The Complete Tampa Bay Buccaneers Draft Primer
In just a few hours, the rumor mill will slow to a halt, the speculation will dissipate, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will finally announce the No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft.
And for Bucs fans—much like a parent at Christmas—it can't come soon enough, as the hustle and bustle of last-minute "shopping" gives way to the draft-day anticipation of hoping their team will get it right this time.
The Bucs hold the top overall pick for the fifth time in franchise history, and the previous results have ranged from a Hall of Famer to a player who never played a down in Creamsicle. The team is once again in need of a jolt to the fanbase, and nothing gets them hyped like the hope that comes with holding the top pick after a disappointing season.
Will the Bucs do what's most expected at the top of the draft? What are their needs elsewhere, and who should they target in later rounds? What are some surprises they could have up their sleeve?
Here's everything Bucs fans need to know heading into the 2015 NFL draft.
The Picks
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| Round | Pick |
| 1 | 1 |
| 2 | 34 |
| 3 | 65 |
| 4 | 109 (from STL) |
| 5 | 162 (from BAL) |
| 6 | 184 (from STL) |
| 7 | 218 |
| 7 | 231 (from DET) |
Half of the eight selections currently owned by the Bucs have been acquired via trade.
Needs: Quarterback
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Tampa Bay's top need is clear, and they're expected to fill it by spending the top overall pick on a new franchise quarterback.
The smart money is on Florida State's Jameis Winston at this point, but no official announcement has been made, which means Oregon's Marcus Mariota could still be under consideration.
Some fans would prefer the team trade down, stockpile extra picks and perhaps grab a quarterback later in the draft. But this year's quarterback class is extremely thin after the top two prospects, with many not projecting the next quarterback to go until the second or third round.
I don't expect the Bucs to receive a trade offer that would get them to part with the No. 1 selection, choosing instead to take a swing on Winston.
Needs: Offensive Line
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Much of Tampa Bay's offensive struggles were due to a lackluster performance from the offensive line, as a lack of overall talent and depth, mental miscues and injuries marred a group that had been completely revamped from the year before.
Anthony Collins turned out to be a huge waste of money, ending up a healthy scratch for the team's final three games last season before being cut this offseason. Both Logan Mankins and Evan Dietrich-Smith had a hard time being consistently effective, and the right guard position was a revolving door. Demar Dotson was the most reliable player of the group, switching to left tackle after Collins was essentially benched.
As they look toward the draft, it's imperative the Bucs add an immediate starter at tackle. And though the team is high on one of last year's fifth-round picks, Kadeem Edwards, they shouldn't shy away from grabbing a guard in the middle or late rounds.
Picks that Fit
Pittsburgh OT T.J. Clemmings (second round)
Miami OT Ereck Flowers (second round)
Florida OT D.J. Humphries (second round)
Penn State OT Donovan Smith (third round)
Florida State G Tre Jackson (fourth round)
Georgia Tech G/C Shaq Mason (fifth round)
Texas A&M G Jarvis Harrison (sixth round)
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Needs: Defensive End
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The Bucs were desperate for pass-rush help last year, but Michael Johnson was a huge disappointment and got cut after just one season despite signing a lucrative deal in free agency last offseason. But even after trading for George Johnson, the Bucs still lack an impact rusher who can wreak havoc off the edge.
Jacquies Smith had a fantastic run over the second half of last season, racking up 6.5 sacks over the last eight games. That said, he might be best used as a rotational player, meaning the Bucs should be looking for a player early in the draft who could be an instant starter.
The value on the board will dictate whether they spend a second or third-round pick at this position, but they can't wait any later than that if they want to make a sizable impact in their ability to get after the quarterback next season.
Picks that Fit
Preston Smith, Mississippi State (second round)
Owamagbe Odighizuwa, UCLA (second round)
Nate Orchard, Utah (third round)
Lorenzo Mauldin, Louisville (third round)
Anthony Chickillo, Miami (FL) (fourth round)
Za'Darius Smith, Kentucky (fourth round)
Ryan Russell, Purdue (fifth round)
Needs: Slot Receiver
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Tampa Bay is set on the outside at receiver with Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson, but they aren't terribly deep after that, and they don't have a player on the roster who is a good fit in the slot.
Robert Herron was taken in the sixth round last year, but he hasn't shown the ability to make big plays from the slot, while the likes of Louis Murphy and others are more suited for outside roles or special teams work.
The Bucs could also use an established return specialist, and while it doesn't have to be the same player to fill both needs, it sure wouldn't hurt. There are plenty of attractive options for the Bucs in the middle rounds who could step in and make an instant impact from the slot, and a few who could eventually take over for Jackson as the team's No. 2 receiver.
Picks that Fit
Tyler Lockett, Kansas State (third round)
Tre McBride, William & Mary (fourth round)
Rashad Greene, Florida State (fourth round)
Jamison Crowder, Duke (fifth round)
Mario Alford, West Virginia (sixth round)
Needs: Secondary
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The Tampa 2 defense is predicated on getting consistent pressure from the front four, which is something the Bucs generated very little of last season. That made life difficult for the secondary, who were doing their best to break in a new scheme without missing a beat.
The Bucs' defensive backs improved greatly over the second half of the season, but the unit still needs some more young talent. Johnthan Banks and Alterraun Verner are solid starters, but there's not much depth behind them. Free agent Sterling Moore was signed to give the team an improvement in the starting nickel role, but he's no sure thing.
At safety, the Bucs have plenty of bodies, but Bradley McDougald looks like the only player in the group the Bucs might be able to hang their hat on for the long haul. Chris Conte and Major Wright are better as backups and special teamers, which could lead the Bucs to spending a pick at safety earlier than expected.
These may not seem like dire needs but successful teams thrive on quality depth, and Tampa Bay could build some in this draft at both corner and safety.
Picks that Fit
Penn State CB/S Eric Rowe (second round)
Arizona State S Damarious Randall (second round)
USC CB Josh Shaw (third round)
Oregon State CB Steven Nelson (fourth round)
Penn State S Adrian Amos (fourth round)
Louisville S Gerod Holliman (fifth round)
Surprise Picks to Watch
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Another Running Back?
The Bucs surprised fans and experts alike last year by spending a third-round pick on running back Charles Sims, despite glaring needs elsewhere and a backfield that looked like one of their deepest position groups.
But draft him they did, and Bucs fans shouldn't be surprised if they spend another mid-round pick on the position again this year. Doug Martin could be traded, and the Bucs could look for more a workhorse-type back to pair with the quicker Sims.
A perfect fit for Tampa Bay could be Minnesota's David Cobb, who could easily be available early on Day 3. He's got the size and skills to be an every-down back and is strong enough to handle a significant amount of touches. If the Bucs address their biggest needs in the first three rounds, don't be shocked if they dip into this year's deep running back class earlier than expected.
Safety in Numbers
Speaking of those bigger needs, most expect the Bucs to take either an offensive tackle or defensive end at the top of the second round, but there's an outside chance Tampa Bay could target a safety in that range.
The Bucs re-signed Major Wright and brought in Chris Conte in free agency, but they also traded away Dashon Goldson. There's already been some reshuffling at the position, but I don't think the Bucs are done yet.
They have visited and worked out with plenty of safety prospects leading up to the draft, and a few of them would be great fits. Utah's Eric Rowe and Arizona State's Damarious Randall could be surprise names the Bucs could call at No. 34 overall on Friday.
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