Bucs pass on Nelson, Chubb in latest PFF mock draft

If you ask random Bucs fans who the team should select in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft, the three names you’d commonly hear are Bradley Chubb, Quenton Nelson, and Saquon Barkley. All are certainly worthy of being drafted by Tampa Bay.

Of course you’d get some other names like Minkah Fitzpatrick or maybe even Derwin James, but the consensus is usually the previously mentioned three.

However, Pro Football Focus released their latest mock draft. With Chubb, Nelson, and Barkley available at No. 7, they have the Bucs passing on Chubb and Nelson to select Barkley. Here’s their reasoning behind that selection.

While Barkley is receiving top-3 hype, it’s hard to slot him in over potential franchise quarterbacks and blue-chip defensive players. However, he’s a nice fit here to the Bucs who continue to assemble offensive playmakers for quarterback Jameis Winston. Barkley’s receiving ability makes him more valuable than a traditional running back and he led FBS running backs with 632 receiving yards last season. He’s shown the ability to win from multiple alignments and his value will be maximized if used all over the formation and as a check-down option for Winston.

So there is nothing wrong with what they say about Barkley. Anyone would be fortunate enough to have such a talent on their team. But the Bucs should have Nelson at the top of their draft boards, maybe even Chubb.

In fact, if all three are available, trading down would be the best thing the Bucs do.