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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are in great position in this year’s NFL Draft as they are picking last. With the bulk of their 2020 roster returning for another run, the Bucs will be looking towards selecting the best player available when their turn is up.
With that said, ESPN Draft Analyst Mel Kiper, Jr. released his latest mock draft covering two rounds and has the Buccaneers going defense and offense with picks 32 and 64.
32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Christian Barmore, DT, Alabama
General manager Jason Licht has done a great job putting together a great core, and the Bucs are essentially bringing back the exact same roster for 2021. That’s not a terrible idea when you’ve just won the Super Bowl. One spot where they could get younger is defensive tackle. Barmore could replace Ndamukong Suh long term and play next to elite nose tackle Vita Vea. Barmore has some potential as a 3-technique pass-rusher.
64. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Simi Fehoko, WR, Stanford
The Bucs don’t have many immediate needs, and they can afford to take a chance on a player with a high ceiling. Let’s do that with Fehoko, a 6-foot-4 receiver with outstanding measurables. He has the ball skills to make contested catches and the speed to blow by corners. This pick might depend on whether Tampa Bay brings back Antonio Brown; if it does, could the Bucs go O-line instead?
The best player available is subject to a team’s own scouting evaluations and where players are on their boards. For context, Kiper mocked Alabama’s Najee Harris to Pittsburgh at No. 24, Miami’s Jaelan Phillips to Indianapolis at No. 21, and Georgia’s Azeez Ojulari to Buffalo at No. 30. Some other mocks had those same names tied tot eh Bucs in some way, but one that fell into the second round was Miami’s Gregory Rousseau who some have going in the first round.
As for the selections, there have been many mock drafts that have Tampa Bay selecting a wide receiver high in the draft due to the uncertainty surrounding veteran Antonio Brown. It’s apparent, however, that people are forgetting the team’s depth at the position and the names Scotty Miller and Tyler Johnson.