Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Round 1 – Pick 3: Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma -
While the Tampa Bay Buccaneers missed out on Ndamukong Suh, it is not such a bad thing having to settle for Oklahoma defensive tackle Gerald McCoy. In almost any draft class, Gerald McCoy would be the star defensive tackle of the class, but Suh was that for this year.
However, McCoy is not only the second best defensive tackle in the class, he is the second-best prospect of any position in the 2010 NFL Draft, and like Suh, he should develop into one of the best defensive players in the National Football League. McCoy is not quite the star stopper that Suh is, but he may be as good as anyone already in the NFL at penetrating the gap, and certainly has the all-around game to be one of the top defensive tackles in the NFL.
The Buccaneers may very well have found the next Warren Sapp in Gerald McCoy, and although he has been overshadowed by Suh, I expect that he will quickly emerge from that shadow and prove to everyone that he can be an elite defensive lineman in the National Football League. The Buccaneers have had a dismal defensive line since the departure of Sapp, but this pick should go a very long way in turning that all around.
Round 2 – Pick 35: Brian Price, DT, UCLA -
Normally, I would consider it to be overkill for a team to use their first two selections on players that play the same position, but not in this case. First of all, the Buccaneers were so desperate for help at defensive tackle that they actually needed to draft two of them. Secondly, Brian Price has the skill set to be an elite defensive tackle himself, and was an absolute steal in the second round.
Price fell out of the first round due to questions about his maturity and weight, but while these may be legitimate concerns, Price is still much too good of a prospect to have fallen out of the first round entirely. Price never got the attention he deserved leading up to the 2010 NFL Draft, as he was overshadowed by Suh and McCoy, but Price is a complete defensive tackle prospect whom has the ability to be a real impact player in the NFL.
Pairing Price with McCoy should give the Buccaneers the best young defensive tackle tandem in the National Football League, and bring the Tampa Bay defensive line back to being a force to be reckoned with, at least in the middle. Both Price and McCoy can bring heat in the middle, which should open up playmaking opportunities for the rest of the Bucs’ defensive players, and having the two of them in the middle is going to make it extremely difficult for opponents to establish a running game against them. Fantastic choice by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to complete an extremely talented young defensive tackle tandem to be the centerpiece of their defensive front.
Benn and Williams will hope young quarterback Josh Freeman progress.
Round 2 – Pick 39: Arrelious Benn, WR, Illinois –
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers originally acquired the 42nd overall selection from the Chicago Bears in October 2009 in exchange for the late Gaines Adams, then traded the 153rd overall selection to the Oakland Raiders to move up three spots and select Arrelious Benn.
The Buccaneers were very much in need of a player like Benn, whom is a tall, strong, and fast wide receiver whom can really become a major threat in the passing game for quarterback Josh Freeman. Benn was worth trading a few spots up for in the second round, and is a player whom should really bolster the explosiveness of their offense. Another great pick for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Round 3 – Pick 67: Myron Lewis, DB, Vanderbilt - The Buccaneers continued a run on cornerbacks to start the third round by selecting versatile defensive back Myron Lewis from Vanderbilt with the 67th overall selection.
Lewis is a tall cornerback whom may end up switching to the safety position, but has the ability to play any position in the secondary, and that versatility makes him a very valuable asset to pick up in the third round. After addressing the front of their defense with their first two picks, it made sense for the Buccaneers to bulk up in the defensive backfield, and made a smart choice in the versatile Myron Lewis.
Round 4 – Pick 101: Mike Williams, WR, Syracuse -
Mike Williams is a wide receiver with immense talent, yet it would not have been a surprise had he gone completely undrafted, due to very questionable character on his part. Williams had already had off-field troubles and academic difficulties, and then quit the Syracuse football team early in his senior season.
However, Williams may have been a first-round selection based on his talent if he had kept a clean sheet, so the Buccaneers decided to take a chance on him early in the fourth round. Certainly, Williams has some major red flags which could make him a complete bust, but he also has the potential to be a fantastic deep threat across from the already drafted Benn, making the potential reward worth the risk. If Williams pans out, he and Benn should be a fantastic starting receiver combination for Josh Freeman for many years to come, so this choice was one worth making.
The 134th overall selection was traded along with a second-round selection in 2009 to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for tight end Kellen Winslow. Kellen Winslow has already made his impact felt as the dynamic tight end of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, so this was not a bad trade that they made, and they should not have been regretting it on this Draft day.
Round 6 – Pick 172: Brent Bowden, P, Virginia Tech -
Between Dirk Johnson and Sam Paulescu, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers ranked 28th in punting average last season, so an upgrade was needed. Virginia Tech’s Brent Bowden is the best punter in the 2010 NFL Draft class, and should certainly be an upgrade over the aforementioned men. The Buccaneers had a need, and addressed it in the sixth round with the best prospect at that position, making this another great pick for the franchise in the 2010 NFL Draft.
