FanPost

Witty's "Wait, What's This Playoffs Interfering With My Mock Draft 2021 Needs" Posting w/Poll


Usually by this time of year, I am woefully sadly pounding out yet another FanPost about who and what the Buccaneers need to add to the roster to try and improve on an 5-11 or 7-9 season to reach this mythical thing called "Playoffs." Well, lo and behold the Bucs ARE in the playoffs this season... and yet I catch myself visiting multiple Mock Draft generators online figuring out DAMMIT IS AN EDGE GUY AVAILABLE THAT LATE IN THE FIRST ROUND?!

So, completely out of habit, here's my take on the needs the Bucs have to consider this coming April regardless of if we make it past the Wild Card Round or if we win the Super Bowl.

Quarterback

Yes, we've got Greatest Of All Time QB Tom Brady tossing the rock at 40 TDs-12 INTs this season, and likely getting us by sheer willpower to the NFC title game if he had to because it's in his nature. But we have to recognize two things: A) he IS well at retirement age for QBs and B) Brady's contract was a two-year deal and we don't have him that long.

We gotta start thinking about the future.

Drafting a rookie now and giving him a year to learn at the knee of the GOAT QB would be a sensible move. However, you can't risk the option of drafting too high in the rounds for one for fear of causing a QB controversy the team can't afford. The other problem is, like most QB talent pools every draft, the quality of QBs slide down like a cliff between the top-rated QB going first overall (usually) and the 4th or 5th best QB that's bound to be there at the low-20s where the Bucs may end up drafting that First Round. you don't want to overreach for a QB (cough Freeman cough also cough Glennon yes dammit he was a Fifth Round value drafted Third, DAMN YOU SCHIANO cough).

It depends a lot on what the coming class pool is going to be like. There's the likes of Mac Jones and Kyle Trask listed between the 20th value and 40th value pick on the boards. But the Bucs may have to hold off for later rounds where names like UGA's Jamie Newman or TAMU's Kellen Mond could be got. Questions will be about if they fit the system that Arians has running.

The need is there. The chances of getting one that would fit team needs by 2022 and beyond remain shaky.

NEED: High
LIKELY ROUND: Between Second through Fourth

Running Back

It irks me looking at some of the draft generators that keep listing RB as a high need for the Bucs to consider. It's like they're not paying attention to the facts that A) Ronald Jones II has established himself as a primary back, B) we still have a just-drafted Vaughn on the payroll, and C) the team can easily keep a veteran back like Fournette or McCoy for depth need.

If you wanna draft an RB to keep testing the roster spot, and to make sure we've got depth covered, by all means go ahead. Don't go wasting a First Rounder on the pick unless you're guaranteed to be drafting the next Derrick Henry.

NEED: Low
LIKELY ROUND: None

Wide Receiver

This is where things get scary.

Chris Godwin is a free agent this off-season.

It would be nice if the Bucs can re-sign him to an extended contract, make sure they can keep him as one of the best 1-2 WR tandems in the entire league. Problem is, he's proven himself from his Third Round pick four years ago into a Pro Bowl talent. Other teams lacking a No.1 WR will offer him a king's ransom to sign with them. We have to consider the possibility Godwin goes elsewhere.

CUE MASS PANIC.

I kid. What would happen is that the need to draft a starter-caliber WR in the First Round moves from "luxury" to "goddamn WE NEED THIS". We need that counterbalance to Mike Evans if Godwin is no longer there to draw off double-teams. If Godwin re-signs with us, the Bucs can wait until the late rounds to choose someone to challenge the roster spots and fill special teams needs.

NEED: Low if Godwin stays, SUPER-HIGH if Godwin leaves
LIKELY ROUND: Seventh with Godwin, First without Godwin

Tight End

Signing Gronkowski to give Brady a familiar target also helped the Bucs with our talent depth at TE when OJ Howard went out with a season-ending injury. I can't recall if Gronk was signed to a two-year or one-year deal when the Bucs traded for his signing rights. Depending on what happens with Gronk and our other veteran Brate also depends on what happens with Howard, a First Rounder who hasn't achieved the quality of play expected of his draft value.

What may be intriguing here is the possibility that one of the best receiving-type TEs might be there in the late First Round where the Bucs are drafting. Florida's Kyle Pitts would be an absolute STEAL by the 25th pick or so if he slides that far. He's good enough that if we lose Godwin and Pitts is on the board we could sign him and convert Pitts to WR.

As a Gator alum, of course, I could be a bit biased...

NEED: Middle to High, depending on FA
LIKELY ROUND: First through Fifth Rounds

Offensive Tackle

Wirfs has been a genuine boost to our OL as a rookie this season. Overall, the Bucs have seen mass improvement to pass blocking and run blocking from previous seasons. Donovan Smith remains a question mark for me, however. I would have to ask the professional scouts and numbers crunchers here to figure out if Smith is playing well at Left Tackle, or if the team should consider getting a LOT in the First or Second Round. There is a backup OT Hoag who had only signed to a one-year deal and he may move on to greener pastures, so depth need is possible.

