With the NFL Scouting Combine set to get underway at the end of the month, the road to the 2020 season begins with its first major stop. NFL coaches and scouts will descend on the combine and this year’s crop of draftees, hoping to find the missing piece to their championship team.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who hold the 14th pick in April’s draft, have several glaring needs that need to be addressed along the offensive and defensive line. In his first mock draft last month, ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. had Tampa Bay going with Iowa OT Tristan Wirfs. But, in his newest mock released today, Kiper thinks the Bucs will snag LSU star defender K’Lavon Chaisson to plug into Todd Bowles’ system.
Per Kiper:
“I mentioned in my Mock Draft 1.0 the Bucs’ possible departures along the defensive line — Ndamukong Suh, Carl Nassib, Jason Pierre-Paul and Beau Allen are all free agents — and Chaisson would be a perfect fit as an outside linebacker in Todd Bowles’ 3-4 defense. Chaisson had just 9.5 sacks in his college career, but this is a bet on a terrific upside for a twitchy pass-rusher who should test well at the combine later this month. After taking Devin White in the first round last year, Tampa can go back to the LSU well here with Chaisson.”
As is the case with all mock drafts, nothing is ever certain, and while Chaisson would be an excellent pick for the Bucs, we’ll have a better idea of what Tampa Bay’s top priority is entering the draft once free agency kicks off.
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