Round 7 – Pick 210: Cody Grimm, S, Virginia Tech -
Cody Grimm embodies much of the same toughness, grit, and drive that made his father, Hall of Fame guard Russ Grimm, such a great. Unlike his father however, Grimm is a collegiate safety whom is very much a ‘tweener coming into the National Football League; Grimm lacks the athleticism to play the safety position, but is too small to play at linebacker.
This makes it tough to see how exactly Grimm will fit, but he is an easy player to love with his high motor and determination. Grimm has all the credentials to be a productive special teams player, and that should make him a player worth being selected in the seventh round. Another nice draft choice from Tampa Bay.
Round 7 – Pick 217: Dekoda Watson, OLB, Florida State -
With the selection acquired from the Jacksonville Jaguars in exchange for Luke McCown, the Buccaneers found one of the steals in the seventh round in Florida State linebacker Dekoda Watson. It is very difficult to comprehend why Watson fell so far in the Draft – Watson is tough, instinctive, and athletic, and was very productive for the Seminoles.
Watson would have been a very legitimate selection in the third round, so the Buccaneers may have really found a gem by getting him in the seventh round. At the very least, Watson should be a productive backup outside linebacker and special teams player, making him another fantastic choice by the Buccaneers in the 2010 NFL Draft.
Round 7 – Pick 253: Erik Lorig, DE, Stanford -
Erik Lorig was hardly productive at Stanford, and has no real impressive traits that lead to believe that he can make an impact as an NFL defensive end. Lorig was not a player worth being drafted, and certainly not over better defensive ends such as Rahim Alem and Will Tukuafu. However, given how good the Buccaneers drafted throughout the weekend, and that this was the third to last selection of the 2010 NFL Draft, the Bucs get a pass on this erroneous selection.
Overall Outlook: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers did an absolutely fantastic job of building up their team through the 2010 NFL Draft. First, the Buccaneers constructed a defensive tackle pairing that will be feared for many years to come throughout in the NFL, in Gerald McCoy and Brian Price.
Both McCoy and Price are elite talents, and have the potential to be among the NFL’s best defensive tackles. After that, the Buccaneers also found two dangerous deep threat wide receivers in Arrelious Benn and Mike Williams, drafted a much-needed punter in Brent Bowden, and found a few versatile defensive players in Myron Lewis, Cody Grimm, and Dekoda Watson. Add in that their fifth round pick was used last year to help them acquire Kellen Winslow, and the Buccaneers sure got a fantastic haul out of this Draft, which gets them a grade nothing short of an A+.
Round 1 – Pick 3: Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma -
While the Tampa Bay Buccaneers missed out on Ndamukong Suh, it is not such a bad thing having to settle for Oklahoma defensive tackle Gerald McCoy. In almost any draft class, Gerald McCoy would be the star defensive tackle of the class, but Suh was that for this year.
However, McCoy is not only the second best defensive tackle in the class, he is the second-best prospect of any position in the 2010 NFL Draft, and like Suh, he should develop into one of the best defensive players in the National Football League. McCoy is not quite the star stopper that Suh is, but he may be as good as anyone already in the NFL at penetrating the gap, and certainly has the all-around game to be one of the top defensive tackles in the NFL.
The Buccaneers may very well have found the next Warren Sapp in Gerald McCoy, and although he has been overshadowed by Suh, I expect that he will quickly emerge from that shadow and prove to everyone that he can be an elite defensive lineman in the National Football League. The Buccaneers have had a dismal defensive line since the departure of Sapp, but this pick should go a very long way in turning that all around.
Round 2 – Pick 35: Brian Price, DT, UCLA -
Normally, I would consider it to be overkill for a team to use their first two selections on players that play the same position, but not in this case. First of all, the Buccaneers were so desperate for help at defensive tackle that they actually needed to draft two of them. Secondly, Brian Price has the skill set to be an elite defensive tackle himself, and was an absolute steal in the second round.
Price fell out of the first round due to questions about his maturity and weight, but while these may be legitimate concerns, Price is still much too good of a prospect to have fallen out of the first round entirely. Price never got the attention he deserved leading up to the 2010 NFL Draft, as he was overshadowed by Suh and McCoy, but Price is a complete defensive tackle prospect whom has the ability to be a real impact player in the NFL.
Pairing Price with McCoy should give the Buccaneers the best young defensive tackle tandem in the National Football League, and bring the Tampa Bay defensive line back to being a force to be reckoned with, at least in the middle. Both Price and McCoy can bring heat in the middle, which should open up playmaking opportunities for the rest of the Bucs’ defensive players, and having the two of them in the middle is going to make it extremely difficult for opponents to establish a running game against them. Fantastic choice by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to complete an extremely talented young defensive tackle tandem to be the centerpiece of their defensive front.
Benn and Williams will hope young quarterback Josh Freeman progress.
Round 2 – Pick 39: Arrelious Benn, WR, Illinois –
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers originally acquired the 42nd overall selection from the Chicago Bears in October 2009 in exchange for the late Gaines Adams, then traded the 153rd overall selection to the Oakland Raiders to move up three spots and select Arrelious Benn.
