2016 NFL Mock Draft: Buccaneers strengthen the line

We're a fourth of the way through the 2015 NFL season. You know what that means! Mock drafts! What, that's not what you guessed?

In his 2016 NFL mock draft, Dan Kadar has the Tampa Bay Buccaneers taking Oho State left tackle Taylor Decker.

Although the Buccaneers just used a second-round pick on Donovan Smith, Gosder Cherilus is still starting at the other tackle position. Ohio State's offensive line has underwhelmed this season, but Decker is the exception.

This pick would mean two things. First, it would mean the Bucs have given up on Donovan Smith as a left tackle. That's certainly possible, as he's been up-and-down at best so far and while he's improved week on week, there are still many deficiencies to his game -- especially in pass-blocking. There's no guarantee he'll get those problems cleared up, and the Bucs could definitely use an infusion of talent along an aging offensive line -- Logan Mankins, Demar Dotson and Gosder Cherilus aren't going to be around forever.

The other thing it means: the Bucs still won't have that dominant edge rusher they crave. The Bucs have been trying to draft defensive ends ever since they cut Simeon Rice, and they just keep whiffing -- either because they don't even get the opportunity to draft a quality edge rushers, or the ones they draft turn out not to be any good. You would think the Bucs would try to counteract that problem next year, especially given the fact that they've drafted all of one defensive player the past two years and the importance of that position in Lovie Smith's scheme -- or really any scheme.

While Joey Bosa is out of the team's reach in this draft and likely reality as well, there are other dedicated pass rushers they could draft. Baylor's Shawn Oakman and Georgia's Jordan Jenkins would be good candidates for Tampa Bay.