NFL Draft Rumors: Trading Down Is Best Option for Rebuilding Buccaneers

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a lot of holes and a desperate need to erase the failures of last season. They need to maximize the amount of value they can get via the draft, and the best way to do that is by trading down. 

To their credit, the Bucs are reportedly open to this idea. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported their interest in trading down.

"

Teams open to trading back for the right offer include Minnesota, Tampa Bay, Miami, Seattle, Dallas, NY Jets, Detroit.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 26, 2012"

For the Bucs, the right offer needs to be the best one, and sitting at No. 5 in the draft, they are sure to get some nice offers. 

To get a feel for the potential value the Bucs could get by trading this pick, we don't need to look any further than last year's draft. 

In a 2011 draft-day deal, the Atlanta Falcons sent the No. 27 pick, second-round (No. 59) and fourth-round (No. 124) picks in the 2011 draft and first- and fourth-round picks in the 2012 draft for the No. 6 pick in that draft. 

Tampa Bay should look for a similar deal. While this would take them out of the running to take one of the truly elite prospects of this draft, it would give them the opportunity to draft two extra likely starters from this year's draft and another player who will be good depth with the possibility of earning a starting spot. It would also give them a premium pick in next year's draft.

This is the kind of quantity the Bucs need. This is a team that has needs all over the field, and they will be well served to find an RB, LB, RT and FS. 

The only way they can find potential impact players at all of these positions is by trading down.