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Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 7-Round 2020 mock draft, post-Combine

By Jordan Llanes

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 27: Javon Kinlaw #DL14 of the South Carolina Gamecocks speaks to the media at the Indiana Convention Center on February 27, 2020 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 27: Javon Kinlaw #DL14 of the South Carolina Gamecocks speaks to the media at the Indiana Convention Center on February 27, 2020 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers mock draft (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers mock draft (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

With right tackle Demar Dotson currently set to become a free agent and left tackle Donovan Smith still displaying an inconsistent form despite signing a new long term deal last offseason, it’s time to address the tackle position for the Buccaneers.

While playing left tackle at USC, Austin Jackson continued to improve and excel against some of the Pac-12’s best pass rushers throughout his college career. Furthermore, he routinely kept young signal-callers J.T. Daniels and Kedon Slovis upright and he plays a with a mean, physical streak.

Whether he played left tackle or started off on the right side in Tampa Bay, Jackson would be a strong addition to a Buccaneer offensive line in need of some new blood.

If you had told me a year ago I would be projecting Jalen Hurts to be drafted in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft, I would have said you were crazy. That’s because a year ago, he was barely seen as an eligible player to be drafted at quarterback. However, we know how Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley can work wonders and Hurts is his latest accomplishment.

During his lone season with the Sooners, Hurts became the Big 12’s best signal-caller and arguably earned his place among the top-five quarterbacks nation-wide. Even though he had a rough finish to his collegiate career in the 63-28 loss to eventual national champion LSU in the College Football Playoff Semifinal game, Hurts had an amazing transformation during his season in Norman. He was second in the Big 12 in passing yardage with 3,851 yards, tied for first in touchdown passes with 32 and led the conference with a 191.2 rating.

Furthermore, his performance at the Combine was one of the best among the quarterbacks, as he ran a 4.54-second 40 (the fastest at his position) and showed excellent footwork and tremendous accuracy in the quarterback drills.

Although he has quite a bit to do in order to become a starting quarterback in the NFL, a couple of years behind a veteran such as Philip Rivers and coaching from Arians and offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich could make Hurts into the franchise quarterback that this franchise has never had.

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