Tampa Bay Buccaneers Draft Picks: Results, Analysis and Grades

The day Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans have been waiting for since the end of a miserable 2014 season is finally here: draft weekend. Bleacher Report is your one-stop shop for all things draft-related all weekend.

The wait is over.

Tampa Bay held eight picks entering Thursday's NFL draft, including the prized first selection, and wound up with seven new players.

It was the fifth time the Bucs have held the No. 1 overall pick, and with it, the team has had mixed results in the past. Tampa Bay selected defensive end Lee Roy Selmon (1976), running back Ricky Bell (1977), running back Bo Jackson (1986) and quarterback Vinny Testaverde (1987).

Tampa Bay chose a quarterback with the first pick. Continue reading to see who else the team selected.

Tampa Bay Draft Picks

Here are the picks in one place of who Tampa Bay drafted.

Round 1, Pick 1: Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State University

Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press

In the end, it was a no-brainer for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Bucs needed a quarterback, and Winston was not only the best quarterback but perhaps the best overall player.

He has a strong arm and can make every throw. He likes to stay in the pocket but has enough mobility to extend plays.

On the field, he is a winner. He threw for 7,964 yards with 65 touchdowns and 28 interceptions. In his redshirt freshman season, Winston threw for 4,057 yards and 40 touchdowns, led the Seminoles to an undefeated season and a BCS National Championship, and won the Heisman Trophy. In his college career, Winston was 26-1.

Tampa Bay had to be comfortable with the off-the-field issues Winston had. In the end, it was.

Grade: A

Round 2, Pick 34: Donovan Smith, OL, Penn State

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

Tampa Bay needed offensive linemen, and it got a solid one in Donovan Smith.

He is a natural left tackle. He started in 31 games, and according to his Penn State bio, he was one of the strongest men in the weight room, lifting more than 400 pounds in the bench and 500 in the squat. He has used that strength in the run game, which also makes the Bucs happy.

Smith has the size of a guard at 6'5" and 335 pounds and could play the position if needed. But he considers himself a guy who is more of a tackle.

Currently, the Bucs have Demar Dotson at left tackle but before last season, Dotson played his career at right tackle and could easily move back if necessary.

Grade: A

Round 2, Pick 61: Ali Marpet, OL, Hobart College

Brynn Anderson/Associated Press

The Bucs got a little deeper in the offensive line after trading up to nab the Division III standout.

The Bucs gave up their third-round pick and swapped fourth-rounders with Indianapolis to move up to get the 2014 co-Liberty League Offensive Player of the Year, the first offensive lineman in league history to be so honored.

Ali Marpet is 6'4" and 310 pounds. He played left tackle and did not allow a sack in 2014. He is projected as a guard in the NFL.

Grade: B

Round 4, Pick 124: Kwon Alexander, LB, LSU

Julio Cortez/Associated Press

The Bucs like linebackers with speed, and they have another one in Kwon Alexander. The club moved up five spots and gave up a seventh-round pick to nab the true junior.

Alexander is versatile and has started games at strong-side and weak-side linebacker. He's good at getting past initial blocks and making plays.

He needs to gain some weight (227 pounds) to last in the league. He will likely be on special teams with the team already having Lavonte David and Danny Lansanah on the outsides.

Grade: C+

Round 5, Pick 162: Kenny Bell, WR, Nebraska

Nati Harnik/Associated Press

Tampa Bay has solid receivers but didn't have any real burners.

The team now has one in Kenny Bell, who ran a 4.38 at his pro day.

At 6'1", Bell is not your prototypical slot receiver. But his speed can't be ignored by opposing defenses.

Bell, a first-team All-Big Ten coaches' pick in 2014, leaves as the school's all-time receptions and yards receiving leader.

Grade: B-

Round 6, Pick 184: Kaelin Clay, WR, Utah

John Locher/Associated Press

It's obvious Tampa Bay was not happy with its kick returners in 2014.

That disappointment has worked to Utah's Kaelin Clay's advantage.

Clay was a first-team All-Pac 12 as a punt returner and made four different All-American teams as a punt returner.

He is shifty and has a burst once he gets into the open field.

His fumble against Oregon, where he dropped the ball before crossing the goal line only to see Oregon return it for a score, was a video that went viral.

Still he bounced back from that, showing his mental toughness which will be paramount in the NFL.

Grade: C-

Round 7, Pick 231: Joey Iosefa, FB, Hawaii

David Zalubowski/Associated Press

Tampa Bay ended the draft by taking Joey Iosefa, a true fullback out of Hawaii.

Iosefa will have a chance to come in and compete for the fullback position. Currently, the Bucs have Jorvorskie Lane at the position, but Lane will be coming off of an injury from last year. Iosefa gives the Bucs insurance.

He does have some injury concerns and was also suspended three games for a DUI in 2014.

Still, Iosefa catches the ball well with 60 catches his senior season. He could have a big impact with the team this year.

Grade: C