Bucs Want to Trade Down

Finally the NFL draft is here as Bucs Gm Jason Licht and his staff are ready to get another impact player tonight for his up and coming team. The Bucs have the 9th pick and even though there is a possibility that Ramsey or Bosa could be available, the team is very open to trading down.

Interesting dynamic at bottom of top 10, with the Browns and Bucs very open to drop. Teams could move up for Elliott/Rankins/Floyd there

— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) April 28, 2016

This makes sense as the Bucs would like to add more picks to their arsenal to take advantage of the day 2 value in this draft. Potential trade down partners could be the Dolphins or the Titans if Elliot, Floyd, Conklin, or Rankins are on the board when the Bucs are up. According to Gil Arcia of The Baycave.com, the Bucs have interest in these players with either the 9th pick or in a trade down scenario.

TBC has some names for you to tie in with the Bucs as their pick approaches and trade-up opportunities fade away from what we have gathered: Noah Spence, Joey Bosa, Vernon Butler, Vernon Hargreaves III, DeForest Buckner, Jack Conklin and Robert Nkemdiche. All these are “realistic” options for the team. Notice how there is no Leonard Floyd or Shaq Lawson on this list.

I completely agree with this and it shows that the Bucs are trying hard to move down because outside of Bosa and Buckner, none of the other names are really deserved to be taken in the top ten. Now if the Bucs can't trade down and Bosa is not there, then I wouldn't hesitate to take Robert Nkemdiche. Nkemdiche has top 5 talent and would be a wrecking ball next to Gerald McCoy.

Draft Scenarios

The draft is only 2 days away and short of the top 2 picks being Quarterbacks no one else knows how the draft will fall. So with the Bucs sitting at pick 9 what scenarios could they see come draft day?

The best case scenario and Tampa fan base favorite would be if somehow by shear luck Ohio State Defensive End Joey Bosa were to fall all the way down to pick 9 and make the Bucs decision easy. Now that ultimately could happen but is very unlikely as a player of that quality shouldn't fall that far but crazier things have happened in past drafts.

Trading out of the 9th pick is another popular scenario if Bosa or some other top player isn't there that the Bucs really like. This option is also my personal favorite as we would be able to add more picks and give Jason Licht more ammo to attack the draft. Yes, it takes two to tango on a draft day trade but it seems the Titans are looking to get back in the top 10 for a left tackle to protect their franchise QB and that seems like an easy connection there.

Staying at pick 9 is an option only if they truly value a player of being worthy of that selection. Do the Bucs value Sheldon Rankins or Shaq Lawson that highly to be selected there or is that a reach? Tampa needs defense but Licht is adamant that he picks based on best player on his board not to need.

Last option is trading up to go get someone. I strongly disagree with that option as the Bucs are not a team that is only 1 player away right now. Even if say, Jalen Ramsey somehow falls to pick 6 or 7, I would still not jump ahead and risk losing a hand full of picks for one player.

Jason Licht has plenty of options and scenarios to run through his head before draft day and up until our pick. I believe the Bucs best option is to trade down and collect more picks but lets see what path Licht and company choose.

What's Best About Having A Stable QB

Now that the Bucs have their franchise QB with Jameis Winston, what are the advantages? The best advantage is being able to build around him in knowing he's the staple of the offense. When looking NFL GMs start their search to improve their rosters and the first position they look at is Quarterback. In the NFL these days you go as far as your QB will take you.

The Bucs are more than comfortable with Jameis at the helm leading the team to bigger and better things, so how does that help the Bucs out? Look at the teams ahead of us begging for a franchise QB who will reach and bypass better players in hoping they get a "franchise" QB. Looking at the draft there are 3 possible spots before the Bucs where QBs may be taken. Thats the Browns at 2, Cowboys at 4 and 49ers at 7. All of which either don't have a QB (da browns) or have an aging QB or one that doesn't want to be there (Cowboys/49ers).

So picture players that should be taken higher due to game tape and numbers that they have put up being dropped 3 spots, just because other NFL teams don't have their lead man under center. As a buccaneer fan I'm more than happy. Let players like Joey Bosa, Myles Jack and Jalen Ramsey fall, just so other teams can reach for what they hope their future is. Winston has put his imprint on this Buccaneer team and has without a doubt proven that is the lead dog and everyone will follow. Sit back and watch as talent falls into Jason Lichts hands.

Bucs Targeting Jalen Ramsey?

Could the Bucs go with another Florida State star with their first round pick again in 2016? Early indications are if Jalen Ramsey is there at 9, he is the pick. 

Per walterfootball.com:Sources say the Tampa Bay Buccaneers love Florida State cornerback/safety Jalen Ramsey. They view him as a play-making defensive back who could be a tremendous cornerback or safety in the NFL. They feel he is an Alpha Dog defender and would be ecstatic to land him in the 2016 NFL Draft. While the Bucs love Ramsey, they don't expect him to get to their pick at No. 9 overall. With other needs to address on the roster, it sounds unlikely that Tampa Bay would trade up for Ramsey. Florida cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III is getting some consideration from Tampa Bay, but in speaking with sources, the Buccaneers sound lukewarm on Hargreaves. 

Ramsey, 21 has great size at 6'1 195lbs and has the versatility to play safety or corner and can play special teams. He has tremendous skill set displaying great ball skills and has quick closing speed which allows him to get his hands on a lot of footballs thrown his way. In 2014, he was outstanding with 80 tackles with 3ints and 12 pass breakups while in 2015 he was solid with 52 tackles and 9 pass breakups. This past season teams didn't attack Ramsey because he was locking down his opponent most of the time which is why the stats decreased this past year.

Ramsey is a playmaker, but more importantly he is a fiery leader and loves to compete. Ramsey if selected by the Bucs, could have the same impact that Jameis Winston has had so far and become an instant leader on defense. He is that alpha dog type leader, and will hold others accountable to make sure they are doing their job because ultimately he wants to win. One thing is for sure Jameis Winston wants him on the team. Per walterfootball.com:

"He's good enough that we probably won't even get him," said Winston. "That's just one thing to talk about, his competitiveness, and his mentality to always want to be great. That is something that is going to take him a long way."

"He can do anything he wants to do really," said Winston. "He's so talented in some many ways. He can be a lock-down corner for you like a Richard Sherman, or he could be a safety-corner hybrid like Charles Woodson. This guy is very talented and has a lot of ability."

That's high praise from a former teammate, if Ramsey is anywhere near that kind of talent in the NFL that would be fantastic value at the number 9 spot.