The Tampa Bay Buccaneers accomplished their 2024 draft haul and did fairly nicely from the angle of buying very proficient gamers at positions of want. Tampa Bay addressed the inside offensive line by drafting a middle and guard, obtained assist at outdoors linebacker and nickel cornerback, in addition to including depth at operating again and tight finish.
The one positions that basically weren’t addressed on this yr’s draft had been defensive deal with, inside linebacker and outdoors cornerback – along with offensive deal with and quarterback, which weren’t actually wanted.
Bucs normal supervisor Jason Licht, head coach Todd Bowles, assistant normal supervisor John Spytek and the staff’s scouts and entrance workplace have performed an unimaginable job of buying expertise via the draft, particularly after the previous three seasons – together with 2024 – to place the Bucs as a perennial playoff staff and attainable Tremendous Bowl contender.
Right here is a few inside scoop together with my evaluation of Tampa Bay’s 2024 draft class.
SR’s Submit-Draft Bucs Scoop
Right here is a few Bucs-oriented post-draft intel I used to be capable of uncover throughout and after the 2024 NFL Draft.
Tulane QB Michael Pratt – Photograph by: USA As we speak
• Tampa Bay actually preferred USC operating again MarShawn Lloyd and hoped to draft him within the third spherical in addition to Georgia defensive again Tykee Smith. However the Packers drafted Lloyd one choose earlier than and the Bucs went forward and drafted Smith at No. 89 as an alternative. Smith was a participant the staff coveted and was certainly one of Todd Bowles’ favorites on this draft class.
• The Packers additionally stole a prospect proper in entrance of the Bucs within the seventh spherical. Tampa Bay was considering drafting Tulane quarterback Michael Pratt within the seventh spherical. Pewter Report had Pratt as a Bucs Finest Wager, and the Bucs wound up drafting Washington tight finish Devin Culp as an alternative.
• Pewter Report had Boston School guard Christian Mahogany as a Bucs Finest Wager and most draft analysts had him with a third- or fourth-round grade. Mahogany wound up sliding to the sixth spherical the place he was drafted by the Lions. The phrase is that he didn’t interview nicely. I’m not saying he has dangerous character, however he wasn’t only a good match personality-wise with the staff. Different NFL groups apparently obtained the identical impression.
• That’s additionally a part of the explanation why the Bucs most well-liked Graham Barton over Jackson Powers-Johnson within the first spherical – locker room match. If Barton was off the board at No. 26 the Bucs had been poised to take Illinois defensive deal with Johnny Newton as an alternative of Powers-Johnson – regardless of the inside offensive line being a extra urgent want. Tampa Bay was decided to draft the most effective participant out there within the first spherical.
Clemson DT Ruke Ohorhoro – Photograph courtesy of Clemson
• The Bucs wished to draft a defensive deal with early and practically did with Illinois’ Johnny Newton, a St. Petersburg native. However there was a large run on defensive tackles within the second spherical the place seven had been chosen from choose No. 35 to No. 54.
The Bucs had been very excessive on Clemson defensive deal with Ruke Orhorhoro, a Pewter Report Bucs Finest Wager, who went to the Falcons at No. 35 – one spot forward of Newton, who was drafted by the Commanders. Now they’ll must face Orhorhoro twice a yr inside the division.
• Tampa Bay is within the strategy of including simply over a dozen undrafted free brokers because the weekend concludes. The three UDFA signings that the Bucs are instantly excessive on are Toledo cornerback Chris McDonald, Mississippi State cornerback Marcus Banks and Florida State linebacker Kalen DeLoach.
DeLoach is undersized at 5-foot-11, 210 kilos, however he ran a 4.47 and had seven sacks final yr as a blitzer at FSU. He would possibly get a take a look at robust security. Banks solely had one interception and 5 move breakups at Mississippi State, however McDonald, who had 5 interceptions during the last three years, is an undersized cornerback at 5-foot-9, 189 kilos. He’ll get a glance inside at nickel.
SR’s 2024 Bucs Draft Choose Evaluation
ROUND 1 – Duke OL Graham Barton
Bucs OL Graham Barton – Photograph courtesy of Duke
Barton has the makings of being a future Professional Bowl inside offensive lineman whether or not that’s at middle or guard. I’ve known as him Ali Marpet 2.0 as a result of his grip power, approach, tenacity and play type are harking back to the previous Bucs Professional Bowl guard and staff captain. Barton even appears like Marpet and talks like him when he discusses his skilled strategy to the sport of soccer.
Barton’s character and demeanor will make him a sure-fire match within the locker room and the O-line room. At 6-foot-5, 313 kilos he brings the dimensions and power the Bucs have lacking on the middle place since Ryan Jensen final performed the pivot. Dallas will remorse buying and selling all the way down to No. 29 and letting Barton fall to Tampa Bay at No. 26. The Bucs didn’t suppose Barton, a Pewter Report Bucs Finest Wager, can be there once they had been on the clock, and that is each a draft steal and an absolute house run choose.
ROUND 2 – Alabama OLB Chris Braswell
As I reported on Saturday, the Bucs had been going to move on Western Michigan move rusher Marshawn Kneeland even when Dallas hadn’t drafted him one spot forward of Tampa Bay at No. 26. They cherished Kneeland the participant, however some late intel about Kneeland the individual prompted the Bucs to maneuver Braswell increased on their draft board. Braswell can be a sooner athlete with a 4.6 time within the 40-yard sprint, together with a 1.59 10-yard cut up, which is quicker than Kneeland’s 4.75 time and 1.66 10-yard cut up.
