What To Watch For Tonight

April 29th, 2022

Bucs GM Jason Licht.

The suspense will last another 19 hours.

Bucs fans felt like they opened a can of flat macrobrew Thursday night as they sat down in their beer-stained recliners to enjoy the first round. Tampa Bay traded out of the first round with Jacksonville and will open Friday night’s draft with the first pick in Round 2.

So two guys Joe dreamed of landing didn’t even remotely come close to the Bucs’ former No. 27 overall pick. And a guy Joe would have loved but never dreamed could be had was selected right before Bucs’ AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht traded back.

Two guys Joe wanted but hardly had a prayer of being available at No. 27, Penn State wide receiver Jahan Dotson and Ohio State wide receiver Chris Olave (who noted college football expert Chris “Mad Dog” Russo refers to as Chris “Olive”) went way before the Bucs had a realistic shot at reeling them in. The Slimy Saints traded up for Olave at No. 11 overall, and Dotson went to Washington and No. 16.

Then, Florida State defensive end Jermaine Johnson was selected by the Jets at No. 26, right before the Bucs likely would have picked him. Johnson was rated as the third-best pass rusher by many and others thought he wouldn’t get out of the top-10.

So here are key guys on the board when the Bucs will kick off the second round at 7 p.m.:

* Andrew Booth, CB, Clemson: Joe has been riding this guy’s jock for weeks. Joe thinks a main need the Bucs have is at corner, despite returning all of their starters. Unlike some Bucs corners, Booth tackles and, yeah, he can defend.

* Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia: If the Bucs are looking for a rotation to save Lavonte David and later replace him when his contract expires after this season, Dean is a run-and-hit linebacker who can cover running backs out of the backfield and can blitz quarterbacks.

* Kyler Gordon, CB, Washington: Folks had Gordon mocked to the Bucs before the Bucs traded out of the first round. Quick, smooth and is a strong believer in wrapping up ballcarriers.

* Arnold Ebiketie, DE, Penn State: Relentless pass rusher who is very slippery for offensive tackles.

* Logan Hall, DT, Houston: Tall guy who can play multiple positions on the defensive front. Known more for his pass-rushing ability from the interior.

* Roger McCreary, CB, Auburn: Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht loves his Auburn corners on the second day of the draft. McCreary is considered a “sticky” corner and he’s Richard Sherman’s steal of the draft.

*Breece Hall, RB, Iowa State: How stunned and intrigued might the Bucs be to have the guy considered the best running back in the draft staring them in the face with an inexpensive Round 2 contract? Hall has a lot of juice.

Obviously, Joe wants a corner. A linebacker intrigues Joe. A pass rusher? Since this year is Super Bowl-or-bust and it takes pass rushers a year or two to develop, Joe is lukewarm on pass rushers this draft.

Joe would be very surprised to see the Bucs grab an offensive skill position player with the first of their two second-round picks. Joe would not be surprised to see the Bucs trade down again.

27 Responses to “What To Watch For Tonight”

  1. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    Could pick that #1 TE……but I think we’ll trade again.

  2. Bird Says:

    Booth or gordon for me

    Both love to tackle which our guys do not. And would play right away.
    Especially since our division is going receiver receiver receiver 😂

    Gordon even got invite tonight and got all dressed up
    But i think booth gets slight edge imo

  3. Buc92’ Says:

    Andrew Booth , no brainer perfect scheme fit

    GoBucs!

  4. Bruce Blahak Says:

    McBride!

  5. New England Patriots Fan Says:

    There are 22 starters and a punter kicker long snapper back up QB and couple rotational starters on a roster making up about 30 true starters and 52 players.

    Tampa once Gronk is signed has 28/30 roles filled now and has backup in house now filling in the other 22 spots.

    Tampa is one of the deepest rosters in the NFL. What is the point in adding even more 4-5 and 6th rounders just to be cut in camp and sit on practice squad.

    A smart GM would package future picks and lower picks and take 3-4 players between 33 and 70, actually adding 3-4 real potential starters whom won’t be cut in camp, versus a collection of 10 late rounders whom won’t make the team

  6. Capt.Tim Says:

    Think it will be Logan Hall or McCreary.
    Good move getting more picks

  7. Jersey buc Says:

    Nakobe give me the linebacker. David is getting up there coming off a foot injury. Him n white would be a problem for years

  8. Rod Munch Says:

    I think they really want McBride, even if Gronk is back (which I think he will be), they need more than Brate at TE. But I don’t think he lasts to 60, and 33 is too high to take him.

