SEC Talent to Tampa Bay in CBS Mock Draft

Another day, another mock draft, another chance to react to what could be for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2019.

This time, it’s CBS’ Ryan Wilson and the network’s “Pick Six” podcast producing this fictitious take on what might happen in next month’s selection meeting.

But unlike a lot of mocks, this group not only predicted the first 32-picks in the draft, they went into the second round and selected the next 32 players as well.

In round one, the Arizona Cardinals kicked things off with - gasp! - Oklahoma quarterback, Kyler Murray.

This was followed by three edge rushers coming off the board as the San Francisco 49ers, New York Jets and Oakland Raiders selected Nick Bosa (Ohio State), Josh Allen (Kentucky) and Brian Burns (Florida State) respectively.

So, this left pretend Jason Licht and the Bucs with Quinnen Williams from Alabama still available, and a bunch of other guys he isn’t taking over Williams in the first round, on the board.

And this is how Tampa Bay got Mr. Williams to move from ‘Bama to Tampa. Solid move. I like it. How’s that for analysis?

What caught my attention about this mock, and the reason I’m writing this, isn’t the first pick. It’s the second.

34 picks later, the Bucs are back on the clock for the second round. If CBS is correct - they’re not - then picks one through six on day two will look like this:

33 - Arizona Cardinals - DT, Dexter Lawrence (Clemson)

Nice defensive tackle, Bucs already got one of those.

34 - Indianapolis Colts - WR, Kelvin Harmon (NC State)

Makes the Devin Funchess signing look pointless.

35 - Oakland Raiders - RB, Josh Jacobs (Alabama)

So Gruden to copy Tampa and take an Alabama player.

36 - San Francisco 49ers - WR, A.J. Brown (Ole Miss)

Something something Kwon Alexander something....

37 - New York Giants - QB, Daniel Jones (Duke)

Such a Giants 2019 off-season pick to make.

38 - Jacksonville Jaguars - TE, Irv Smith, Jr. (Alabama)

Nice Alabama tight end, Bucs already got one of those.

This is good news for Bucs fans as nobody Tampa Bay is likely targeting comes off the board before they get their first crack at the second-round. Josh Jacobs might be a player some fans of the franchise covet, but if the team is truly committed to giving Ronald Jones a chance to prove his value as a 2018 second-round pick, then this is too early to draft a running back.

At pick 39 then, Licht is back on the clock and has his choice of guys like Amani Oruwariye (Penn State), Garrett Bradbury (NC State), Mack Wilson (Alabama) and the guy they actually pick....

39 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers - S, Chauncey Gardner-Johnson (Florida)

Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

The Buccaneers have picked up some defensive help this off-season, and it came mostly in the form of solid tacklers.

While Gardner-Johnson is credited in the mock as having answered questions about his tackling ability, it’s the pass coverage which connects the team and player.

He would be the second Florida defensive back drafted by the Bucs in four years, joining 2016 first-round pick, Vernon Hargreaves III.

In the 2018 off-season, safety signings were scarce. In this one, thus far, they’ve been common and lucrative.

While the Bucs didn’t land any ‘flashy’ ones like Tyrann Mathieu or Landon Collins, adding Gardner-Johnson to the current safety group could really help make them a well-rounded unit with a lot of versatility, something it would appear is highly coveted by Todd Bowles in his defense.

So, what do we think Bucs fans? Obviously the selection of Williams isn’t new. And we know there are many differences of opinion about what should happen with the fifth pick. But we have a semi-new wrinkle in this one. A new pick to discuss.

Do we like Chauncey Gardner-Johnson at pick 39? Or do we want someone else?

To check out the rest of the mock, head here.