis Samuel, and Darboh…. wouldnt have to draft skill position players anymore lol.
Playing the role of realistic GM, I doubt they draft 2 WRs at all unless the 2nd WR is a return specialist.
April 25th, 2017 at 12:27 pm
I would love for us to be more like the Falcons and the Saints who have WR for days. It’s like both teams just constantly have multiple capable WR.
April 25th, 2017 at 1:24 pm
@Joe
“Benn was blossoming”?? What reality were you living in at that time? Obviously not this one because there was never a time Benn was ever “blossoming” in Tampa; much less anywhere else for that matter. When he was here, he could never even stay healthy on the field. Dude’s nickname was “gentle ben” in college…your “rock star” drafted him, then all found out the reason for the nickname.
April 25th, 2017 at 1:33 pm
Joe realizes the ‘Rockstar’ traded up to draft Arrelious Benn when Golden Tate was falling in the draft and was available? When quizzically asked by reporters in the post draft press conference why he felt the need to go up and get Benn when Tate was also sliding he lectured them that Tate was clearly not thought of very highly because he fell even father. Like virtually every move in the Dominik ‘Reign of Error’ how did that turn out?
Also, trading 1st/4th for a 16 million dollar a year corner coming off a torn ACL when better (since) free agent corners got a third the yearly salary is not a “bad break” it’s a bad idea and a reflection of Dom’s incompetence.
It has to be weird calling him a rockstar after all that we know now doesn’t it Joe? It’s like saying ‘Franchise Cornerstone’ Josh Freeman.
April 25th, 2017 at 1:48 pm
Freddie Martino had more yardage than Benn last year.
Williams hasn’t played a down since 2014.
April 25th, 2017 at 4:27 pm
That was garbage Joe’s…..Benn was blossoming? Really? Lol Dominick caught bad break lol. Somebody has been drinking hard.
April 25th, 2017 at 5:19 pm
basically avoid Darboh since Dominic likes him
April 25th, 2017 at 5:31 pm
“There should be no question that Tampa Bay needs to invest early at receiver.”
I disagree. 😉
April 25th, 2017 at 5:33 pm
The money was not in short supply when Dominick acquired Revis. That’s for certain.
I think you are confusing the money issue period with Allen’s time here.
April 25th, 2017 at 5:34 pm
I like Mark Dominick as a person, and in his current capacity.
However, he sure was no Rockstar, as a GM.
IMHO, giving him that name hurt Joe, though it did bring some traffic I guess.
April 25th, 2017 at 7:11 pm
Dom had his flaws for sure BUT at least he didn’t waste a 2nd rounder on a bad kicker! Got to give him that! Baron in the 1st round almost as bad!
April 27th, 2017 at 1:35 pm
32.2″ arm is not long…
April 27th, 2017 at 1:36 pm
32.5″ I mean