The Buccaneers were very much in need of a player like Benn, whom is a tall, strong, and fast wide receiver whom can really become a major threat in the passing game for quarterback Josh Freeman. Benn was worth trading a few spots up for in the second round, and is a player whom should really bolster the explosiveness of their offense. Another great pick for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Round 3 – Pick 67: Myron Lewis, DB, Vanderbilt - The Buccaneers continued a run on cornerbacks to start the third round by selecting versatile defensive back Myron Lewis from Vanderbilt with the 67th overall selection.
Lewis is a tall cornerback whom may end up switching to the safety position, but has the ability to play any position in the secondary, and that versatility makes him a very valuable asset to pick up in the third round. After addressing the front of their defense with their first two picks, it made sense for the Buccaneers to bulk up in the defensive backfield, and made a smart choice in the versatile Myron Lewis.
Round 4 – Pick 101: Mike Williams, WR, Syracuse -
Mike Williams is a wide receiver with immense talent, yet it would not have been a surprise had he gone completely undrafted, due to very questionable character on his part. Williams had already had off-field troubles and academic difficulties, and then quit the Syracuse football team early in his senior season.
However, Williams may have been a first-round selection based on his talent if he had kept a clean sheet, so the Buccaneers decided to take a chance on him early in the fourth round. Certainly, Williams has some major red flags which could make him a complete bust, but he also has the potential to be a fantastic deep threat across from the already drafted Benn, making the potential reward worth the risk. If Williams pans out, he and Benn should be a fantastic starting receiver combination for Josh Freeman for many years to come, so this choice was one worth making.
The 134th overall selection was traded along with a second-round selection in 2009 to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for tight end Kellen Winslow. Kellen Winslow has already made his impact felt as the dynamic tight end of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, so this was not a bad trade that they made, and they should not have been regretting it on this Draft day.
Round 6 – Pick 172: Brent Bowden, P, Virginia Tech -
Between Dirk Johnson and Sam Paulescu, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers ranked 28th in punting average last season, so an upgrade was needed. Virginia Tech’s Brent Bowden is the best punter in the 2010 NFL Draft class, and should certainly be an upgrade over the aforementioned men. The Buccaneers had a need, and addressed it in the sixth round with the best prospect at that position, making this another great pick for the franchise in the 2010 NFL Draft.
Round 7 – Pick 210: Cody Grimm, S, Virginia Tech -
Cody Grimm embodies much of the same toughness, grit, and drive that made his father, Hall of Fame guard Russ Grimm, such a great. Unlike his father however, Grimm is a collegiate safety whom is very much a ‘tweener coming into the National Football League; Grimm lacks the athleticism to play the safety position, but is too small to play at linebacker.
This makes it tough to see how exactly Grimm will fit, but he is an easy player to love with his high motor and determination. Grimm has all the credentials to be a productive special teams player, and that should make him a player worth being selected in the seventh round. Another nice draft choice from Tampa Bay.
Round 7 – Pick 217: Dekoda Watson, OLB, Florida State -
With the selection acquired from the Jacksonville Jaguars in exchange for Luke McCown, the Buccaneers found one of the steals in the seventh round in Florida State linebacker Dekoda Watson. It is very difficult to comprehend why Watson fell so far in the Draft – Watson is tough, instinctive, and athletic, and was very productive for the Seminoles.
Watson would have been a very legitimate selection in the third round, so the Buccaneers may have really found a gem by getting him in the seventh round. At the very least, Watson should be a productive backup outside linebacker and special teams player, making him another fantastic choice by the Buccaneers in the 2010 NFL Draft.
Round 7 – Pick 253: Erik Lorig, DE, Stanford -
Erik Lorig was hardly productive at Stanford, and has no real impressive traits that lead to believe that he can make an impact as an NFL defensive end. Lorig was not a player worth being drafted, and certainly not over better defensive ends such as Rahim Alem and Will Tukuafu. However, given how good the Buccaneers drafted throughout the weekend, and that this was the third to last selection of the 2010 NFL Draft, the Bucs get a pass on this erroneous selection.
Overall Outlook: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers did an absolutely fantastic job of building up their team through the 2010 NFL Draft. First, the Buccaneers constructed a defensive tackle pairing that will be feared for many years to come throughout in the NFL, in Gerald McCoy and Brian Price.
Both McCoy and Price are elite talents, and have the potential to be among the NFL’s best defensive tackles. After that, the Buccaneers also found two dangerous deep threat wide receivers in Arrelious Benn and Mike Williams, drafted a much-needed punter in Brent Bowden, and found a few versatile defensive players in Myron Lewis, Cody Grimm, and Dekoda Watson. Add in that their fifth round pick was used last year to help them acquire Kellen Winslow, and the Buccaneers sure got a fantastic haul out of this Draft, which gets them a grade nothing short of an A+.
Posts
0 comments: (+add yours?)
Post a Comment