2019 NFL Draft: Fixing one pick for each NFC South team
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2019 NFL Draft Picks:
Round 1 (5): Devin White, LB, LSU
Round 2 (39): Sean Bunting, CB, Central Michigan
Round 3 (94): Jamel Dean, CB, Auburn
Round 3 (99): Mike Edwards, S, Kentucky
Round 4 (107): Anthony Nelson, DE, Iowa
Round 5 (145): Matt Gay, K, Utah
Round 6 (208): Scott Miller, WR, Bowling Green
Round 7 (215): Terry Beckner Jr., DT, Missouri
Buccaneers select D’Andre Walker, EDGE, Georgia instead of Matt Gay
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers did not necessarily find the greatest value throughout the 2019 NFL Draft, but they did fill obvious needs on their roster. They desperately needed an off-ball linebacker and took the best one in the draft class. The secondary is an obvious issue on this team and they took three defensive backs on Day 2.
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I would not say that the Bucs’ 2019 NFL draft class was one that I particularly loved, but it was solid. In particular, the selections of Devin White in the first, Mike Edwards in the third and Anthony Nelson in the fourth stood out as strong picks.
The Buccaneers’ selection of kicker Matt Gay in the fifth round is the one that I take the most issue with. Gay is a good kicker, but drafting a specialist is never a good use of draft capital. If you want to take one in the seventh, fine, but I would never spend real draft capital on a specialist. Instead, Tampa Bay should have taken D’Andre Walker, an edge rusher out of Georgia.
Walker is a fast and athletic edge rusher who would be a perfect fit as a rush linebacker in the Bucs’ new 3-4 defense. He is a bit on the small side and will lose to power at times, but Walker has good upside as a speed rusher around the edge.
He shows an impressive initial burst, bends around the edge well and can close on the quarterback quickly. He is most successful using his speed around the edge, but does have an inside counter move that can create some havoc as well.
Next. Way-too-early 2020 NFL mock draft. dark
The Buccaneers need more edge rushers who attack the quarterback, making Walker a welcomed addition. Gay might turn out to be a solid pick, but predicting kickers is far too difficult. Personally, I would much rather take a shot on some pass rush upside.