The first round of the 2013 NFL Draft is over, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have made no selections. They traded away their first-round pick for Darrelle Revis, meaning their highest first-round pick will come on Friday.
Cornerbacks
Surprise: the Tampa Bay Buccaneers still need a third cornerback to pair with Darrelle Revis and Eric Wright. Who could they target on day two?
Logan Ryan, Rutgers
Ryan is a quality cornerback who lacks a little size, but has a good grasp of the position. He's physical and can play press coverage, while he has the agility to keep up with receivers throughout a route. Unfortunately he's not the fastest player which may lead to him getting beat over the top a little too easily. He has some technique issues to work on. The fact that he comes from Rutgers likely gives him a leg up. Scouting report
Johnthan Banks, Mississippi State
Banks has some issues with agility and a lot of issues with technique that may limit him in the pros, but he does have the ability to play press-man coverage and that's highly valued. He was at one point seen as the second-best cornerback in the draft, but that perception has faded really quickly. Still, he could develop into a decent second cornerback, but he won't be an instant starter.
Jamar Taylor, Boise State
Taylor's another intriguing cornerback. He lacks some physical stature and attributes, although he does have very good speed. But he has good technique, shows the ability to stick with receivers in man coverage, is patient and effective when pressing receivers and is a quality run defender. He fits what the Buccaneers want to do on defense, although there's a chance he may be limited to the slot at the next level.
Jordan Poyer, Oregon State
Poyer's a tough, competitive cornerback who lacks the speed to be a top cornerback, but his quickness and agility is very good. He's an instinctive and smart player who doesn't get caught out of position and doesn't get fooled in routes. However, he can struggle in press coverage, which will be an issue for the Buccaneers and may in fact be limited to being a slot cornerback. That doesn't need to be a problem for the Bucs, who are looking for a third cornerback. Scouting report
Tight ends
Tyler Eifert was the only tight end to come off the board in round one. Unfortunately he's also the best tight end in the draft. The Bucs have a need at tight end despite the position not being a huge part of their offense. Luke Stocker and Tom Crabtree simply aren't good enough as starters, though, and the Bucs' offense could become a lot more dangerous with multifaceted tight ends. Check out Danny Kelly's breakdown from a few weeks ago for a great overview of a few receiving tight ends.
Zach Ertz, Stanford
Ertz is the best tight end left on the board. He's a decent blocker who has the ability to line up all over the formation including at wide receiver positions. He was frequently matched up cornerbacks in college, and won a lot of those matchups. He doesn't have great speed, but he is a good route runner who can create separation in the short areas of the field. He'd be a quality receiver and blocker, but he won't be dominant at either aspect. Still, select him and you probably have a solid starter for a decade.
Travis Kelce, Cincinnati
Despite Ertz's acclaim, Travis Kelce may actually be the better overall prospect. He's a much more imposing blocker than Ertz with better size, he's better at catching the ball while covered and he has better speed to get down the seam and make a big play. The only thing Ertz may have on Kelce is route running, and it's not a huge difference.
So why is he not ranked higher than Ertz? Because of character issues. He was suspended for a full season in 2010 for violating undisclosed team rules. That's pretty impressive. Any team that wants to select him will have to be confident his problems are behind him, whatever those problems were. But the Bucs have shown that they're willing to take character risks if they check out, such as selecting Mike Williams in the fourth round in 2010.
Gavin Escobar
Escobar is a big, physical tight end whose best trait is catching the ball while covered. He manages to get open surprisingly often, but lacks the speed of Kelce or the excellent route running of Ertz. He needs a little work as a blocker, too, but he's willing and should be fine in the long run. He won't be a gamebreaking tight end, but he'd be a useful addition for the Bucs.
Defensive linemen
The Buccaneers could also look to add some defensive linemen, as they lack depth along the line. Many defensive tackles have gone in the first round, but a few remain as well as some quality edge rushers.
