Tampa Bay Buccaneers 7-Round Mock Draft: More Pieces On Defense
![2022 NFL Mock Draft, Kaiir Elam. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) 2022 NFL Mock Draft, Kaiir Elam. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/b45ce52de7b3a4b54161d5f8a3c6157a9ae4ded5c9d1c06572d5cb77226c19c2.jpg)
Round 4, 133rd Overall: Lecitus Smith, OL, Virginia Tech
Adding Shaq Mason was huge for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to feel comfortable with their offensive line heading into the 2022 NFL Draft, but that doesn’t mean they should pack it in up front. Robert Hainsey is an intriguing, versatile option, but keeping him as the sixth man is a smart call.
Lecitus Smith got some fall hype with his powerful, physical play in a phone booth at guard. He’d be great to handle interior rushers and does good work linearly in the run game as well.
Round 7, 248th Overall: Keontay Ingram, RB, USC
Leonard Fournette is back on a three-year deal for the Buccaneers, which is important. It lessens the need to take a running back early, and in this Buccaneers mock draft, we wait until the seventh round. Keontay Ingram brings a good running style for the position, with good processing skills and the twitch/lateral toolbox to quickly switch gaps or make defenders miss in space. He also brings upside as a pass-catcher as well.
Round 7, 261st Overall: Austin Allen, TE, Nebraska
As stated earlier, Gronkowski’s return isn’t a guarantee, so getting another tight end in the room would be smart for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Austin Allen brings a multi-faceted skill set. He can hang as an inline guy at the point of attack, and has sufficient straight line, functional athleticism, and catch point skills to win as a receiver.