What If The Bucs Draft A Wide Receiver?
April 3rd, 2022By Sean Sullivan – JoeBucsFan.com draft guru
Reaching for the Skyy (not a typo)?
The depth at wide receiver position in this month’s draft is sensational. It has stars and Day 1 starters well into the later rounds.
I’ve studied first-round possibilities like Chris Olave (Ohio State) or my personal favorite Johan Dotson (Penn State). Later round picks like Skyy Moore (Western Michigan) or Christian Watson (North Dakota St), that’s when I ran into a problem.
How many roster spots are for receivers on this Bucs on this roster? Six with five active for game day? Let’s say Todd Bowles goes to seven for Tom Brady. Who stays and who goes to make room for a rookie?
Starters Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Russel Gage, plus Breshad Perriman and Brady’ s late season favorite target Cyril Grayso, are five that make the roster before special teams. Six would be 2020 fifth-rounder Tyler Johnson and seven is 2021 fourth-rounder Jaelon Darden.
That’s if they keep seven.
And don’t forget special teams and Green Bay playoff hero Scotty Miller and Travis Jonsen, who got a look late last season and the playoff signing of veteran John Brown.
A receiver drafted in any round could be taking a roster spot from Scotty Miller, Tyler Johnson, and Darden, all Licht draft picks. I love the Draft … decisions…decisions….
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April 3rd, 2022 at 10:43 am
Trade wr’s for picks. We need a legit return man also right?
April 3rd, 2022 at 10:51 am
Yeah not happening.
April 3rd, 2022 at 10:54 am
Isaiah Weston from Northern Iowa seems like an interesting late round/UDFA flyer. 6’3″ ran a 4.42 40″ vert and 11′ broad jump. Came from a run-first school, so blocking should be pretty solid. May need to be coached up on route running but might be able to be stashed on the practice squad.
Another thing to consider is that Godwin will probably be on PUP or IR and that frees up a roster spot for a few months. As we have seen last year, another WR is likely to be injured at some point.
A final option I like is grabbing one of the injured WRs from Alabama, either Williams or Mechie in a later round. Both are injured but could be highly potent reinforcements toward the end of the season.
April 3rd, 2022 at 10:56 am
Burks or Dotson might take perriman or gage job also Godwin will not be ready for game one ?? Who knows .. but either Burks Dotson Olave will allow Godwin to recover with no pressure to return. Imo
April 3rd, 2022 at 11:09 am
Is this an ad or are we supposed to accept this as an expert column?
April 3rd, 2022 at 11:10 am
Stickin – Pretty sharp analysis. You likely are spot on wrt the WR situation.
April 3rd, 2022 at 11:17 am
Not sure that WR should be their top priority with bigger needs on defense but if your going to take one it has to be early. A mid round WR would not be an upgrade from what we already have. I’m with you Joe on Jahan Dotson. I know he’s getting first round projections but still feel he’s being under valued because of his size when they project him as the 6th best WR. Someone’s going to get a steel in the late first round. He’s got great hands, speed, and a knack for getting open. He’s number 1 on my WR board.
April 3rd, 2022 at 11:19 am
If the Bucs draft a wide receiver in the first round….. Brandy has purchased the team and he’s a player/owner/coach now.
April 3rd, 2022 at 11:35 am
There are plenty of really fast wide receivers in this draft, but I can’t see us taking one. I think this draft will be almost all defense, except for another Offensive Lineman.
April 3rd, 2022 at 11:44 am
Licht traded up for a hot shot WR at some little school last year with Darden and it’s highly unlikely they would drop him in his second year with that investment.
April 3rd, 2022 at 11:45 am
we need a late round kr/pr could be a wr or cb or scotty miller
April 3rd, 2022 at 11:52 am
Skyy Moore? Get serious. Guy gives us nothing we don’t already have. DL, ILB, CB, OL depth. That’s the whole draft.
April 3rd, 2022 at 11:56 am
DL, SS, CB, TE, RB
April 3rd, 2022 at 11:57 am
Not necessary. Only way is maybe we trade back in first so get extra pick(s)
Defense tackle / edge rusher / corner/ tight end w first 4 picks
And our 2 sevenths get a punter and return guy
If we trade back to get extra pick, i think guard is smarter move. Thats it. Thats biggest needs and we would be better team.
April 3rd, 2022 at 12:01 pm
please lets address the dline and te in the draft. we dont need another wr with the signing of gage. Bring mickens back for return duties, he was fine, much better than darden.
