2012 NFL Draft: What Options Do the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Have at No. 5?

An up-and-coming franchise fresh off a 10-win season, the young Tampa Bay Buccaneers were wildly seen as a team on the verge of making the playoffs in 2011. 

Those early projections never materialized. 

The Buccaneers stumbled to a 4-12 record for a bevy of reasons, including the regression of quarterback Josh Freeman and injuries across the board. 

Now, newly hired head coach Greg Schiano is left to pick up the pieces after the firing of Raheem Morris. One important part of Schiano's clean-up process will begin when the Bucs make their first-round selection at No. 5 overall.

The Buccaneers have more than a couple holes on the roster, so let's run down some of the options they may have when their pick comes up in April.

1. Draft LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne

Taking Claiborne at No. 5 appears to be the early consensus for the Bucs, and why not? Ronde Barber is on the verge of retirement and Aqib Talib is still facing legal issues. Fixing a defense that ranked near the bottom of the NFL in several categories has to be a high priority for Schiano.

And while Tampa Bay struggled more against the run in 2011, Claiborne is among the safest picks in the draft and could have a similar impact as his former LSU teammate Patrick Peterson had in Arizona this past season.

2. Draft a Top Receiver

If Claiborne is off the board, the Buccaneers may look at one of the top receivers at No. 5. Justin Blackmon, Michael Floyd or Alshon Jeffery may be value options available.

Is receiver the Bucs' No. 1 need? Most likely not. But teams that draft solely on need and not on value are often the ones who continually pick in the top-10. Either of the three receivers listed would give the Bucs another playmaker on offense.

3. Draft Trent Richardson

Some will argue that taking a running back in the top-5 is no longer a value pick. Others will argue that LeGarrette Blount is good enough to be the Bucs' No. 1 back. But there's no doubt that Richardson is a top-10 talent that can give Tampa Bay a talented one-two punch in the backfield.

Remember, Tampa Bay was ranked 30th in rushing in 2011. Blount is far from a sure thing, and his health has been in question in two NFL seasons, too.