Buccaneers' Top 2023 NFL Draft Targets
Each of the past two years, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers haven't been too involved in the first round of the NFL draft. In 2021, they weren't on the clock until No. 32 (the final pick of the event's opening night), when they took linebacker Joe Tryon-Shoyinka. And in 2022, the Bucs didn't have a first-round selection.
This year, Tampa Bay has a pick in the opening round. And the team is set to pick the earliest it has since it owned the No. 13 overall selection in 2020.
The Buccaneers will be on the clock at No. 19 on Thursday night, when the three-day 2023 NFL draft gets underway in Kansas City. It'll be the first of nine selections by Tampa Bay, which also has two picks in each of the final three rounds (the fifth, sixth and seventh).
Here's a look at several players the Bucs may want to consider targeting with their top selections in the draft.
Lukas Van Ness, DE, Iowa
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There's a decent chance that Lukas Van Ness could already be off the board by the time Tampa Bay is first on the clock at No. 19. But if the former Iowa edge rusher falls to the Buccaneers, they'd likely be wise to take him with their top selection.
In Tampa Bay's 3-4 defense, Van Ness would project as a defensive end on either side of the three-man D-line. But he could still positively impact the pass rush from that spot, as he recorded 13 sacks in 26 games over his final two seasons with the Hawkeyes.
The Bucs need to get stronger up front and build better depth at both defensive end and outside linebacker. So if they miss out on Van Ness, they'll still need to address those positions, whether that's in the first round or on the second and/or third days of the draft.
Van Ness could be a solid building block for Tampa Bay's defensive front, though. It would likely work out well for the Buccaneers if they're in a position to land him without having to trade up to do so, which is something that may not be worth doing.
Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee
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Tristan Wirfs will be one of Tampa Bay's starting offensive tackles for the 2023 season, and he could potentially be on either the left or right side. The other OT spot remains TBD, but it may go to a player selected by the Buccaneers in this year's draft.
If Tampa Bay wants to address this need in the first round, then Tennessee's Darnell Wright would be a great target, assuming he's still available at No. 19. Wright was a four-year starter for the Vols who was named to the All-SEC first team as a senior in 2022.
Not only is Wright talented, but he's versatile. While at Tennessee, he got starts at both left tackle and right tackle. So if the Bucs select him, they'd have greater flexibility regarding their O-line configuration for the upcoming season.
Wright should be an immediate starter in the NFL and could quickly adapt to the professional level. That's why Tampa Bay may not be able to pass up taking him if given the opportunity.
Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina
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Cornerback isn't as much of a pressing need for the Buccaneers as it was earlier this offseason. That's because they've since re-signed Jamel Dean, who will again pair with Carlton Davis III to form a strong CB duo for Tampa Bay moving forward.
But the Bucs could use better depth at the position, so perhaps they'll add a corner as early as the second day of the draft. And if that's the case, South Carolina's Cam Smith may be a player Tampa Bay will want to keep an eye on.
Smith is a two-time All-SEC second-team selection who is versatile enough to fill a variety of roles in a secondary. He also has solid playmaking ability, as he recorded six interceptions for the Gamecocks, all over his final three years.
While the Buccaneers shouldn't reach to take Smith, he could be a good target for them in the second or even third round. The later he falls, the more of a steal he would be.
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