Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Analyzing Latest NFL Draft Rumors and Reports

Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans wanted their team to receive national attention all last season, but unfortunately, they've had to settle for being the prime target of pre-draft reports and rumors swirling around what they plan to do with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft.

After a disappointing 2-14 season, the Bucs sit atop the draft board with the chance to take a new franchise quarterback, hoping to return the franchise to its glory days of the early 2000s when the Bucs were perennial playoff contenders, including a Super Bowl title in 2002.

But thanks to poor drafting and a laundry list of free-agent busts, the Bucs have hovered between mediocrity and bottom-feeding since winning their only championship. This year's draft should give them an opportunity to right the ship if they play their cards right.

Will they be scared off by Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston's off-field issues? Could they decide to trade down from the top pick instead? Will a fan favorite on offense be dealt on draft day?

Here are the latest rumors and reports surround the Bucs' draft plans.

Yahoo Sports: No Offer Good Enough Yet for Top Pick

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Trading down from the top overall pick seems like the best course of action to some Bucs fans, citing their need to fill multiple starting positions in an effort to rebuild the roster quickly.

But according to Rand Getlin of Yahoo Sports, while the Bucs have been willing to listen to offers for the No. 1 overall selection, they haven't heard an acceptable offer so far:

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Multiple teams have reached out to the Bucs recently, inquiring into what it would take to get the #1 pick. Though the Bucs have clearly been listening, no proposal has been strong enough for the team to seriously consider.

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There's no harm in the Bucs continuing to field interest from other teams regarding their price tag for moving down, but I don't think any team will be willing to give up what it would take for Tampa Bay to pass up a potential franchise quarterback.

They may get some sweeter offers on draft night, but they're all likely to fall short as the Bucs select the new face of the franchise and turn their focus toward the remaining rounds.

The Tampa Tribune: Bucs Have Vetted Winston Thoroughly

Mark Wallheiser/Associated Press

Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston is expected to be the Bucs' selection with the No. 1 overall pick, but he's also one of the more controversial prospects in this year's draft class, due to his off-field issues.

That being the case, the Bucs' decision-makers have gone through an extensive amount of research into his life and background. The results have led to a unified opinion among the Tampa Bay front office, according to The Tampa Tribune. General manager Jason Licht had this to say about the process:

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We’ve talked to a lot of people. ‘A lot’ is probably not a big enough word. We are not going to talk about the process. All I’ll tell you is that the Glazer family, the head coach, the general manager, our staffs, we all couldn’t feel more confident about the process we have gone through.

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All signs continue to point to Winston being the pick, despite a certain faction of the fan base that would prefer Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota, or even a trade down to acquire extra picks. It sounds like the Bucs have done their due diligence on Winston, and I believe they're comfortable enough with the results to make him their new franchise quarterback.

Tampa Bay Times: Bucs Not Likely to Trade Down from No. 1

Phelan M. Ebenhack/Associated Press

While the Bucs are expected to take a franchise quarterback with the No. 1 overall pick, there are some who believe they'd be better off trading down, allowing them to fill more needs with a huge haul of extra picks.

But as the Tampa Bay Times points out, it's a risky move to make such a trade, and general manager Jason Licht makes it clear it'll take a mind-blowing offer to get them to consider moving down from the top selection:

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It's fair to assume someone is going to have to make a really good offer, yeah. And this time of year you get a lot of calls every day. Not making offers but just throwing, gauging your interest of if you would be open to it or not. And that will continue. But it would have to be an offer that makes this franchise, that sets this franchise even further ahead than what you thought you were going to with the decision you made.

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Many point to the insane amount of picks the St. Louis Rams got from the Washington Redskins in the "RG3" trade, but the Rams have still toiled in mediocrity without a franchise quarterback. The Bucs would be better off staying at No. 1, not passing on a franchise quarterback, and remembering that there are six more rounds in this draft to fill other needs, as well as another draft next year to build around their young signal-caller.

Pewter Report: Martin's Days Are Numbered

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Fans and analysts alike were scratching their heads when the Bucs spent their third-round pick last year on Charles Sims, despite a backfield that was already thought to be loaded with depth.

This year, the shake-up at running back could continue, according to Scott Reynolds of Pewter Report, with Sims taking over as the lead back and making Doug Martin expendable:

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Don’t look for the Bucs to pick up the fifth-year option on running back Doug Martin, who was the team’s first-round pick in 2012. With all of the speculation that the Bucs are one of the teams in the mix to possibly trade for Minnesota Pro Bowl running back Adrian Peterson or drafting a running back this year after selecting Charles Sims in the third round, it’s a clear sign that Martin’s days in Tampa Bay are numbered. In fact, Martin could be traded away on draft day.

The early buzz at One Buc Place is that Sims will be the featured runner in 2014 and that the team will likely draft a bigger back to handle short-yardage and goal line situations.

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Martin is just two seasons removed from a fantastic rookie campaign that saw him rack up nearly 2,000 total yards and end up in the Pro Bowl. But injuries and ineffectiveness have plagued him over the past two seasons, and it appears the Bucs are ready to go in a different direction.

This year's draft class is extremely deep at the position, so it wouldn't shock me to see them deal Martin and draft a younger running mate to pair with Sims, assuming they don't end up making a run at Peterson.

ESPN.com: Bucs Could Buck Conventional Wisdom on Day 2

Ross D. Franklin/Associated Press

It seems like a foregone conclusion to most that the Bucs are going to take a quarterback with the first overall pick. But many have also honed in on their biggest needs outside of that position, assuming the team will spend their Day 2 picks to find a new starting tackle and a new pass rusher.

But as Pat Yasinskas of ESPN.com points out, there are a few other directions the Bucs could go early in the draft that might surprise people:

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(Chris) Conte and (Major) Wright have experience in the Tampa 2. But they are far from elite talents and could be better suited to backup roles. Don’t rule out the Bucs drafting a safety in the second or third round.

The Bucs are in great shape with Lavonte David on the weak side and Bruce Carter in the middle. Danny Lansanah is adequate on the strong side. But the Bucs could seek an upgrade if they see someone they like early in the draft. Remember, coach Lovie Smith got his start as a linebackers coach.

They could use a slot receiver who can stretch the field and take some defensive attention away from Vincent Jackson and Mike Evans. It also wouldn’t hurt if that slot receiver is also a return man.

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Few NFL teams ever draft simply for their greatest need at each pick, so it shouldn't shock fans if they go in a direction other than offensive line or defensive end with their picks on Day 2. This draft is fairly deep at both of those spots, which could allow the Bucs to wait until the later rounds to fill those holes and draft the best available player at another position with those earlier picks.