With NFL free agency already a few weeks in, team’s draft boards are beginning to take shape as we approach this month’s NFL draft.
For the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, free agency allowed them to address a number of needs and retain several key members of their defense. Ndamukong Suh, Jason Pierre-Paul and NFL-sack leader Shaq Barrett will all be back in a Bucs uniform next season, along with prized free agent Tom Brady.
With the defensive line looking solid at the moment, the Bucs can now turn their attention to fixing their offensive line, especially now that they have a six-time Super Bowl champion under center. Several mock drafts like the Bucs taking an offensive tackle with the 14th pick in round one, and Todd McShay’s newest post-free agency mock draft has Tampa Bay landing a stud OT in Louisville’s Mekhi Becton.
Per McShay:
“I had Georgia running back D’Andre Swift going to Tampa Bay in my last mock, and it’s still a possibility. But after going all-in on Tom Brady, the Bucs really need to focus on protecting him. And right tackle is a priority with Demar Dotson not likely to return. The 6-foot-7, 364-pound Becton carries his frame incredibly well and would help reduce Tampa Bay’s 2019 tally of 47 sacks allowed.”
This would be a huge win for the Bucs if Becton fell to them at 14. Mock drafts have had him going in the top 10 and some even in the top 5. He blew people away with his performance at the NFL Scouting Combine and could be put on the right side of the Bucs’ line from Day 1.
McShay’s mock was a two-rounder, and he predicts the Bucs will go defense with the 45th pick in round two, taking safety Jeremy Chinn out of Southern Illinois.
“Only two teams gave up more passing yards than the Bucs’ 270.1 per game in 2019, and Chinn comes with versatility to move around in the secondary.”
The Bucs hit a home run in free agency. Now, let’s see if they can hit one in the draft.
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