It’s been a while since the Tampa Bay Buccaneers entered the offseason with this much optimism. Despite finishing just 7-9, the Buccaneers played strong down the stretch and proved to the league, and, more importantly themselves, that they are a team on the up-and-up who will be viewed as true playoff contenders next season.
The Bucs will look to use their cap room to try and retain some of their big-name free agents, such as linebacker Shaq Barrett, who led the NFL in sacks this season with 19.5, and quarterback Jameis Winston, who threw for over 5,000 yards but also had 30 interceptions.
Tampa Bay’s record and exclusion from the postseason means they’ll hold the 14th pick in April’s NFL draft. There have been a number of mock drafts predicting the Bucs will go defense again like they did in the first round last year when they took linebacker (and LSU alum) Devin White. Others, however, think shoring up the offensive line would be the best thing for the Bucs to do, especially if Winston returns as quarterback.
In USA TODAY’s newest 2020 mock draft, that seems to be the thinking, as it has the Bucs taking Louisville offensive tackle Mekhi Becton at 14.
Here’s the explanation:
“It’s hard to find linemen who move the way Becton does at 6-7, 369 pounds, so he should have no shortage of suitors early in the draft. Though Becton might require some refinement before taking on elite NFL pass rushers, Bruce Arians’ offense demands better protection than Donovan Smith and Demar Dotson have been providing.”
I think in the end, the Bucs will opt for an offensive linemen. After the season Winston had, I don’t think Arians or offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich want to witness another 30-interception campaign. Protect the quarterback.
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