Tank Carradine, Florida State
Carradine may be the best defensive end in this draft. He has power and flexibility and is a very good hustle player: he doesn't give up on a play once he's blocked. He was a beast when healthy, notching 11 sacks before blowing out his knee in November last year. He might be an upgrade over Adrian Clayborn, but would at the very least be a very good backup.
There's just one problem: he's coming off an ACL injury, and the fact that he's fallen this far means that that knee injury is a real issue. Scouting report
Johnathan Hankins, Ohio State
Hankins is an intriguing defensive tackle. He's big and physical and a very good run defender, but is a little lacking as a pass rusher. He's not overly disruptive, but teams won't be able to run at him much. If the Bucs feel he brings something to the table as a pass rusher they may view him as an upgrade over Derek Landri and Gary Gibson and take him. Scouting report
Damontre Moore, Texas A&M
Moore's an interesting player. He was very productive last year, notching 12.5 sacks, but he wasn't a very explosive defensive end. He's a big guy and a very good run defender, but he relies mostly on power as a pass rusher and that may limit him. The upside is that he's a real hustle player and continually makes plays because he never gives up. But is that an improvement on Adrian Clayborn and Da'Quan Bowers, or would he just be there as decent depth?
Kawann Short, Purdue
Short is your typical disruptive three-technique defensive tackle. He's a little stocky and physically looks a little like Brian Price. He may be able to fit at nose tackle in the Bucs' system. While Short flashes explosion and disruptiveness, there's one problem with him: his effort appears to be inconsistent. That's a big no-no for any player no matter how talented.
Linebackers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers don't have a massive need at linebacker, but if they select a good middle linebacker who excels in coverage they could move Mason Foster to the outside. A few players who would qualify are still on the board.
Arthur Brown, Kansas State
My favorite linebacker in the draft, Brown would be a terrific fit at middle linebacker. He's fast, strong, does a good job taking on linemen despite lacking a bit in size and shows tremendous awareness on the field. He can locate the football and he can handle tight ends in coverage. If the Buccaneers decide to take a linebacker, which would surprise me, Arthur Brown would be a pretty good one. Scouting report
Kevin Minter, LSU
Minter's a very good run stuffer who is powerful and can diagnose plays quickly. However, he can struggle in coverage. He doesn't have great movement skills and that may mean he isn't much of an upgrade over Mason Foster -- which means the Bucs should probably pass on him. Still, he can blitz and he would be a decent fit.
Khaseem Greene, Rutgers
Greene is basically Lavonte David redux, although he's not as good. He's fast, undersized, instinctive and limited to just the weakside linebacker spot, which probably means that's a no go for the Buccaneers. Scouting report
Wide receivers
The Buccaneers don't have a big need at wide receiver, but at this point a lot of talented receivers are still on the board and they could select one pretty easily.
Justin Hunter, Tennessee
Hunter's a ridiculous athlete who has basically the same physical gifts as A.J. Green. Tall, lanky and fast, he's the most explosive route runner in the draft. The issue is his hands: he drops way too many balls, and it's impossible to know whether you can solve that issue. Scouting report
Keenan Allen, California
Keenan Allen is a slightly slow but big receiver who may be best suited to playing in the slot. He's willing to go over the middle, has good hands and does a good job adding yards after the catch. Overall, he'd be a good fit as a slot receiver but the Buccaneers may look for a more versatile player as they like to use Vincent Jackson in the slot. Scouting report
Robert Woods, USC
Woods may be the most pro-ready receiver in the draft. He's a very accomplished route runner who knows how to set up and beat defensive backs in man coverage. He catches the ball cleanly, can make the occasional defender miss and is simply a good, professional receiver. He's not special, but he would be a good fit as a third receiver for the Bucs.
Quinton Patton, Louisiana Tech
Patton's a solid all-around receiver who's a good route runner, can beat press coverage, has the acceleration to create separation and does a good job catching the ball. He's a good, professional wide receiver with no elite, gamebreaking attributes. A solid addition to any receiving corps, but perhaps not a number one or a difference maker. He certainly would upgrade the third receiver spot for the Buccaneers, though.
Read more:
Bucs' needs after trading for Revis