Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2013 Mock Draft: Predictions for Day 2

Now that the first round of the NFL draft has wrapped up, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers—and their fans—can finally look forward to being something other than spectators.

Friday night brings the second and third rounds of the draft, and two picks for the Pewter Pirates.

Though the Bucs did not select a player in the first round because of their recent trade for cornerback Darrelle Revis, they are still in a position to land two potential starters on day two with two selections between Nos. 33 and 73.

Something worth noting were the selections made by Tampa Bay's division foes in round one. The Carolina Panthers landed defensive tackle Star Lotulelei, the New Orleans Saints chose safety Kenny Vaccaro and the Atlanta Falcons traded up and selected cornerback Desmond Trufant.

So, what does that mean for the Bucs?

Mainly, it means that quarterback Josh Freeman's job just got a little bit harder with the infusion of young defensive talent in the NFC South. The real question is, how do they plan to answer their rivals' selections?

Here are my suggestions.

Round 2, No. 43 Overall

TE Gavin Escobar, San Diego St.

With their division rivals loading up on defensive players, the Bucs could stand to upgrade their tight end by adding Escobar (6'6", 254 lbs), who would give quarterback Josh Freeman yet another outlet in the passing game.

Known for his great hands and massive frame, Escobar has proven to be a nightmare in the red zone for opposing defenses. Why is that important? Because, of Tampa Bay's 21 red-zone passing touchdowns last season, only six were to tight ends with four to Dallas Clark, who is no longer with the team.

In other words, it's an area they need to address and if Escobar is still available at No. 43, the Bucs would be wise to select him.

Round 3, No. 73 Overall

DT Bennie Logan, Louisiana St.

With the Bucs sorely needing help along the defensive line, Logan (6'2", 309 lbs) would give them someone more than capable of thriving as a true pass-rushing defensive tackle in the NFL, something Tampa Bay has notoriously struggled with for some time.

Logan isn't the biggest lineman in the class, but like former Bucs tackle Roy Miller, he can allow fellow tackle Gerald McCoy to continue his ascent towards elite status by alleviating pressure from his side of the line by drawing attention due to his own penetration ability.

That said, this addition would not only directly benefit the defensive line, but it would make the jobs of both the linebackers and cornerbacks that much easier due to an increase in pressure on the opposing quarterbacks, putting the defense in position to create turnovers.