See why Josh Edwards over at CBS Sports thinks the Bucs should select an OT in the first round of the draft in order to prioritize winning.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers finished the 2019 regular season just 7-9, missing the postseason for the 12th-straight season. But a 4-2 finish to the year showed people what Tampa Bay is capable of and what they are building towards. 2019 was a step in the right direction for a franchise playing its first season under head coach Bruce Arians.
Arians, 67, is a two-time NFL Coach of the Year who didn’t come out of his one-year retirement to just occupy time on the sideline. He wants to turn this organization around now, which is why the team is seriously considering letting 30-interception man Jameis Winston walk in free agency.
While the Bucs could look to add a new quarterback in April’s NFL draft, CBS Sports’ latest mock draft from Josh Edwards says the Bucs should look to take offensive tackle Andrew Thomas out of Georgia with the 14th pick if they truly want to win now.
Per Edwards:
“Tampa Bay may bring back Jameis Winston or add another veteran quarterback. It is unknown how long Bruce Arians intends to coach, so the Bucs must prioritize winning now. The focus should be adding an offensive tackle, running back and then best players available on defense. They are set in the pass-catching unit.”
Edwards believes in round two, the Bucs will look to take a running back with the 45th pick in Florida State RB Cam Akers, who finished the 2019 season with 1,144 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns. In round three, Edwards has the Bucs taking Florida edge Jabari Zuniga, which could be a great pick should some of Tampa Bay’s big-name defensive players leave in free agency.
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