NFL Mock Draft 2015: Evaluating Matt Miller's seven rounds of Buccaneers

A couple of days ago, Bleacher Report's Matt Miller put out a full seven-round mock draft. We don't see that too often, and although it's mostly an exercise in fun speculation rather than accurate prediction, they give us a good view of the kinds of prospects the Tampa Bay Buccaneers could target, and how outside analysts view their needs.

Unsurprisingly, Miller has the Bucs starting the draft with Jameis Winston. We've talked about him a lot, and I'm more interested in the other seven picks the Bucs get to make. So let's go through them.

Round 2, Pick 2: DE Owa Odighizuwa, UCLA

This is not the first time Odighizuwa has been mocked to the Bucs here, and Miller described him as a speed rusher. Watching his footage I don't quite see that, and he certainly hasn't had the production (6 sacks in hisfinal season) to make me think he'll be a productive force. But he does display some positive athletic traits and he may be the style of player the Bucs look for.

Round 3, Pick 1: CB Charles Gaines, Louisville

The Buccaneers need some extra depth at cornerback, so this makes perfect sense. The 5'11", 180 lbs. cornerback would probably be a good fit as a slot cornerback where the Bucs don't have anyone they can consistently rely on.

Round 4, Pick 10: C Hroniss Grasu, Oregon

Finally an offensive lineman -- all the way in the middle of the fourth round. That's not nearly early enough to be counted on as a reliable starter, but then I doubt Grasu would be asked to be that. He'd probably be a swing backup early in his career, who the Bucs would hope to develop into a starter later on.

Round 5, Pick 26: WR Breshad Perriman, UCF

Hey, a local product. I do not know Perriman, but he's a big receiver at 6'3" 214 lbs. who had a productive junior season, putting up 1,044 yards and nine touchdowns on just 50 catches. Physically, he's similar to Vincent Jackson and Mike Evans and should act as a backup outside receiver and special teams player early on.

Round 5, Pick 32: S Jordan Richards, Stanford

At this point we're talking mainly about special teamers and backups, so selecting someone who plays a position of relative strength at strong safety is a solid promise. Richards probably isn't a good prospect for free safety, where the Bucs do have a need if they decide to move on from Dashon Goldson, but that need won't be filled at this point in the draft anyway.

Round 6, Pick 8: T Robert Myers, Tennessee State

The Bucs selected Kadeem Edwards out of Tennessee State last year, and here they go with another player from that some program. Adding developmental depth to the offensive line is a must: the Bucs neglected these positions far too often under Mark Dominik.

Round 7, Pick 1: G Miles Dieffenbach, Penn State

And another offensive lineman for depth purposes.

Conclusion

Overall, I like this draft. Assuming the Bucs find at least one starting lineman in free agency, they added a franchise quarterback, competition at defensive end and slot cornerback and a series of young linemen who should compete for backup spots and help shore up what has been a problem unit for years on end.