2012 NFL Draft Grades: Grading the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' first round

Draft grades are fun to do, if never entirely accurate. A few years from now we'll look back on these grades, and figure out that no, it wasn't exactly accurate. But these grades are still valuable: they give us an immediate view of the draft, an immediate reaction that's hard to replicate later. So here's my grade - and after that, I'd like to hear your grade too.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers First Round Grade: B

I love both players the Buccaneers selected, and both are clear upgrades that fill major needs on the roster. Both Mark Barron and Doug Martin should be starters from day one who will play major roles on the Bucs' team. In addition, Tampa Bay managed to add a draft pick in the form of a fourth-rounder. And despite all that, this draft was far from perfect. Personally, I don't mind the initial trade down with the Jacksonville Jaguars. I don't think the Bucs got fleeced, nor do I think the Bucs were that interested in Morris Claiborne. If they were, they would have selected him at #5.

But the question I have is: shouldn't they have selected Claiborne anyway? Oh, the Bucs have his defensive backs coach on the coaching staff, and cornerback wasn't a major need. And there are a few question marks surrounding Morris Claiborne as well. but to me, a top-notch cornerback is something you can potentially build a defense around. That's a lot harder to do with a safety, no matter how dynamic he is. I really like Mark Barron and what he brings to the table, but is he better than Claiborne? That's my only question - which is why this grade is a B, and not an A.

So, now it's time to give us your grades on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' first round. How did Mark Dominik and Greg Schiano do? What did you think of the first day of the draft?