    So best idea is to trade back, and I think Seattle, with 40, 41, is the perfect place to go. Bucs send the 33, 60 for 40, 41 – then the Bucs can take McBride and Hall.

  9. FortMyersDave Says:

    Andrew Booth at #33 but would not surprise me if the Bucs trade down 5 -10 spots to pick up a 3rd rounder. It would seem like Licht is adapting the Bellicheat method of acquiring additional picks if he does do that. Its great if they get talent but as some of the posters have mentioned, eventually you trade down too far to get an impact player so I guess it depends on how many players Jason has on the top of his day 2 board, if he has several then expect a trade down, if he has one guy he thinks will be gone by 35 or 36 (like Booth) he nabs him.

  10. Cobraboy Says:

    Although a starter or rotational guy is always a +, hope here is ST’s also get better…and that comes from the bottom of the draft.

  11. Pickgrin Says:

    No more trade downs unless its only 1 or 2 spots……

    Booth is on the board. He is a starter level talent at CB with superb measurables.

    Drafting Booth outside of the 1st round is a no brainer.

    Make it happen JL!

  12. Coburn Says:

    Seems there are enough guys left (add Travis Jones and McBride) where you could trade again and still get a contributor. I agree with patsfan that we would the. Likely package some later picks to move back up into say 4th round at some point

  13. Jack Burton Mercer Says:

    Hasn’t the 2nd round been Licht’s kryptonite?

  14. Bucsfan4ever Says:

    Test

  15. Bruce Blahak Says:

    McBride, then a CB and Guard 2-3. I have no idea where the D lineman will come from. Suh !!!!!

  16. Defense Rules Says:

    ‘A linebacker intrigues Joe. A pass rusher? Since this year is Super Bowl-or-bust and it takes pass rushers a year or two to develop, Joe is lukewarm on pass rushers this draft.’

    Aahh yes, because we already so many pass rushers on our current roster. Oh wait, no we don’t. I forgot that we’re missing Suh, JPP & McLendon up-front and haven’t replace ANY OF THEM yet. My bad.

  17. Allbuccedup Says:

    Kyler Gordon, Logan Hall or Travis Jones. Booth looks good on paper but for some reason Clemson players do not make good NFL players.

  18. alaskabuc Says:

    First pick in the second has gotta be Booth or Logan Hall. I would like to see us grab a TE late in the second if there is an elite TE available.

  19. Bucs Guy Says:

    That’s a good list of players plus a few TEs and Jones. Lots of possibilities for the Bucs. Would love to trade back 5-10 slots, then work a deal to get an trade some lower picks for an extra day 2 pick. I trust JL. Lots of very good players in this draft (8-10 year starters), but not many elite players. The only elite the Bucs had a shot at was Johnson who the Jets swooped up in front of the Bucs at 26.

  20. lambchop Says:

    I guess it depends how far back, but I think the slide ends and we grab the best available. I would like Booth to be the guy. We need to get more physical at CB. Our guys are more about making splash plays rather than putting on that blue collar work in. Imagine if Carlton Davis was the 2nd best CB on our team. That would be the dream.

  21. OrlandoBucFan Says:

    This here fan page has been singing Booth’s praises for weeks now. If the Bucs feel the same way, he is there for the taking. At this point, I would say the trade was a win if we get the player we wanted and get extra picks in the 4th and 6th rounds. Only time will tell, but I think trading down was a good move. We need more young depth.

  22. WhatTheBuc Says:

    I like Ebiketie and Jones but I think McBride and Winfrey are higher on the Bucs board.

  23. MadMax Says:

    If I can only pick one, Logan Hall, been singing his praises for a while now…but we might be able to land him after Dean.

    Nakobe and Logan would fortify our D!

    Then we work on getting LG Ed Ingram and P Matt Araiza.

  24. BUCman Says:

    Dean or McBride!

  25. SlyPirate Says:

    With so many available players, a trade down with the Texans or Seahawks is a no brainer.

  26. David Says:

    Booth or Dean.

    No to McCreary because he is not very good at tackling.
    Hopefully they can get Jones at DT later in the rd.

  27. Ben Harvey Says:

    Ebeketie. Need more pass rush! Everything else will fall into place with a good pass rush.