Travis Jones In Round 1?
March 24th, 2022
UConn DT Travis Jones
By Sean Sullivan – JoeBucsFan.com draft guru
Following the blueprint the Bucs have laid out to date, it seems we are in the defensive tackle business in Round 1 of the NFL Draft.
Bucs general manager Jason Licht has done an outstanding job filling the roster with a combination of acquisitions and re-signs that would make Bill Parcells blush.
Examining the clues, first Licht said he didn’t draft a defensive tackle last year because he didn’t like the depth in the draft class (this draft is loaded).
Second, Bucs defensive coaches said we need more push up the middle to help the outside pass rushers get home. Hmmm, seems like we are looking for a DT that does not hurt our run defense and gets tremendous push up the middle.
Let’s start with Travis Jones out of UConn. He stands 6-4, 325 pounds with only 13% body fat, a true warrior who also became his team’s defensive leader — 48 tackles and 4 1/2 sacks with constant double- and triple-teams. He projects to be a better pass rusher in the NFL, especially next to Vita Vea and Ndamukong Suh in rotation.
Yes, I believe Suh comes back.
Sean Sullivan Best in Class
Ask Sean for the JoeBucsFan discount at Bill Currie Ford, Tampa’s Family Of Ford and home to the nationwide lifetime warranty on new and used vehicles. Sean’s the big boss there and wants to help you personally. And listen to Sean on the Best In Class podcast.
March 24th, 2022 at 6:40 am
Trade back with the Jets for their first 2nd rounder and a 3rd of 4th round pick and grab Jones with a second rounder. 27 is a tad too high for him.
March 24th, 2022 at 6:50 am
I don’t know if 13% body fat was a joke, but he’s definitely closer to 31% if anything
March 24th, 2022 at 6:55 am
I said it in a comment earlier. I think our draft is going to be heavy on the defense side of the ball. We will have the best offense in the league but if we don’t get our defense some more help every game just might be a shootout. Honestly tho I’d take a shootout with our offense but I’m just concerned our defense might lose us some games
March 24th, 2022 at 7:03 am
we definetly need fresh bodies on dl and secondary …. no pass rush makes a swiss cheese…
March 24th, 2022 at 7:07 am
This would be a great pick. Watched some of his pro day, and combine on T.V. yesterday. This kid is light on his feet for a big man, but you can see the burst, and explosive power in his legs. That’s why I say JPP is shot. Forget the shoulder, neck, and hand. JPP has no more burst left in those legs. When the legs go, it’s over.
March 24th, 2022 at 7:09 am
I saw a writeup up on him cause i dont watch Uconn football at all
The negative i felt was that sure there is some qb pressure but that he was more a Nose tackle. So we would have Jones next to vea? I mean too behemouths in middle sounds fun and all but thought we wanted to get quicker in middle? Now suh is all world who can play both interior spots so this could be attempt at replace Suh. The other negative was he played at uconn so he played against sub par competition? However, Tell that to Marpet and cappa w division 3 competition
The positive was that he was the only stud on Uconn dline. So offenses thru everything and the kitchen sink at him. Multiple guys tried to stop him and could not. As he was still making plays. I have seen him at end of first all the way up to 40’s range pick so interested to see how plays out.
March 24th, 2022 at 7:10 am
My choice for defensive tackle also he was pushing around o-lineman in the senior bowl like rag dolls.
March 24th, 2022 at 7:15 am
Love the pick if he’s there at 27.
March 24th, 2022 at 7:15 am
I’m hoping it’s a defensive heavy draft-needed. With the exception of a new starting guard or top end TE like McBride picked early, focus should be on the DL[maybe 2 high picks], a DB [cause SMB, Dean,Edwards are all FA in 2023] and maybe OLB with JPP on the move. David is free in 2023 too.
March 24th, 2022 at 7:21 am
Been high on Jones for a while, much better fit than Perrion from OU. I think 27 is too high for him, but he would be there in the first 10 picks of rd 2 if we trade back. I’m OK though if we believe we have to take him at 27.
March 24th, 2022 at 7:37 am
It would be a great pick
March 24th, 2022 at 7:38 am
Joe … ‘Yes, I believe Suh comes back.’ Joe did not write this post. –Joe
Me too, but probably not until after the draft.
March 24th, 2022 at 7:39 am
Get that 5 year rookie contract if taken in the first round. Vea, Tyron, Jones would give us three young first rounders up front.
March 24th, 2022 at 7:42 am
Drafting trenches early is always a good idea. I do believe they’re eyeing one of the top DTs early, but I’m hoping they get a LG as well. I know we have Stinnie, but I’d like to keep the depth. Maybe the team has faith in Hainsey to add that.
I think our top needs now are DT, LG, and CB. I can see us taking BPA out of those three.
March 24th, 2022 at 7:44 am
Bruce Blahak … I’m also ‘hoping it’s a defensive heavy draft’. Love your priorities (top round picks going to defense). I could easily see us going DT – DE/OLB – CB in the Top 3 (or 4) Rounds, based on best-available prospect one the board at the time.
Bringing back Suh & JPP as part-timers to tutor/mentor their replacements would be awesome, but I think it’ll depend on how much $$$ each wants to just return part-time. If the youngsters get ‘trained up right’ (and stay healthy of course), we’d be in great position for the playoffs and another SB run.
March 24th, 2022 at 7:52 am
1#bucsfan … ‘Honestly tho I’d take a shootout with our offense but I’m just concerned our defense might lose us some games’.
