What Should They Do? - Buccaneers

The Tampa Bay Bucs like many teams drafting this high have a lot of holes. The Bucs are no exception with glaring holes on the defensive line, wide receiver, and at the safety position. Prospects are available to fill all of these positions this high in the draft, but the team should look to the positions of scarcity. In this particular draft it is DE where only a few elite prospects exist. Gaines Adams of Clemson should be the Bucs selection. He will provide an immediate boost in the 3rd down pass rush opposite Simeon Rice and will probably be able to take over as the starter at the other DE by next season. Expect Adams to be around 10 sacks and in the top 3 for Defensive Rookie of the Year by the time the season is over.

In the 2nd round, the Bucs hold two picks, a high one and a low one acquired from Indianapolis in the Anthony McFarland trade. With the higher pick the team should look to fill the hole at DT left by McFarland and select Jonathan Harrell, DT, from Tennessee. Harrell has massive size and could play north of 325lbs. He also has remarkable toughness after playing an entire game with a torn biceps tendon. He could step in immediately and start opposite Chris Hovan. With the later pick, the team should address their need at S by selecting the versatile Eric Weddle from Utah. Weddle can play either safety spot and corner, has great speed and instincts, which are required of safeties in the Cover 2 scheme more than the corners. Weddle could start at SS right away or allow Will Allen to be moved there, while also providing an effective backup to Ronde Barber and Brian Kelly at the cornerback position.

With their 3rd round pick the Bucs should select Daymeion Hughes, CB, from California. Hughes is an elite talent that dropped due to him running in the 4.5s in individual workouts. Anyone watching him on film notices that he stands out more than any other player in the game, making tackles, intercepting balls, and shutting down wide receivers. His tackling abilities and coverage instincts make him an ideal fit in a Cover 2 scheme. He should be starting opposite Ronde Barber by next season.