Regardless of who the Buccaneers have at quarterback in 2020, the offensive line needs to be addressed this offseason through either the draft or free agency. Several early mock drafts have the Bucs looking for an offensive tackle in the first round of the 2020 draft to help shore up the right side, but there is one free agent they should be keeping their eyes on, too.
Last week, Gil Brandt of NFL Media gave his list of 2020 NFL free agency fits, where he named a free agent and said which team would be the best fit for them. Brandt said that OT Jack Conklin, who has spent his entire career with the Tennessee Titans after being the eighth overall pick in the 2016 draft, would fit in perfectly with the Bucs in Tampa Bay.
Per Brandt:
“Conklin played almost 1,000 regular-season snaps last year at a pretty high level, especially in the second half of the season, showing he’s put an ACL injury suffered in the 2017 playoffs firmly behind him. With Tennessee having declined the former first-round pick’s fifth-year option, he’s headed to the open market — where I think he’s going to attract a lot of attention. Whether or not Jameis Winston is under center for the Bucs in 2020, they need to figure out a solution for the right tackle position, with veteran Demar Dotson entering free agency, and Tampa Bay should have the cap space to make a run at Conklin.”
As a rookie in 2016, Conklin played in and started all 16 games, earning First-Team All-Pro honors. He again started 16 games in 2017, but tore his ACL in a playoff game against the New England Patriots, which limited him to just nine games in 2018. Last offseason, the Titans announced they would not be picking up Conklin’s fifth-year option, which is why he’s hitting the market now.
The Bucs could certainly use his services, and signing a big-name offensive tackle would allow them to focus elsewhere with the 14th pick come April’s draft.
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