Tampa Bay head coach Todd Bowles loves defense. When the Bucs won their first Super Bowl, under Jon Gruden, they did so with players like Warren Sapp and Derrick Brooks. They also did it with a surging front seven and an overall tenacious defense. This season will be no different as the Bucs defense will be flying all over the field at an incredible pace.
The Bucs also invested big money in quarterback Baker Mayfield and wide receiver Mike Evans. That means that Bowles and general manager Jason Licht are going all in on the offense. They need to draft some players to bolster the offensive line and give them some more versatility out of the backfield. They also need a speedy receiver to compliment Evans.
1. Round 1 - Chop Robinson, DE, Penn State
The Bucs reinforce the edge by taking the best available edge rusher on the board. Robinson played very well at Penn State and stood out on a defense coached by now Duke head coach Manny Diaz. Robinson runs like the wind for a big man and ran a 4.48 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine last month. He has a quick first step and beats the offensive tackle right off the snap.
2. Round 2 - Xavier Leggette, WR, South Carolina
Had the Bucs not signed Evans to an essentially, career contract over the winter, wide receiver would have been a first round priority. However, the Bucs do have a need to remove the double and triple team coverage that Evans gets by drafting a fast, slick receiver on the other side. Leggette is tall for a receiver at 6-1 and strong as he weighs 225 pounds. He ran an impressive 4.39 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine and is a great route runner. He catches the ball at its highest point and wins most of the 50-50 balls while defenders have a tough time keeping up with him and defenses usually use a safety over the top to help cover the crafty Legette.
3. Round 3 - D.J. James, CB, Auburn
The Bucs only have one starting corner in Jamel Dean, and need to pair him up with someone that is a ballhawk and plays well on an island. James has the size and speed to take over the starting role during training camp as Tampa did not address this position during free agency.
4. Round 3 - Jeremiah Trotter, Jr., LB, Clemson (via Detroit)
Bowles goes deep into the ACC to pluck out Trotter to bolster his linebacking corps and quarterback the defense. Devin White left during free agency and Lavonte David is wearing out his extended warranty at an advanced age. Trotter is a tough man who can stop the run with the best of them.
5. Round 4 - Zak Zinter, G, Michigan
Zinter is only available this late because he missed pre-draft workouts with a leg injury. However, he has power in the run game and is battle tested having blocked for Blake Corum and the Wolverines running backs. The Bucs have an open left guard position, and I pencil Zinter in there as he will be healthy by training camp and he will help with the run and can also protect Baker Mayfield.
6. Round 6 - Matt Lee, C, Miami
The Bucs stay with the interior offensive line on this pick and take Matt Lee, a consensus All-ACC performer from the University of Miami. Lee is plug and play at the center position and is also versatile enough to play left guard in the event that the Bucs pass on Zinter in the fourth round.
7. Round 7 - Joe Milton III, QB, Tennessee
Milton will replace Kyle Trask as the backup quarterback of the Bucs. He is the best available player on the board at pick number 246 and Milton impressed coaches with a terrific combine. Milton can throw the ball a country mile and he will have the receivers in Tampa to make him look even better than he already is.