Whoever the Tampa Bay Buccaneers select with the 14th pick in this month’s NFL draft, that player will have the benefit of donning the Bucs’ new uniform when the 2020 season kicks off.
The Bucs unveiled their redesigned uniforms today as they prepare for the Tom Brady era in Tampa Bay. Gone are the alarm clock numbers and futuristic look. It’s a return to the sleek classic style of yesteryear, and the Buccaneers are hoping that also means a return to the glory days.
While the NFL draft will be fully virtual this year in light of the coronavirus pandemic, it seems pretty clear that Tampa Bay’s main priority entering the draft will be finding a suitable offensive tackle to help provide Brady with some much-needed protection along the O-line.
In Touchdown Wire’s latest mock draft, Doug Farrar has the Bucs selecting OT Jedrick Wills out of Alabama.
Per Farrar:
“Now that the Bucs have a quarterback with a more adept feel for the passing game (that Tom Brady guy is still pretty good), it’s time to upgrade the line so that Brady can unleash his own quick game, as well as the vertical concepts favored by Bruce Arians. Wills is an ideal candidate because he presents tremendous agility as a pass-blocker, and he’s also nasty in the run game — something Tampa Bay will have to improve if the team is to take optimal advantage of Brady’s strengths.”
Wills is 6-foot-4 and 312 pounds, and ran a 5.05 in the 40-yard dash at the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine. Mock drafts have been all over the place when it comes to offensive linemen. Wills has been listed in the top 10 several times, and even Louisville’s Mekhi Becton has found himself going to the Bucs at 14 in some drafts and all the way to the New York Giants at No. 4 in others.
It’ll be interesting to see which offensive lineman the Bucs ultimately end up with in round one, should they decide to go that route.
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