April 3rd, 2022 at 12:03 pm
Enough used car draft guru talk
April 3rd, 2022 at 12:13 pm
Sure lets draft all offense and use a make do defense.
April 3rd, 2022 at 12:25 pm
When will it be time to address our slightly above average Defense? After another playoff loss?
April 3rd, 2022 at 12:41 pm
I could see them draft a wr in the first if the need doesn’t fit the value of the round which I don’t think it will then I could see them draft a wide receiver the fact that they are having formal interviews with wr projected in the first says to me they are thinking about it at least so it wouldn’t surprise me if they did.
April 3rd, 2022 at 12:41 pm
1st 3 picks defense plain and simple. We might have to draft a replacement for Devin White because at times he can’t make the correct defensive line ups and his play has slipped but not his mouth. Receivers like Perriman Miller and Grayson Brady can work and win with. We need a disruptor on the line who can grow with JTS to form a great core on this line to get pressure and sacks which lead to turn overs and getting your butt off the field and not allowing the other team to score tds. Our offense is not the problem.
April 3rd, 2022 at 1:34 pm
These draft posts are pretty underwhelming for a “guru.”
Anyone drafted will take the roster spot of someone currently on the team. No duh.
There are 7 WRs currently on the roster. Wow!
I’ve researched the guys available. So have we.
What new analysis is being brought to the table in these posts???
April 3rd, 2022 at 1:54 pm
Licht won’t draft a WR unless it’s late rounds and the dude can return kicks and punts.
Licht has been crushing the draft since the Aguato Massacre and wouldn’t do something stupid like using a premium pick for a WR when the position group is super deep and there are more pressing needs.
April 3rd, 2022 at 2:02 pm
Velus Jones out of Tennessee late round pick 4.31 at the combine excellent return man kickoffs and punts a lot better than what we have a little older 25 for a college player built like a rock and excellent blocker.
April 3rd, 2022 at 2:04 pm
I don’t believe that Darden and Johnson are NFL quality receivers.
I don’t believe Grayson, Miller and Perriman can stay healthy for more than 4-6 games…
Plus – Godwin is coming off a knee rebuild and may not be full go until week 4-6.
So – YES!!!
We need to draft another WR in rounds 1-4 of this draft or we could be just one or two injuries away from being a toothless dog on offense.
We saw what happened last year when we lost CG, AB, BP and Grayson.
I love D-lineman but they don’t catch TD passes…
April 3rd, 2022 at 2:10 pm
Need to trade down into the second round and just get the best left guard/tackle available. Defensive lineman and go from there.
April 3rd, 2022 at 2:20 pm
This offense works best with 3 wrs. Godwin wont be ready and when he us wont be his old sels toll following season. Evans or gage will probably miss games . I think its an important area of concern
April 3rd, 2022 at 3:01 pm
Honestly…I would imagine Mike Evans has the highest value he’ll ever have right now. Might even get 2 firsts for him.
That said…trading WRs away would not be a good idea.
April 3rd, 2022 at 3:04 pm
I think if the Bucs draft another receiver they should take another swing at a returner in the mid rounds. I like Britain Covey. He’s very Julian Edelman-ish. Not just because he’s short and white either. He’s a converted qb that never gets tackled by the 1st guy. He never gets caught from behind. He could make 3 guys miss in a phone booth.
April 3rd, 2022 at 3:05 pm
DavidBigBucsFan99 Says
“1st 3 picks defense plain and simple.”
When I think about the draft, I try to be unbiased when I consider the possibilities. My first instinct is to believe the first couple picks will be defense as well…but then I realize we lost 2 offensive linemen and Tom Brady will not tolerate them not being replaced properly.
I believe we got one in FA? (I’m so out of it today I can’t remember)
So I figure we will be taking a top OL guy early in the draft, and seeing that we pick so late…I’m guessing it will be in the first round.
April 3rd, 2022 at 3:05 pm
To me, the most important needs this year are linemen and secondary…in that order.
April 3rd, 2022 at 3:08 pm
Unless there is a first round talent in the 5th round I don’t think the Bucs draft a receiver. They need defensive lineman (besides Vita ours are getting old) they should probably draft an o-linemen, defensive back definitely a tight end and if they can find one in the draft a decent return man, so we can get rid of the second coming of Dexter Jackson (not the Super Bowl MVP) the other one from Appalachian State. I’m sure Jaelon Darden is a good kid but he don’t look anything like an NFL returner. Then maybe we can sign a couple of undrafted free agent wide receivers and see if they can make the practice squad.
