2017 NFL Mock Draft: Tackle, receiver or defensive line for the Buccaneers?

The 2016 NFL draft is over, so now we're getting way-too-early looks at the 2017 NFL draft. Yes, we're already doing mock drafts. They're not very meaningless, just vague estimates of who will be the top prospects next year and the projected top needs for every team.

If we can believe these mock drafts, and we really shouldn't, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will need a wide receiver, an offensive tackle, or a pass-rusher next year. I could see all of those things being true, so now worries there. Don't get too hung up on where the Bucs pick in these mocks: they're usually based on some third-party projections somewhere.

Dan Kadar has the Bucs picking sixth, based on Las Vegas lines, and taking Florida State tackle Roderick Johnson. The Bucs do love to draft prospects from their own home state, and right tackle Demar Dotson will be a free agent over 30 next year, so tackle is likely to be a need. Whether they want to draft one that high will mostly depend on how Donovan Smith does this season, and whether or not he can stick at left tackle. Though you could argue that in today's NFL, right tackles or as important as left tackles.

Apparently there will be yet another wide receiver called Mike Williams in the NFL next year, because Brian Linder of Penn Live has the Bucs picking him. That makes some sense: Vincent Jackson's contract runs out next offseason, and the Bucs have no clear replacement on the roster. Adding some talent for Jameis Winston to throw to is probably going to be a priority next offseason.

Finally, Charlie Campbell over at Walter Football has the Bucs picking a defensive lineman fourteenth overall: Alabama defensive end Jonathan Allen, a highly productive pass-rusher (12 sacks last season) who can play both on the outside and inside. He'd be a great fit as a base defensive end opposite Noah Spence, assuming the latter works out.

In all, these are some surprisingly sensible mock draft picks for the Bucs. I can usually rip these one-year-in-advance mock drafts to pieces but, really, no complaints here.