Five draft sleepers for Tampa Bay Buccaneers
As expected, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers suffered through a dreadful 2014, winning just two games the entire year. In order to get back to playoff contention, they will have to strike gold in the upcoming draft. Here is my list of the top five players that the Bucs can snag in the later rounds of the 2015 NFL draft.
5) QB Blake Sims- Alabama: While the Buccaneers are expected to draft a quarterback with the first overall pick, I wouldn’t mind seeing them take a late round flyer on Sims. The Crimson Tide senior signal caller lacks the experience of most players his age, but Sims improved dramatically as the season progressed and his physical tools are intriguing. In addition, Bucs’ quarterback Josh McCown will turn 36 this summer and is in the final year of his two-year deal, so it would make sense for Tampa Bay to start planning ahead.
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4) WR Phillip Dorsett- Miami: Tampa Bay’s talented duo of Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson both eclipsed 1,000 yards receiving this past season. However, the Buccaneers’ third leading receiver was running back Bobby Rainey who caught 33 passes for only 9.5 yards per reception. While Dorsett does not possess elite size at five-foot-ten, he would provide a much needed deep threat that could make defenses think twice about double teaming Evans or Jackson. Dorsett also has experience as a return man which was a sore spot for the Bucs last year. Tampa Bay finished 20th in the NFL in kick return average and failed to score a single touchdown on special teams. Provided Dorsett’s partial MCL tear from 2013 checks out medically, the Bucs could have themselves a middle round steal.
3) OT Jake Fisher- Oregon: The Bucs are in the market for a franchise passer, so protecting that investment with some beef up front may be a good idea. At six-foot-six and 300 pounds, Fisher has long arms and a powerful hand punch to keep defenders at bay. Although he is more of a natural fit at right tackle, Fisher filled in at left tackle this past season due to injuries along the Ducks’ offensive line. Fisher is not noted as an elite athletic specimen, so the Bucs can afford to wait until the middle rounds before pulling the trigger on this pick.
2) S Jordan Richards- Stanford: Since the Bucs’ pulled the plug on the Mark Barron experiment midway through the season, it makes sense for Tampa Bay to start looking for a new starting safety. Richards is a smart, instinctive player who won All-Pac-12 first team honors as well as Pac-12 All-Academic first team recognition. The thing I like most about Stanford’s team captain is that he has great experience in a pass happy conference. Squaring off against future pro quarterbacks such as Marcus Mariota, Brett Hundley, and Cody Kessler on a regular basis will allow Richards to transition nicely into the NFL.
1) DE Mario Edwards- Florida State: In 2011, the Buccaneers drafted defensive linemen Adrian Clayborn and Da’Quan Bowers in the first- and second-round, respectively. Since then, the duo has collected a total of just 20 combined sacks in four seasons. Big time free-agent signing Michael Johnson registered just four sacks this past season in Tampa Bay, so Mario Edwards fills a gaping hole along the defensive front. Edwards is an underclassman with raw physical tools and plenty of upside. At six-foot-three and nearly 300 pounds, Edwards possesses rare acceleration and burst for a player his size. Grabbing Edwards at the top of round two could be a real possibility for the Bucs.