The 2020 NFL draft is done, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers came away with some promising players.
First and foremost is Tristan Wirfs, the former Iowa tackle who will hopefully anchor the Bucs’ O-line for years to come. Getting protection up front for Tom Brady was the goal of this draft, so getting a guy like Wirfs — even if it did cost a fourth-round pick to move up — makes this a win.
In the second round, the Bucs opted to address their secondary by taking ball hawk Antoine Winfield Jr. out of Minnesota. The safety is the son of former NFL Pro Bowl cornerback Antoine Winfield Sr. and can cover the entire field. Todd Bowles is going to love having a guy like him on his defense.
While those two first picks by the Bucs were home runs in and of themselves, Mel Kiper of ESPN felt the Bucs didn’t do much else afterwards, which is why he gave them a B in his draft grades.
Per Kiper:
“I had running back as a need for the Bucs, and they picked up Ke’Shawn Vaughn (76), but I liked Zack Moss more. Tyler Johnson (161) is an inconsistent wide receiver, and I don’t see how he helps them any time soon. The Bucs have missed the playoffs in 12 consecutive seasons, the second-longest active drought in NFL. They didn’t have much depth here, but they got two good players at the top.
The Vaughn pick certainly surprised some, but the Bucs like the potential they see in the former Vanderbilt star. Johnson comes from Minnesota, too, so will be joining his teammate Antoine Winfield Jr. in Tampa.
The Bucs are in win-now mode, so they must believe the picks they made will help them in their quest for a championship next season when Brady takes over under center.
[lawrence-related id=31679,31671,31666,31650]