Unfortunately that’s what we saw in last year’s playoffs (and in several losses in the regular season?). Offense started very slow then kicked it into high gear, but our defense couldn’t hang on. Still, they ended the year as #5 in Points Allowed, which is awesome considering the many injuries on defense. They just weren’t very consistent in getting there. Need to get younger without sacrificing effectiveness.
March 24th, 2022 at 8:06 am
If this dude is there at 27, I would not be upset at all.
I still feel we should trade an extra wr & late picks to get ourselves back into the 3rd.
Take 3 guys who have a better chance to make an impact.
Then again, the draft is a crap shoot. More picks the better.
Dammit…I am a sucky GM.
March 24th, 2022 at 8:48 am
If you are REALLY SERIOUS about push up the middle draft Jordan Davis out of Georgia. 6-7 341 and runs a 4.8 40 (Fastest weight adjusted time in combine history) . Davis is not a generational talent-HE IS A ONCE IN A LIFETIME TALENT.
Suh,VV,and Davis will allow Shaq to get above 20 sacks. If you thought our run D was good before-wait until you plug this mountain into the equation-teams would sometimes rush for negative yards.
March 24th, 2022 at 8:59 am
Defense rules. Agreed.
March 24th, 2022 at 9:08 am
1976 i’m all on board with that, get that man vita some single teams down there plus devin & lavonte flying around blocker free…. it honestly wouldn’t be fair dead serious
March 24th, 2022 at 10:01 am
I personally don’t hate Jones as the pick but he doesn’t match what Arians said he’s looking for. He specifically said he doesn’t want another big body nose tackle type. He said we already have that in Vita Vea and that he wants a defensive lineman who has more quickness as a pass rusher to pressure the QB. Unfortunately there are no real studs that fit that profile that will be available at pick 27 or later. Devante Wyatt doesn’t fit the profile either but if he lasts until 27 he would be really hard to pass up. Otherwise, a Logan Hall, Perrion Winfrey, or Demarvin Leal fit the profile in round 2.
March 24th, 2022 at 10:05 am
Depth Chart 2022
OFFENSE
LWR 13 Evans, Mike
RWR 14 Godwin, Chris
SWR 00 Gage, Russell
LT 76 Smith, Donovan
LG 64 Stinnie, Aaron
C 66 JENSEN, RYAN
RG 00 Mason, Shaq
RT 78 Wirfs, Tristan
TE 87 GRONKOWSKI, ROB (assumed signing)
QB 12 BRADY, TOM
RB 7 Fournette, Leonard
DEFENSE
DE 93 SUH, NDAMUKONG (assumed signing)
NT 50 Vea, Vita
DE 92 GHOLSTON, WILLIAM
OLB 90 Tryon-Shoyinka, Joe
ILB 45 White, Devin
ILB 54 DAVID, LAVONTE
OLB 58 Barrett, Shaquil
LCB 24 Davis, Carlton
SS 00 RYAN, LOGAN
FS 31 Winfield Jr., Antoine
RCB 35 Dean, Jamel
SCB 23 Murphy-Bunting, Sean
Weakest Position on Team is OLB2 and DE 2 Cant rush QB well.
March 24th, 2022 at 10:34 am
He looked like Aaron Donald against the guys at the senior bowl. Beast mode
March 24th, 2022 at 10:41 am
Definitely hoping for DT or OT in Rd1.
March 24th, 2022 at 11:11 am
Jesus, if that is the situation then we have to trade back. Why reach?
March 24th, 2022 at 11:22 am
Tim, when a player you want is on the board and it’s your turn to pick you don’t gamble and trade down. If he’s there at 27 and he’s your guy you pick him.
March 24th, 2022 at 12:14 pm
HERE”S TO HOPING …
The WRs with speed will lure teams to draft WR early (even trade up – GB) if there is a run on WR. A few teams need QBs so they may reach (Carolina, Saints, Seattle). Then, the Raiders usually draft unconventionally. If all that happens, a Georgia DL will fall to the Bucs … and someone always falls. Jackpot.
March 24th, 2022 at 12:50 pm
He’ll still be there at 27. If they take him over an OL & CB first that’s fine.
March 24th, 2022 at 1:06 pm
Dude’s a beast. He won’t be there by the time we pick. If he is, Grab’em. Start addressing our Defense. Great Defense wins Championships. Just ask them Rams.
March 24th, 2022 at 1:21 pm
youre off by double digits on the body fat % my dude
March 24th, 2022 at 2:18 pm
Would love to have him. The man’s ceiling and work ethic is sky high
March 24th, 2022 at 5:57 pm
NEPF- Agree with everything except the slot receiver. No way they take Godwin from there unless he’s not playing. They might mix it up a little as I know Godwin didn’t play EVERY snap out of the slot , but it was in the 80-85% area..
March 24th, 2022 at 6:37 pm
Since literally no one is projecting him before round 3, round 1 is negligence.
March 24th, 2022 at 7:41 pm
This draft is NOT loaded at DT. That’s not what any of the reports are saying. Read some of the profiles of the top DTs and it gets very unexciting after the top 3. You’re woefully misinformed.
March 24th, 2022 at 8:56 pm
Just watched film on him.
Slow get off.
Ball is snapped and almost in the QBs hands and he’s just into his first step.
Hand fighting is very basic.
Depends on overpowering OLINE.
Plays with a very high pad level.
Doesn’t defeat double teams well.
Not worth a first round pick in my opinion.
March 24th, 2022 at 9:10 pm
When the OLINE blocks him and he is frustrated he has a major problem as he uses illegal hands to the face almost every time.
This was from his senior bowl practices.
March 24th, 2022 at 9:14 pm
Senior bowl players are not NFL Lineman.
With his slow get off, poor hand fighting and high pad level, Ryan Jensen would own him.