Tag: Andrew Thomas Bucs

Adam Schein has ‘that feeling’ the Bucs may look to move up in round one

Adam Schein of NFL.com believes Bucs GM Jason Licht may look to move up from the 14th spot in round one of the 2020 NFL draft.

The Bucs’ signing of 42-year-old quarterback Tom Brady made it clear that they are going all-in these next two seasons while they have the future Hall of Famer under center.

But, if the Bucs seriously want to contend next season in the NFC South, they’ll need to make sure they provide Brady with all the protection and help he can get. The receiver position seems solid as ever with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin leading the charge, but it’s no secret the backfield could use a boost. However, the first major issue the Bucs need to address offensively is their O-line. Having Brady back in the pocket will do them no good if they can’t keep him upright.

While this week’s NFL draft provides them the perfect opportunity to snag an offensive lineman, they currently hold the 14th pick, behind other teams in need of O-line help. So, is it possible Bucs GM Jason Licht tries to move up to ensure he gets the tackle he wants? NFL.com writer Adam Schein seems to think so.

Per Schein:

“Earlier this month, I talked to Buccaneers GM Jason Licht and Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff on SiriusXM Radio, and I just got that feeling. They both seemed like they could be interested in moving up from their respective first-round draft slots… When it comes to the Bucs, they’re pretty loaded on defense. I would argue that they need two things on offense to help out new quarterback Tom Brady: another tackle and another back. I won’t be surprised if Licht moves up to snag one of the Big Four tackles and then goes running back early in Day 2.”

The big four tackles Schein is referring to are Mekhi Becton (Louisville), Jedrick Wills (Alabama), Tristan Wirfs (Iowa) and Andrew Thomas (Georgia). Several mock drafts have had the Bucs taking Thomas at the 14th spot. But, if there’s a run on tackles early, Tampa Bay may have no choice but to move up. Protecting Brady is the priority, so if it costs a late-round pick to get a top tackle, so be it.

[lawrence-related id=31154,31147,31116,31099]

Georgia football’s Andrew Thomas is top OT in 2020 NFL Draft says Greg McElroy

Georgia football star Andrew Thomas considered top offensive tackle prospect in 2020 NFL Draft according to former Alabama QB Greg McElroy

While hosting ESPNU Radio’s “The First Team” Tuesday morning on Sirius XM, former Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy talked offensive tackles and who he’d name the best in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Iowa’s Tristan Wirfs, Alabama’s Jedrick Wills, Louisville’s Mekhi Becton and Georgia’s Andrew Thomas and Isaiah Wilson are all viewed as the top offensive tackle prospects in this month’s draft, and all could go in the first round on April 23rd.

[lawrence-related id=25529,25520]

However, one of these guys has to go first. So who will that be?

Former college and NFL coach Charlie Weiss joined McElroy’s show and asked him for some assistance in separating the tackles from one another.

McElroy took a while, but he eventually answered the question, stating that Thomas is the best answer longterm.

McElroy’s response:

“The guy that I have legitimate questions about is Mekhi Becton. So basically, I’m good with any of the first round tackles (excluding Becton), whatever order you want to have them in. I think Wills is probably the best run blocker of the bunch, but I don’t think he’s a Left Tackle under any circumstance. So I think both he and Wirfs are both very, very solid, but the guy, if I had to play one on the left side, it would be Andrew Thomas, he’s the one I’d feel good about longterm.”

Andrew Thomas’ Georgia career:

Thomas was named to Freshman All-America Teams by ESPN, USA Today and the Football Writers Association of America in 2017. He played in all 15 games, making 15 starts as a true freshman at right tackle. Additionally, he was one of three offensive Newcomers of the Year.

During his sophomore year, He switched to left tackle and earned second-team Associated Press All-American and first-team All-SEC honors after starting 13 games.

In 2019, he started 13 games at left tackle and was awarded first-team Associated Press All-American and first-team all-conference honors.

[vertical-gallery id=24661]

Georgia OT Andrew Thomas goes to NFC South in latest NFL mock draft

Georgia football OT Andrew Thomas projected to NFC South team in latest 2020 NFL mock draft from Bleacher Report.

Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the NFL has not changed its original date of April 23-25 for the 2020 NFL Draft.

Instead, multiple reports have the league considering moving the draft to a remote format. Regardless, there are several former Georgia Bulldogs anticipating their name being called. 

Matt Miller of Bleacher Report recently listed his thoughts on each team’s needs. He noted that Tampa will be looking to add a left tackle with pick 14 to protect Tom Brady next year and that Andrew Thomas may be picked for the job. 

Miller wrote:

“With Tom Brady locked up, look at offensive tackle in Round one as the biggest need and also best value. If Andrew Thomas (Georgia) or Austin Jackson (USC) is there, the Buccaneers could get a plug-and-play left tackle to protect the GOAT.”

During his tenure at Georgia, Thomas was one of the most decorated offensive linemen in the country and one of the best blockers Georgia’s ever seen.

He was a unanimous first team All-America selection for the Dawgs last season and won the SEC’s Jacobs Blocking Trophy. He was also voted two time All-SEC 1st Team by Coaches and Associated Press and was selected as a Freshman All-American in 2017.

[vertical-gallery id=24661]

USA TODAY releases NFL mock draft: Will Andrew Thomas be blocking for Tom Brady next season?

USA Today released its most recent NFL mock draft and had one Georgia football player going in the first round, Andrew Thomas.

It’s the start of NFL Free Agency and so far we have seen multiple big time names sign with new teams – filling prior needs and creating new ones for many franchises.

With that in mind, creating an NFL mock draft this week is a tough task seeing as how analysts really won’t have a clear picture of what needs teams will look to fill come April’s NFL Draft.

Michel Middlehurst-Schwartz of USA TODAY took a shot it anyway, releasing his most recent first-round NFL mock draft on Thursday.

This mock draft comes shortly after tons of NFL movement, including Tom Brady leaving New England and likely joining the Tampa Bay Bucs.

Middlehurst-Schwartz started his mock draft with the Bengals taking LSU quarterback Joe Burrow. This means AJ Green finally gets a real passer in Cincy. The former Georgia star was franchise tagged by the Bengals this week despite making it clear he was not in favor of that move. Maybe the addition of a superstar quarterback will help the Bengals hold on to their star wideout.

In another notable pick, he has the Dolphins taking Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa, which seems to be the most common prediction this offseason for Tua.

The first and only Georgia player to get taken off the board in the first round comes at pick No. 14:

14. Buccaneers — Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia: There likely are still forthcoming changes to be made for Tampa Bay to meld its offense into an outfit comfortable for Brady. A good starting point is upgrading the line, and the steady Thomas is likely the most pro-ready of his peers.

Thomas (6’5″, 315 lbs) was about as consistent of a left tackle as I’ve ever seen at the collegiate level. He anchored college football’s best offensive line as a junior last season and has received great reviews all year long pertaining to his draft rating.

If Thomas does end blocking for Brady in Tampa, he would join former Bulldog offensive linemen David Andrews and Isaiah Wynn as recent Dawgs to protect the future Hall of Famer.