Braswell performed behind two first-round picks in Will Anderson Jr. and Dallas Turner and needed to bide his time. However when he emerged as a starter in 2023 he erupted for eight sacks and three compelled fumbles. Braswell got here in for a High 30 go to that went rather well and he’s a team-oriented participant with some untapped potential as a move rusher. The Bucs love the truth that when he will get to the QB he finishes, in contrast to Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, and Braswell is a violent hitter with robust palms. He performs with the flexibility to generate speed-to-power and has a depraved long-arm transfer.
ROUND 3 – Georgia DB Tykee Smith
Bucs DB Tykee Smith – Photograph courtesy of Georgia
One in every of my absolute favourite gamers within the 2024 NFL Draft and certainly one of my “draft crushes,” Smith simply screamed “Todd Bowles-type DB” on movie after I watched him. He’s a “chess piece” man as a result of his versatility. He performed security his first two years at West Virginia the place he notched 111 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, intercepted 4 passes, together with a pick-six, broke up 9 passes, had a sack and compelled a fumble. Then Smith transferred to Georgia the place he missed just about the whole 2021 season earlier than returning to win a nationwide championship in 2022.
Smith, a Pewter Report Bucs Finest Wager, performed extra within the field for the Bulldogs, in addition to a number of time within the slot as a nickelback. He posted 101 tackles at Georgia, 11 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, 4 interceptions, three move breakups and compelled a fumble. Smith will get the primary crack at nickel the place he’ll compete with Christian Izien and Tavierre Thomas, however may additionally rotate with Jordan Whitehead and Antoine Winfield Jr. at security as a result of his versatility. He had 21.5 tackles for a loss, which is rather a lot for a defensive again and speaks to his sharp instincts and clutch tackling means
ROUND 3 – Washington WR Jalen McMillan
McMillan is a steal within the third spherical as a result of a knee harm throughout his senior season hampered his manufacturing. He caught 79 passes for 1,098 yards (13.9 avg.) and 9 touchdowns as a junior at Washington and had extra catches and touchdowns than Rome Odunze (75 receptions for 1,145 and 7 touchdowns) in 2022. Had McMillan stayed wholesome in 2023, he would’ve been a second-round choose like Ja’Lynn Polk.
McMillan had six 100-yard video games in his Huskies profession and had 4 different video games with over 90 yards receiving. His finest attribute is his route-running means and his knack for getting open. McMillan might be an element within the slot the place he principally performed at Washington, however he’ll additionally see time outdoors as he has sufficient measurement at 6-foot-1, 192 kilos. The Bucs drafted Chris Godwin within the third spherical in 2017 and McMillan provides off some Godwin vibes.
ROUND 4 – Oregon RB Bucky Irving
Bucs RB Bucky Irving – Photograph courtesy of Oregon
Irving is an enormous again trapped within the physique of a small again. At simply 5-foot-9, 192 kilos, Irving is an indignant runner, and that’s simply the sort of again Jason Licht prefers. Extremely onerous to deal with, Irving had 743 yards after contact in 2023, which was the Twenty fourth-most of any operating again within the nation. His yards after contact common was 3.99, which ranked twenty third, and his 69 missed tackles compelled was tied for tenth. Irving was extremely productive at Oregon over the previous two years with a wholesome 6.5 common and back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons.
He additionally scored 16 touchdowns for the Geese on the bottom, together with 11 final yr, and his 56 catches was essentially the most by any operating again in faculty soccer final yr. Irving, who’s a tricky child from the South facet of Chicago, posted 87 catches for 712 yards (8.2 avg.) and 5 touchdowns as a receiver out of the backfield. His play type is harking back to Rams operating again Kyren Williams, who was a Professional Bowler final yr with 1,144 yards and 12 touchdowns. Don’t be stunned to see Irving included within the competitors for the Bucs’ kick-return duties.
ROUND 6 – UTEP G Elijah Klein
Klein broke Jason Licht’s streak of drafting nothing however faculty offensive tackles when choosing offensive linemen at 10 with the choice of Klein, a guard at UTEP. For the reason that choice of former Tennessee State guard Kadeem Edwards within the fifth spherical of the 2014 draft, Licht has at all times drafted athletic offensive tackles to both play deal with in Tampa Bay or transfer inside to protect or middle.
Klein isn’t overly athletic, however he’s sensible and hard and his character suits within the Bucs offensive line room. He’ll instantly issue into the competitors at left guard for the beginning spot however in the end would possibly have to redshirt throughout his rookie season. Klein must get stronger within the weight room to battle NFL-caliber defensive tackles. It’s an enormous bounce from a smaller college like UTEP to the NFL.
ROUND 7 – Washington TE Devin Culp
Bucs TE Devin Culp – Photograph by: USA As we speak
As Bucs assistant normal supervisor John Spytek mentioned on Saturday after the draft concluded the staff simply can’t assist itself in the case of drafting Washington gamers. Culp joins former Huskies Vita Vea, Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, Greg Gaines and Cade Otton in Tampa Bay, along with getting into the league alongside Washington teammate extensive receiver Jalen McMillan. Though undersized at 6-foot-3, 231 kilos, Culp performs greater within the run recreation as he’s a sticky blocker who provides all of it he’s obtained on the line of scrimmage.
He’ll want so as to add some extra measurement and power in an NFL weight room, however the Bucs don’t need him to lose his velocity. Culp clocked 4.47 on the NFL Scouting Mix, which was the quickest tight finish time this yr. Culp cut up time with Jack Westover at tight finish, and with a trio of stud receivers at Washington, he didn’t get the chance to supply a lot within the passing recreation. However Culp could make contested catches and has good run-after-catch potential together with his velocity. He’ll be a Gerald Everett-type F tight finish in Liam Coen’s offense, usually cut up out and matched up with a security or linebacker in isolation.
