NFL Draft: Would Buccaneers trade up for Bradley Chubb?
A lack of pass rushers in the 2018 NFL Draft could force Tampa Bay to move up
In a class filled with excellent linebackers, quarterbacks, and running backs the 2018 NFL Draft lacks quality defensive ends and pure pass rushers. This comes one year after Myles Garrett, Derek Barnett, Taco Charlton, Solomon Thomas, and Jordan Willis among others highlighted a quality rookie class.
This years class has maybe one or two players at last year’s level, and teams such as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are suffering because of it. Even the free agent class for pass rushers isn’t fantastic with Ziggy Ansah getting the franchise tag from Detroit, leaving Williams Hayes, Adrian Clayborne, and Julius Peppers as the best veteran options available.
Tampa Bay finished last season with the fewest number of sacks in the NFL at 22, approximately 1.375 per game. Owning the seventh overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft Tampa Bay is out of position to get the best pass rusher in an already weak class, Bradley Chubb.
Chubb totaled 25 sacks in his final three seasons with the Wolfpack, including double digit sacks in each of his final two seasons. The All-ACC Defensive Player of the Year projects to be a top-five pick with nearly every team in that range needing his talents.
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This creates the perfect scenario for the Buccaneers to jump from seven into the top five to get Chubb. Their ideal trade partner; the New York Giants.
New York will approach owning the second overall pick multiple ways: they can get their next franchsie quarterback, get a dominate weapon on offense with running back Saquon Barkley, or trade back and get Notre Dame guard Quenton Nelson along with additional draft picks.
Considering Eli Manning is expected to start next year and the Giants appear set on letting him be their guy under Pat Shurmur, that first scenario is likely off the table. Barkley would be the most likely option for the Giants considering their need at running back.
However, the Giants could look at the running back position and decide they can get a quality starter early in the second round. Derrius Guice, Sony Michel, and Ronald Jones are each logical coices if the Giants don’t subscribe to the theory of drafting a running back early.
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New York would be the perect team for Tampa Bay to trade up with considering the Colts are favorites to draft Chubb if he’s available with the third pick. Jumping Indianapolis to get the best pass rusher in a weak class only makes sense for the team with the fewest number of sacks in the league.
This scenario also puts the Giants in position to draft Nelson seventh overall, which would come off much better than taking him with a top-three pick considering his position. New York needs to protect Manning and create running lanes for whoever they draft in the second round, making Nelson the perfect pick at number seven.
It’s ultimately a win-win for both Tampa Bay and New York; the Buccaneers get their franchise pass rusher and the Giants take a player likely rated towards the top of their board alonig with a draft pick or two from the Bucs.