Tampa Bay Buccaneers

  • Conference: NFC
  • Division: South
  • Defense: 4-3

Team Needs

Team Needs:   WR   OT   DE   OLB   DT   SS   CB  
The Skinny: The Bucs need help everywhere. This is one of the most talent-barren rosters in the league. Luckily for GM Mark Dominik he appears to have at least a few pieces to build around. Josh Freeman looks like a keeper, but the Bucs need to find him a talented wideout who can make plays. Antonio Bryant will not be back with the team in 2010, and I don't think Sammie Stroughter is that piece, despite showing some flashes for a 7th round pick in '09. Tampa Bay could also use a franchise-type LT if one is available. On defense, they're pretty thin around DT Chris Hovan, MLB Barrett Ruud, and CBs Aqib Talib and Ronde Barber. Barber isn't getting any younger, and his eventual replacement does not appear to be on the roster at present time.
4/15 Update: WR Antonio Bryant, OLB Matt McCoy, and S Will Allen are gone. WR Reggie Brown was acquired from the Eagles for a late round draft choice and S Sean Jones was signed as a FA.

Mock Draft

1 -3. DT Gerald McCoy, Oklahoma
The Skinny: We are not completely sold they will go McCoy here, but it seems to be the prevailing theme. Don't be surprised if they grab one of the top offensive tackles instead.

2 -3. WR Golden Tate, Notre Dame
The Skinny: With Notre Dame wide out Michael Floyd going down twice with injury the past two seasons, all teams had to do was stop Golden Tate. But they couldn't do it. At 5-foot-11, Tate might lack ideal size, but he is a playmaker and a player that repeatedly stepped up in big games.

2 -10. CB Patrick Robinson, Florida St.
The Skinny: Lots of needs still be filled and corner is one of them. The Bucs should have their pick of a number of good ones this early in the second round.