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.

He's a Workhorse

Everyone knows the Bucs need to add pass rushers to their defensive line core, and one highly touted prospect might fall to them at 9th overall come Thursday night. That would be former Ohio State defensive end Joey Bosa, who is regarded as the best defensive end in the draft. Bosa 20, has great size at 6'6 269lbs and is being compared to Jared Allen who also played with a non-stop motor and was relentless in his pursuit to the Qb. Over 41 games in his three year career at Ohio State, Bosa collected 150 tackles, 50.5 tackles for loss and 26 sacks. Bosa would be a great pick for this Buccaneers team, whom could use edge rusher that will bring consistent effort and playmaking ability. Bosa's former teammate Ezekiel Elliott who is also expected to go top ten on Thursday had nothing but great things to say about the big defensive end on the Rich Eisen show.(Watch Here)

He's a workhorse. It's crazy. I've never seen anyone go out and play as hard as he does. It's kind of painful to see him play and see how much effort he puts up. Sometimes he works so hard it just looks like he's in agony. But I mean, I've never seen anyone bust him going one-on-one. It's rare to see people who can double team him. The only time I've seen him contained is on triple teams. He's a guy that you have to game plan around. He's a guy that you have to know where he's at on the field the whole time. That's just a guy who you honestly don't want to see on an opposing defense.

In other words, Joey Bosa is an animal who loves the game of football and if the Bucs are fortunate to have him available at 9 he is an easy selection for Bucs Gm Jason Licht. The draft is only three days away, lets hope the Bucs can get lucky and land a player like Joey Bosa.


                            

Bucs Better Grab a Edge Rusher Early

Bucs Gm Jason Licht knows he needs to improve the pass rush on defense as it has been the team's problem for quite some time. However, the edge rushers in this draft class is not very deep in contrast to the deep class of interior defensive lineman. Matt Miller of bleacherreport tweeted yesterday that if your team needs a edge rusher in this draft, better get one early or don't take one at all.

This really isn't a good EDGE class. Get one early or don't get one at all.

— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) April 17, 2016

The good news for the Bucs is that they can upgrade the pass rush with a edge rusher or a interior lineman, and I expect the Bucs to draft both next week. Unless Bosa is there at 9, which is a possibility now, look for the Bucs to try to trade down first, if they cant then they will go with the best defensive lineman available. Shaq Lawson, Sheldon Rankins, Robert Nkemdiche, Noah Spence all make sense for the Bucs, and one of those four should be available at 9 or in trade down scenario. If the Bucs don't take a defensive lineman in the first two rounds, I would be shocked as probably the rest of Bucs nation.

Joey Bosa to Fall Come Draft Day?

As we all know the Bucs need to improve their pass rush for the upcoming season, and a great way to do that is through the NFL Draft. This group of defensive lineman in this 2016 draft class is quite deep and very impressive to say the least. The best of the group is defensive end Joey Bosa out of Ohio State who is very sound on his technique and brings a non-stop motor as he is relentless in finishing plays to the whistle. With less than three weeks away from the draft, this is the time where rumors began to fly around and an interesting one came up about Bosa per walterfootball.com

I asked a few teams if either Ohio State defensive end Joey Bosa or if Oregon defensive lineman DeForest Buckner could slide in the top 10. The answers were that Buckner shouldn't be available to the Buccaneers and Giants picking ninth and 10th, respectively. Bosa had that possibility. Part of the difference is teams love Buckner off the field, and Bosa is just OK on the character/intangible grades. 

What a gift that would be for the Bucs if Bosa fell to them at 9th overall, Jason Licht would be ecstatic to get a talent like Bosa who is the most complete defensive end in this draft. Bosa would be a instant impact starter for this team and would provide help for Gerald McCoy as both would cause havoc for opposing offenses. Bosa feels he is the best player in the draft, and has the work ethic and desire to be one of the greats. Bosa has the size at 6'5 269lbs 33 inch arms, and passed the athletic testing with 4.77 40 along with 6.89 three cone, and 4.21 short shuttle which are outstanding. Most likely Bosa will be a top 6 selection, but crazy things do happen in the draft so maybe there is a chance for the Bucs to land him at 9.

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.