2019 NFL Draft: Grades, recaps, and analysis for all 32 teams
. team. 48. . . . Tampa Bay Buccaneers
1 (5): Devin White, LB, LSU
2 (39): Sean Bunting, CB, Central Michigan
3 (94): Jamel Dean, CB, Auburn
4 (99): Mike Edwards, S, Kentucky
5 (107): Anthony Nelson, EDGE, Iowa
6 (145): Matt Gay, K, Utah
7 (208): Scott Miller, WR, Bowling Green
8 (215): Terry Beckner Jr., DT, Missouri
The Buccaneers were locked and loaded, ready to fire the pick card with Devin White’s name on it out of the canon for about a month now.
They got their guy with the 5th overall pick, and have a speedy, athletic, hard-working leader for the middle of their defense.
White should turn out to be a very good selection, but how about the rest of this class?
I thought Sean Bunting was a huge reach at 39 overall, but he’s an athletic corner with 4.4 speed, a 41.5-inch vertical jump, and long limbs to make life difficult for receivers. One of these top 100 defensive backs has to stick for the Bucs at some point, right?
The Bucs followed up the Bunting pick by taking Jamel Dean out of Auburn, an extremely well-built player with 4.3 speed and a safety’s frame.
Both Bunting and Dean allowed fewer than 40 percent of passes completed into their coverage last year.
I like the weapon they got in Mike Edwards, who can play safety, nickel, blitz, and generally make plays out of the defensive backfield.
Anthony Nelson was one of my top picks of day three. He’s an edge setter and a better pass rusher and athlete than he’s given credit for.
The Bucs are swinging for another kicker with Matt Gay out of Utah. Hopefully this one works out and thankfully he was not a second-round pick.
I really like the pick of Terry Beckner late. He can develop into a spot starter or at worst a rotational player on their defensive line.
Grade: B