April 3rd, 2022 at 3:10 pm
Marine _ you have a way of making your point that causes me to need a drink. Astute observation, brother.
April 3rd, 2022 at 3:26 pm
Take Wyatt for DL if he is available in the first. Otherwise I am all in on Olave or Watson at that pick if they are available. Godwin may be mid-season before he returns and we are one Gage or Evans injury from being a hamstrung offense just like last years playoffs. I trust Licht to find o-line talent in later rounds, that is why I am all for a top end WR if Wyatt is gone in the first.
April 3rd, 2022 at 3:36 pm
@Marine
We need both WR and DT.
Everything that you said about our WR’s I agree with, but with only Vea and Gholston currently on our roster, the Bucs need DT as well in this draft.
You need more than 2 DT’s on an NFL team.
If the Bucs drafted PSU Jahan Dotson they would have a slot receiver who is comparable to Wes Welker in speed and agility. He catches everything thrown to him, has competed against top level corners at Ohio State and Michigan, and could be a day 1 starter for the Bucs.
ME13 and Gage would play the outside and Dotson would play the slot, giving Godwin the time he needs to fully recover.
April 3rd, 2022 at 4:13 pm
We need a third TE providing Gronk signs up. Someone who can block, be a serviceable receiver and play special teams.
Sure OL, pass rush, and CB. Licht and scouting will find us one somehow.
April 3rd, 2022 at 4:17 pm
@ Belle
It really depends on who falls to us at pick #27…
If Burks or Olave are there and no high ranked DL are available we have to go with BPA.
If Zion Johnson or K. Green fall to us then maybe OG is the pick.
If a high ranked CB falls to us then maybe CB is the pick.
However it works out I would still pick a WR with one of our first 3 picks… Our WR group is not as strong as some folks believe…
April 3rd, 2022 at 4:23 pm
The NFL is a passing league…A QB & WR driven league.
If there’s a WR on the board that can take a roster spot & help the Bucs win a SB in 2022…You take that guy!
If that mean dumping “Insert WR not named Evans/Godwin/Gage”, you do it…If Jameson Williams is on the board at #27…The FO would have to think long & hard about pulling the trigger. (Assuming the ACL medicals are progressing for a late 2022 season return)
Think about this…Who’d you rather have taking the top off in DEC/JAN?? Who’s hands you trusting?? Perriman or a rookie J.Williams???
April 3rd, 2022 at 4:26 pm
I read somewhere that Licht couldn’t back off from Zion Johnson. Good.
“we’ve got to much talent and depth on our OL!” …said no one ever.
April 3rd, 2022 at 5:25 pm
They will draft a receiver, starters go down every year BA got here they need depth. Tyler Johnson and Scotty miller can’t get it done and let’s not get started on Darden who may be better next year but wont know before the draft. BPA please
April 3rd, 2022 at 6:07 pm
Except for TE, a problem if Gronk is a no go, I am leery of anything that robs the process of DEFENSE and OFFENSIVE LINE strengthening. Period.
Darden and Johnson, possibly Scotty could be dealt for better, either draft picks or free agency.
But I am not for wasting the top of the draft on anything but TRENCHES and MEAN.
This is not a draft where they can afford to go “best player available”. You BPA only when you have the luxury and few needs. They don’t.
April 3rd, 2022 at 6:25 pm
Not high on Darden.
April 3rd, 2022 at 7:18 pm
Forget more receivers…….we need pass rushers period.
April 3rd, 2022 at 7:44 pm
Every one of our receivers after Gage have major question marks and I wouldn’t bat an eye if we took a receiver at 27.
April 3rd, 2022 at 7:58 pm
They’ve only got five picks right now. They need to consider trading down at least once or twice to get more picks.
