See who the Tampa Bay Buccaneers land in this updated first-round projection for the 2024 NFL draft
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers already had some glaring needs on both sides of the ball heading into the 2024 NFL draft, and that was before they traded starting cornerback Carlton Davis III to the Detroit Lions.
Now, that deal was a win for the Bucs in multiple ways, netting them an extra third-round pick for an expensive player who was on the final year of his contract, but Davis’ departure also leaves the Bucs even more thin at a position where they had already struggled with quality depth in the past.
That’s remedied in the latest 2024 NFL mock draft from Bleacher Report, which has the Bucs spending the No. 26 overall pick on Alabama cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry.
Here’s some of what the folks at B/R had to say about the selection:
Considering how aggressive Bowles’ defense can be, general manager Jason Licht adds arguably the best pure man-coverage corner the class has to offer. The team will be forced to wait slightly on McKinstry’s on-field addition since he recently required surgery to repair a Jones fracture.
There’s no denying McKinstry would be a strong fit for what the Bucs need at corner, and he’s fully expected to recover from his current foot injury.
That said, it’s worth pointing out the other prospects who were still on the board in this scenario. Duke offensive lineman Graham Barton and Penn State edge defender Chop Robinson were both still available, and each would also fill a massive need for Tampa Bay, while also providing solid value at that particular draft slot.
To check out the full first-round projection at Bleacher Report, click here.
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