NFL Draft 2011: A Look at the Tampa Bay Buccaneer Selections from Top to Bottom

The 2011 NFL Selection Meeting is in the books.

When you take a look at what Mark Dominik and his staff were able to accomplish for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, you have to feel even better the day after.

Let's get right to the task and break down the eight new players who will try and find their places on this football team that is laden with young talent.

First Round (20th pick): Adrian Clayborn, Defensive End, Iowa.

Comment: The right guy for this team. Run stopper, productive player, strong and has a nose for the football. Will become the starter at right defensive end. 

Everyone at One Buccaneer Place was unanimous when he was there for them to pick.

Grade: A

Second Round (51st pick): Da'Quan Bowers, Defensive End, Clemson.

Comment: At one top, he was thought to be a TOP FIVE pick.

Yes, there are some knee issues, but they are deemed to be manageable. He has the size and strength to be a force. Look for him to play the left end opposite Clayborn, but he won't start right away. He's going to platoon as they'll monitor the work load and give his knee every chance to become totally healthy.

This guy will play with a chip on his shoulder and prove the other 31 teams wrong.

Grade: A+

Third Round (84th pick): Foster Mason, Linebacker, Washington.

Comment: He's a big, fast versatile guy who can probably play EVERY linebacking position which will put heat on all three starters. He's a run-stopper who knows how to tackle, how to wrap up a ball carrier.

He won't be making tackles seven yards downfield like a certain Buccaneer linebacker. He was rated the third-best linebacker by National Football Post.

Grade: A

Round Four (104th pick): Luke Stocker, Tight End, Tennessee.

Comment: He can help the offensive line. Good pass blocker who can pick up the blitz. He's quick in short areas and tough to bring down when he has the football. Good hands, good run blocker and will be a great compliment to Kellen Winslow. The Bucs really like him, they gave up next year's fourth round pick to move up into Philadelphia's slot and get him at 104.

Grade: A

Round Five (151st pick): Ahmad Black, Safety, Florida.

Comment: He's small of a safety and ran slow at the combine, which dropped him to the fifth round. He has good man-to-man cover skills. Has solid instincts and has a nose for the football.

Not an immediate contender to start but will compete for a roster spot. There are now seven safeties on the Buccaneer roster.

Does this mean a farewell to Tanard Jackson?

Grade: B-

Round Six (187th pick): Allen Bradford, Running Back, Southern Cal.

Comment: This guy is 5-11, 242 and you have to believe that he's going to be the short yardage guy.

As good as LeGarrette Blount is, he's not effective on goal line and short yardage situations. Bradford is strong but took often fancies himself as a guy trying to get to the outside and that will not happen for him in the NFL.

Not great at catching the football so you can look for him to make this team only if he's an effective blocker and short-yardage specialist.

Grade: B-

Round Seven (222nd pick): Anthony Gaitor, Defensive Back, Florida International.

Comment: Interesting pick. He was a leader on his football team. He's undersized at 5-10 and less than 180 pounds.

They must know something about this guy. Is he going to get in the mix at corner?

Grade: Incomplete

Round Seven (238th pick): Hardy Daniel, Tight End, Idaho.

Comment: He's 6-4, 246 and projected as an H-back type of guy. But isn't this a repeat of the Erik Lorig pick from last year.

Not sure about this one. Perhaps he's bound for the practice squad.

Grade: Incomplete.

OVERALL:

The Buccaneers followed the footprint of the 2010 draft but instead of back-to-back defensive tackles, it was back-to-back tight ends.

What may be puzzling is no cornerbacks in the first five picks and Dominik says you can't have enough corners. Does this mean they WILL NOT be releasing Aqib Talib?

Overall, you have to really like the first three picks and Stocker got their attention if they gave up next year's No. 4 for him.

After that, well, this team is gathering enough talent where seventh rounders should have a tough time making the roster.

Take notice that there were no wide receivers or offensive linemen taken in this year's draft.

Also, the Bucs are in a sad position right now. Dominik has been a master at signing free agent rookies and now that the lockout is back in force and there's no CBA, there can be no free agent signings so hundreds of undrafted college players are in limbo.

Don't know how or when it will all shake out, but it would be better for all if there were rookie camps and OTAs and all that good stuff.

In the meantime, we can only watch and hope.

OVERALL GRADE FOR 2011: A-