April 3rd, 2022 at 8:05 pm
Sean I love you but hit that spell check 🤣
April 3rd, 2022 at 9:20 pm
I think a lot of people need to relax on Darden yea he struggle at times last year he was a Small school WR let the kid develop Rojo was horrible his 1st year an he was from USC let Darden develop small school 4th round pick I believe he will be a lot better this year as he grows an adds muscle an weight start letting guys come into there own it was his rookie year
April 3rd, 2022 at 9:32 pm
#GoBucs
April 3rd, 2022 at 9:33 pm
I think a lot of people need to relax on Darden yea he struggle at times last year he was a Small school WR let the kid develop Rojo was horrible his 1st year an he was from USC let Darden develop small school 4th round pick I believe he will be a lot better this year as he grows an adds muscle an weight start letting guys come into there own it was his rookie year #GoBucs
April 3rd, 2022 at 9:47 pm
What
April 3rd, 2022 at 9:47 pm
I think a lot of people need to relax on Darden yea he struggle at times last year he was a Small school WR let the kid develop Rojo was horrible his 1st year an he was from USC let Darden develop small school 4th round pick I believe he will be a lot better this year as he grows an adds muscle an weight start letting guys come into there own it was his rookie year #GoBucs LFG
April 3rd, 2022 at 10:48 pm
I’m so relaxed on Darden, he could be cut tomorrow and I wouldn’t even notice.
April 3rd, 2022 at 11:02 pm
Absolutely beyond dumb. First off the only WR likely to be added to this team is the guy from Arkansas and I don’t feel that great about him. Sky Moore , but not a chance in the world I’d take him in round 1. We have so many talented WRs and some are even going to be cut due to the size of the roster. I’d think anyways. More then 6 WRs just isn’t really a thing.
1. Mike Evans
2. Chris Godwin
3. Russell Gage
Now after this it’s not really in any order , but I see it like this #6 is my return man so Darden.
4. Breshad Perriman
5. Cyril Grayson
6. Jalen Darden KR
This means I have Tyler Johnson , Scotty Miller gone. That sucks I liked these guys but it is what it is and we need to have a natural chemistry with TB12 and speed for TB12.
I’m more interested in the trenches and our secondary as a whole. Replacing Suh and replacing Cappa. Is there any rookies available that can replace Cappa or Suh. That’s the real question. Healthy players also who are tough and durable
April 3rd, 2022 at 11:35 pm
TE is a huge need all of a sudden if Rob Gronkowski isn’t back. Which I presume he’s coming back after summer vacation. Maybe he just don’t want to also and is unhappy but doubt it he loves Tampa bay fans and Tom Brady. Point is if he does retire and stuns us all epically Brady and TB12 need a new TE. Cody McElroy needs tons of reps this year and we need ti draft at least one TE high if Gronk is not coming back. Maybe even in RD1 or look to FA for a TE.
Backup O linemen is super important. Fred Johnson behind Donovan smith sound good now but what if smith actually went down then what. We saw how bad Josh wells is and was when Tristan went down right. We are gambling essentially at OT position so finding a young large and in charge swing tackle could do us more favors then we think. Nick leverett and Aaron Stinnie more question marks. John molochon & Robert Hainsey I mean that entire backup Oline is sus. After fournette we really don’t have much going for us at RB. Not really. Is vaughn that nice not really. Bernard is okay on pass downs I guess. What if fournette gets hurt vaughn is not the guy. Right now we got benning potato starting at DE in suhs spot and not really depth for either DE spot. So that’s a problem. I’d move SMB to SS and special teams unit. I’d try a bunch of guys out for that slot cb position. I’d draft an outside CB with speed for depth. If we do sign Matthieu I’d use him as slot CB. Then use Russ cockrell at outside CB with SMB make these guys fight for playing time. I’d start Joe tryon at OLB if I knew Anthony Nelson could play 3-4 DE. I feel he can do it. Needs to get bigger. This could be his last year in the league if he doesn’t play DE tbh. We still have a very good playoff team. The question will always be how can we improve as a team though.
April 4th, 2022 at 12:02 am
I traded back with the Jets. Got their 35th pick and the 69th pick it was.
This is who I drafted in order.
Rd 2. Travis Jones DE/NT
Rd 2. Martin Emerson CB
Rd 3. Perrion Winfrey DE
Rd 3. Max Mitchell OT
Rd 4. Otitto Ogbonnia DE
Rd 7. Nick Ford C
Rd 7. Lucas Krull TE
April 4th, 2022 at 12:25 am
A lot of receivers in this draft. I do think they’ll take one but not until round 4 or later. I still see round 1-2-3 as DL, DB, RB in no particular order except no RB in round 1
April 4th, 2022 at 6:06 am
No need to draft a wr. We’ve got plenty. I’m not giving upon on either Miller or Johnson. What we need is a return guy. Mickens was our best returner and we cut him for Darden. If Bowles is objective Darden either makes a huge step or should lose his roster spot. Returners can be had during cuts before the season.