The Buccaneers were on the clock with the No. 27 pick, but they opted to make an in-state trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars, sliding back into the top spot of Day 2. Tampa Bay attacked the draft with eight picks. They had at least one in each of the last six rounds, including a pair of seconds and a pair of fourths. The Buccaneers need this draft to be an instant success similar to the 2020 class, so that they can win another Super Bowl.
Make sure to check out all of our other NFL Draft Recaps.
Best Pick: Cade Otton (Round 4, Pick 106)
After a flurry of tight ends had gone off the board, the value in Otton is just excellent. He is refined as a blocker, and is a solid seam-ripper as a tight end. He profiles as a bit of a cross between Rob Gronkowski and Cameron Brate. Gronkowski has yet to return to the Buccaneers this offseason, but he might be the best mentor in NFL history at the position. Brate is still a member of the Bucs, so Otton should be able to watch the prototype of himself while he gets to full speed with the NFL game.
For more on Otton, check out our scouting report on him.
Grade: A+
Worst Pick: Luke Goedeke (Round 2, Pick 57)
The funny part about this pick is that Goedeke was not the best player available. He was not the best offensive lineman available. He was not even the best offensive tackle from his school available. Bernhard Raimann earned that distinction, but the Buccaneers opted for the more experienced Central Michigan tackle. Goedeke will not start right away, but he could be the long-term option at left tackle for the Buccaneers if Donovan Smith leaves.
For more on Goedeke, check out our scouting report on him.
Grade: C-
Sleeper Pick: Zyon McCollum (Round 5, Pick 157)
McCollum might be the best value pick in the entire draft. By RAS, he is the best athlete at cornerback since 1987. Athletically, he is a one-of-one. While he played at a low level of competition and was not as dominant on film as one would like, he is in a perfect situation with the Buccaneers. The Sam Houston State product does not have to play right away. Instead, he can sit behind a loaded secondary and wait for players to get paydays from other teams. Carlton Davis has returned, but the duo of Jamel Dean and Sean Murphy-Bunting are due for contracts soon.
For more on McCollum, check out our scouting report on him.
Grade: A+
Summary
The Buccaneers decided to draft for the future, nabbing tailor-made replacements at tight end, left tackle, boundary corner, punter, running back, and interior defender. They could have gone for a more instant-impact draft class, but they had a loaded roster to begin with. Tampa Bay has All-Pro caliber players on both sides of the ball, and a reasonable chance of lifting the Lombardi after Super Bowl LVII even if this draft class does not hit immediately. The Buccaneers underperformed on Day 2 of the draft, but they hit two home runs on Day 3. They also drafted a punter, and their final two picks left a bit to be desired.
Grade: B
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Main Image Credit: via Sam Houston Football
