2015 NFL Draft Picks: Buccaneers select LB Kwon Alexander

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have selected linebacker Kwon Alexander out of LSU with the 124th overall pick in the draft after trading up with the Oakland Raiders. The Bucs gave up the first pick of the seventh round (218th overall) to move up four spots to take the LSU linebacker.

Alexander is just the kind of linebacker the Buccaneers tend to like: fast, sideline-to-sideline, and incredibly athletic. At 6'1", 227 lbs. he's not the biggest guy around, but speed has always been more important than size for Lovie Smith. He ran a 4.55-yard dash at the combine, leading all linebackers (excepting a few pass-rushers).

Alexander's a perfect scheme fit for the Bucs, and could step in at strongside linebacker if he does well in training camp and beats out Danny Lansanah. In the long term he may project to middle linebacker, but that's not likely to happen as a rookie, as the Bucs are paying Bruce Carter $4 million to start at that spot.

At minimum he should be a quality special teams player immediately while he develops as an NFL linebacker. Intriguing note: he's the first defensive pick in two years under Lovie Smith.

The Bucs have three more draft picks today, one in each of the fifth, sixth and seventh rounds.