Another weak, and that means more mock drafts hit the shelves. It's always Trent Richardson or Morris Claiborne, somehow, and this week it's no different. Hey, cornerback or running back - which do you prefer? Well, SB Nation prefers a cornerback for the Bucs - of course they have Trent Richardson going one pick earlier in their latest 2012 NFL Mock Draft:
Claiborne has been here before in previous mock drafts. He fits. Barring some bizarre, unlikely happening at the Combine, Claiborne is the best corner in the draft, and maybe a better all around cover man than his former teammate Patrick Peterson. Replacing Aqib Talib with a high character guy like Claiborne will also be a welcome change for the Bucs.
I've picked out two other mock drafts. First, there's Draft Countdown's mock draft - a little outdated, but still worth a look. They have the Bucs picking Trent Richardson. Morris Claiborne was off the board, but Justin Blackmon was still available:
Few would have predicted that the Bucs would be selecting this early, but despite coming off a very disappointing season there is still a lot of young talent in Tampa. That doesn't mean they don't have their fair share of holes to plug though. After an impressive rookie season LeGarrette Blount regressed in year two and the Buccaneers finished third from last in the league in rushing. In the long run Blount may be best suited for a situational role, a la Brandon Jacobs. Alabama RB Trent Richardson is a well-rounded player with a terrific blend of power and speed and possesses all of the tools to be a dominant workhorse at the next level. Richardson is a much better pro prospect than former teammate Mark Ingram and just might be the best runner the NFL Draft has seen since Adrian Peterson or Darren McFadden. The Bucs could also use an infusion of youth in their secondary and L.S.U. CB Morris Claiborne will likely receive serious consideration as a potential successor to 36-year-old Ronde Barber as well. Even though Tampa Bay already has a couple of pretty talented young pass catchers in Mike Williams and Arrelious Benn there are some who feel that Justin Blackmon of Oklahoma St. could be a legitimate possibility too so watch out for that.
Third, there's the National Football Post, who released their third mock draft this year. They have the Bucs selecting Trent Richardson, even though Morris Claiborne is still on the board:
If you want a prospect who can take pressure off a young quarterback in the run game Richardson is your guy. He's strong, explosive, physical, and might be the safest prospect in the draft.