Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 2009 B/R NFL Mock Draft, You Make the Call

1. Detroit Lions: Andre Smith; Offensive Tackle, Alabama
2. St. Louis Rams: Eugene Monroe; Offensive Tackle, Virginia
3. Kansas City Chiefs: Aaron Curry; Outside Linebacker, Wake Forest
4. Seattle Seahawks: Michael Crabtree; Wide Receiver, Texas Tech
5. Cleveland Browns: Malcolm Jenkins; Cornerback, Ohio State
6. Cincinnati Bengals: B.J. Raji; Defensive Tackle, Boston College
7. Oakland Raiders: Jeremy Maclin; Wide Receiver, Missouri
8. Jacksonville Jaguars: Jason Smith; Offensive Tackle, Baylor
9. Green Bay Packers: Brian Orakpo; Defensive End/Outside Linebacker, Texas
10. San Francisco 49ers: Rey Maualuga; Middle Linebacker, USC
11. Buffalo Bills: Aaron Maybin; Defensive End, Penn State
12. Denver Broncos: Alphonso Smith; Cornerback, Wake Forest
13. Washington Redskins: Everette Brown; Defensive End, Florida State
14. New Orleans Saints: James Laurinaitis; Middle Linebacker, Ohio State
15. Houston Texans:  Brian Cushing; Outside Linebacker, USC
16. San Diego Chargers:  Louis Delmas; Safety, Western Michigan
17. New York Jets:  Matthew Stafford; Quarterback, Georgia

With the 18th pick in the 2009 B/R NFL Mock Draft, the Chicago Bears have selected...Mark Sanchez; Quarterback, USC.  The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are now on the clock.

The fans got this one right, even though Kyle Orton is a favorite of the Chicago faithful.  Orton only has one year left on his contract, and the Bears need a leader who is going to be there for the long haul.  Sanchez is a good young prospect who could end up starting if Orton struggles.

Now we move down south to Tampa/St. Petersburg, home of the Buccaneers.  Tampa Bay looked like an elite team in the NFL, and saw all playoff hopes and dreams crushed in a Monday Night game against the Carolina Panthers.

Tampa's collapse led to the eventual firing of Jon Gruden, who was almost immediately replaced by 32-year-old Raheem Morris, the team's defensive backs coach.

Morris will take charge of a Tampa Bay squad that has just recently cut Derrick Brooks, Warrick Dunn, Joey Galloway, and Ike Hilliard, among others.  Following the cuts, Tampa traded away a couple of draft picks for superstar tight end Kellen Winslow Jr., and was rumored to be interested in Denver quarterback Jay Cutler.

Here are Tampa Bay's top needs heading into draft day.

1.  Defensive Tackle

2.  Defensive End

3.  Center

4.  Quarterback

5.  Linebacker

You make the call Bucs fans!  Vote in the poll for the player you think your team should take with the 19th pick in the 2009 B/R Mock Draft!

1.  Peria Jerry; Defensive Tackle, Ole Miss

Tampa Bay was supposed to be a strong candidate for DT Albert Haynesworth, but they missed out.  Now they will try to address the position via the draft, and can't go wrong with the pass-rushing specialist Peria Jerry.

2.  Josh Freeman; Quarterback, Kansas State

Personally, I think Joshua Johnson should be given a real shot at the starting quarterback job, but some in Tampa Bay don't think he is the long term answer.  Josh Freeman has all of the NFL quarterback tools, but needs to arrive mentally in order to succeed.

3.  Vontae Davis; Cornerback, Illinois

It would be very odd to see the Bucs go after the same position in round one two years in a row, but it's not out of the question.  Ronde Barber is aging, and the Bucs will want a good starter to eventually replace him alongside Aqib Talib.

4.  Alex Mack; Center, California

Mack has all of the makings of a franchise NFL center, if there is one.  He could be another building block on an offensive line to help protect whatever quarterback lines up behind him in Tampa.

5.  Clay Matthews; Outside Linebacker, USC

Matthews is somewhat overlooked because of the guys he played with at USC, but he doesn't lack in talent at all.  He is a special teams demon and has the athleticism and tackling ability to be a decade or more starter at outside linebacker in this league.

6.  Percy Harvin; Wide Receiver, Florida

Now that the Bucs have locked up Antonio Bryant and Michael Clayton for the time being, they could be looking for a utility type player at the position, possibly an elite slot receiver.  Harvin has all of the makings of a dynamic playmaker at the next level, and the Buccaneers will be attracted to that.

There you have it, Bucs fans!  Vote in the poll for the player you think should be picked 19th overall by your team!