Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2012 Offseason Needs
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers predictably regressed in 2011 after a great 2010 campaign, but I didn’t expect them to be nearly as bad as they were. I saw this team as an eight or nine win team, but they were among the worst in the NFL, and rightfully so.
The Bucs are picking fifth in the coming draft, and they need to continue to hit on their top picks. Here are some of their top needs:
1. Cornerback
The Bucs have to be one of the leading candidates to draft Morris Claiborne. They are also armed with a ton of cap space, so they could go after a guy like Brandon Carr in free agency and be a serious player for his services. This is an area the team really needs to address with Ronde Barber becoming a free agent and Aqib Talib facing potential jail time with a trial in March. This is a position that will have to be addressed ASAP.
2. Running Back
The Bucs have LeGarrette Blount, who is a pretty good player, but I think they need an upgrade at this position. The running game is going to have to be a huge part of their offense going forward, and that has to make Trent Richardson an enticing prospect at the top of the draft. Richardson is a game-changer and potentially the next elite back in the NFL, and would really significantly improve this roster. If the Bucs opt to wait, they could get a guy like Doug Martin, Chris Polk, LaMichael James, or Isaiah Pead in the draft to give them an added dimension in the run game.
3. Linebacker
Mason Foster looks like he might have been a pretty good pick, but the rest of the Bucs’ linebacker group needs work. This is a defense that is usually predicated on speed, so maybe a guy like Zach Brown could be a nice fit should be fall to the second round. Geno Hayes and Quincy Black really struggled last season, so this is an area I could see the Bucs upgrading in free agency as well.
4. Right Tackle
You have to wonder if Jeremy Trueblood is the future for the Bucs at right tackle after re-signing for just two years. This is a team that could opt to actually take a right tackle somewhere between the 3rd and 5th round and try to groom him into a starter.
5. Wide Receiver
The Bucs have their share of playmakers, as well as a load of potential with guys like Mike Williams, Arrelious Benn, and Preston Parker, but why did those guys not emerge for Josh Freeman this past year? Obviously, he has to be able to get them the ball, but they should be far more productive than they were. Adding a veteran could be a nice option for this team in free agency, and maybe looking for another gem in the draft like Mike Williams was in 2010.