Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2012 NFL Draft Preview
By Zac Snyder
Preview provided by Patrik Nohe. Head to The Pewter Plank for more on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
What are the team needs for the Buccaneers heading into the draft?
The Bucs have no shortage of needs, but the recent acquisitions of Vincent Jackson and Carl Nicks through free agency have helped to consolidate most of those needs on one side of the ball. Last season the Buccaneers were one of the worst defenses in football, lacking discipline and playmakers at seemingly every level. The last two drafts have featured four picks in the first two rounds on defensive linemen so I doubt they look for a prospect to play in the trenches early, but they could be looking to add a linebacker and they most certainly need help at corner and safety. Secondary is probably the most pressing issue.
Who are some prospects you’d like to see end up with the Bucs?
I’d love to see Mo Claiborne there at five, he’s the guy fans have wanted all along and he’ll be a very good building block in the secondary. Day two is where I think the Bucs will need to be the savviest. I’d love to see Harrison Smith or Whitney Mercilus fall to Tampa in the second. Lamar Miller could also be an option with that pick as well. In the third an outside linebacker like Nigel Bradham or Bruce Irvin would be good value or maybe grabbing another corner, someone like Chase Minnifield. Ideally the Bucs leave the first three rounds of the draft with a corner, a safety and either linebacker or a tailback.
What would represent a successful draft in your opinion?
To get the corner you’re targeting in Mo Claiborne at five, and then to target the best available safety or linebacker in rounds two and three.
Give us a bold prediction for your team.
If the Browns don’t grab Trent Richardson at four I think there’s a very good chance the Bucs take him instead of Claiborne. It all depends on Greg Schiano’s opinion of LeGarrette Blount as a feature back. If he thinks Blount is the guy the team goes corner at five, but if you read between the lines with some of Schiano’s recent statements, it’s looking more and more like Blount’s fumbling has Schiano unsure. Hence, if Richardson is there I think it’s a tough call.