The Wright Direction and Receiving

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have recently traded their second best wide receiver in Mike Williams just before the 2014 NFL draft.  With picks in the first, second, and third rounds of the draft, the query is do the Bucs have a need to draft a wide receiver in the first round?

Listed above are the first ten drafted wide receivers from the 2013 draft.  Then I looked up the top rookie receiving threats and found Draftseason.com and added their draft positions as well as team ranking in receiving, denoting the importance in the passing game:

There were some discrepancies with some stats with draftseason.com and ESPN.com.  I used ESPN's receiving numbers over draftseason.com, but still retained their rankings.

What is very surprising about this chart is how many lower round draftees produced.  Included into the top tier of rookies are two undrafted free agents, Tim Wright and Marlon Brown.  That is the Buccaneers' tight end, Tim Wright.   Tim Wright was the Bucs' second in ranking of passing yards!  Although Patterson and Austin are just outside of the top receiving threats, those two players contributed elsewhere and I will revisit them near the conclusion of this article.

Continuing on with the thought that the Bucs might be very lucky with Tim Wright, I looked up top TE's in the NFL and found Football Outsiders' ranking:

Wright was ranked sixth best TE in the NFL, by footballoutsider.com's DYAR metric.  In that same chart, further down, is newly signed FA TE Brandon Myers at 36 overall.  Please note we're talking about receiving here; not blocking.

I just hope the new regime values what a find they have in Tim Wright and continue to develop him.  There might be a kinship with fellow second year player Mike Glennon as McCown was signed this offseason as well.  Both players may feel as though they have a lot to prove to this new regime despite showing resiliency last season.

Now let us look back at the top rookie receiving threats chart.  It is true, upon that 2013 sample, that you can find a capable WR in the later rounds that can contribute right away.  I added first rounders who did not make the top tier of Tavon Austin and Cordarrelle Patterson.  While each only posted 418 yards and 469 yards respectively, they both did more than just play receiver.  Austin's total production included running back and kick return duties that amounted to a total of 1209 yards and six touchdowns.  Patterson's total production included running back and kickoff return duties that summed up to 2020 yards and nine touchdowns.

So what if WR Sammy Watkins is available at the seventh overall pick?  Should the Bucs pick him or trade the pick away for more picks?  I think the versatility that Watkins brings would be of that like Austin and Patterson as he is just as dynamic to be utilized in other situations.  Add to that how often Lovie Smith has mentioned he would like to have strong specials teams play.

Right now is an exciting time to be a Bucs' fan as there many stories yet to play themselves out from returning players to new players from free agency as well as the impending 2014 draft.  Hold onto your hats, Bucsnation, as we traverse this new season with hopes we are treading in the right direction.