Considering where the Bucs are drafting - low 20s at least - we need to realize we're in BPA territory: Bucs may not be able to draft to need compared to the value on the board, but we COULD draft an Offensive Tackle or Guard at this point when there's nothing else worth drafting. My long-standing Rule 2 applies: When in doubt, draft Offensive Line.

NEED: Middle
LIKELY ROUND: First through Third Rounds

Offensive Guard/Center

As I've said earlier, our overall OL performance has been an improvement over the last 4-5 years that the Bucs have actively engaged with improving through the draft. Our center line between Marpet, Jensen, and Cappa have garnered many a praise with the BucsNation editors. Our running game's improvement especially says a lot of how these guys are impacting our play. Drafting a Guard here would only make sense for depth needs. Jensen, however, I need a refresher on how long he's been in the NFL and if we run the risk of him aging out. We could see a relatively high draft pick - even a First Rounder depending on BPA value - with Center.

NEED: Middle
LIKELY ROUND: First through Sixth Rounds

Defensive Tackle

I wouldn't normally be even saying much here considering First Rounder Vita Vea had turned out to be a solid find a few years back as a fricking run-stopping brick wall... except that Vea got injured this season and his loss affected our defensive front to where we lost games without that front-line pressure.

While Vea can return, his health is now a question and the lack of a solid backup needs evaluation. Drafting another First Rounder here to be a bench-warmer in a 3-4 front would be questionable, but if we get one that can slide over to End would be an intriguing pick. A little more on that with the next roster spot.

NEED: High
LIKELY ROUND: Second through Fourth Rounds

Defensive End

In a 3-4 system, this isn't necessarily your edge-rusher guy (that would be OLB) but still he's got to be someone who can close the passer's pocket in a hurry. We've currently got Suh and Gholston and our backups are question marks, and Suh is currently on a one-year deal and could likely leave in FA for better money.

The draft is currently playing out with a number of BPA options the Bucs can choose from that would include Defensive End or Defensive Tackle being there late in the First Round. It would all depend on how FA treated us (if Suh re-signs for example) and on who's there that can fit as a DE/DT hybrid with zero defects.

NEED: High
LIKELY ROUND: First through Third Rounds

Linebacker

You would look at our current staring lineup of Jason Pierre-Paul, Lavonte David, Devin White, and Shaq Barrett and think "this is too good to mess with." And yet...

Barrett has lost a step from his previous season's insane sack-happy performances, and while he's been a blitzing threat this year he may no longer be worth a franchise tag. He could well sign elsewhere as a free agent anyway. White stepped up as a blitzing threat up the middle, but questions are now there about pass coverage. David is an All-Pro as always, our tackling machine, but he's going to be a long-time vet and wear and tear has got to happen soon. JPP led the team this year in sacks but he's a 10-year vet with more wear and tear than David.

Bucs should be thinking about Outside Linebacker as a long-term team need. There's a possibility an Edge guy will be there in the later part of the First Round, but we'll need to be thinking about someone by the Third Round at the latest.

NEED: Inside, Low. Outside, High
LIKELY ROUND: First through Third Rounds

Cornerback

Considering all the draft picks the Bucs have made the last five years for CBs, from the First Round for a bust in Vernon Hargreaves through the Second and Third Rounds for the current lineup we've got now, using ANOTHER draft pick by this year seems like we're still trying to patch a leak that won't shut.

Well, that's because our secondary is THAT leaky...

While the talent we've got now are reasonably decent at their jobs - Cartlon Davis in particular - there have been game days where our corners were so bad at coverage and tackling that the need to draft even more young raw talent is unavoidable. Personally, I'd like think the Bucs can sign in FA a veteran corner who can add seasoned skill to the roster, but we may need to look at more bodies to throw at this spot.

NEED: Middle
LIKELY ROUND: Second through Seventh Rounds

Safety

Getting Antoine Winfield Jr this year has gone a long way towards fixing our backfield, and alongside Jordan Whitehead our Safety spot is in slightly better condition than our Cornerbacks. Thing is, we're still getting some issues with pass coverage and there is a chance we can upgrade Whitehead with a better Free (deep) Safety.

This isn't a high-need spot for the Bucs this off-season, IMHO. We'd need a solid CB over FS no matter what.

NEED: Low
LIKELY ROUND: Sixth or Seventh Rounds

Kicker/Punter

Ahem.

NO KICKERS.

NEED: None
LIKELY ROUND: Stop it. Just, stop it.

There you go, peeps. What do you think? Poll awaits.

Content provided by a member of Bucs Nation and does not necessarily reflect the view or opinions of Bucs Nation.