Obviously it is foolish to judge a draft immediately afterwards because nobody knows how the players are going to turn out at the NFL level. With that being the case Pewter Report looks back at the 2008 NFL Draft and how the Tampa Bay Buccaneers faired. Check back as Pewter Report will review other previous drafts for Tampa Bay.  

Tampa Bay was coming off winning the NFC South in 2007 and had the 20th overall pick in the first round. It was the final draft for general manager Bruce Allen and head coach Jon Gruden while director of college scouting Dennis Hickey has remained in his role under general manager Mark Dominik.

First Round
Bucs pick: cornerback Aqib Talib 20th overall

Top Players the Bucs Passed On
Tennessee Titans RB Chris Johnson- 24th overall
Kansas City CB Brandon Flowers- 35th overall
Dallas CB Mike Jenkins- 25th overall
Philadelphia WR DeSean Jackson- 49th overall

Other Quality Options
San Diego CB Antoine Cason
Dallas RB Felix Jones
Green Bay RB Jordy Nelson
Atlanta RB Curtis Lofton
Chicago RB Matt Forte

Analysis: The Bucs could have gotten a better player than Talib in Johnson. Flowers is comparable to Talib on the field, and a massive upgrade off the field. While Talib is a better player than Jenkins, the USF product could be labeled a better pick due to his ability to stay on the field compared to Talib’s propensity to get in fights and consistent trouble off the field. If Talib could have stayed out of trouble and focused on football he could arguably be one of the best players in this group. Considering Talib could be facing a lengthy suspension with his future in the NFL in jeopardy, you could easily argue that the Bucs should have gone in a different direction, especially when it was clear that Talib was a character risk entering the draft.

Second Round
Bucs pick: wide receiver Dexter Jackson 58th overall

Top Players the Bucs Passed On
Baltimore RB Ray Rice- 55th overall
Kansas City RB Jamaal Charles- 73rd overall

Other Quality Options
Dallas TE Martellus Bennett- 61st overall
Carolina S Charles Godgrey- 67th overall
Chicago WR Earl Bennett- 70th overall

Analysis: The Bucs traded down from pick 52 to select Jackson. Drafting a bag of footballs would have been a better pick. Charles and Rice are two of the best backs in the AFC and are Pro Bowlers. Jackson was a bust of massive proportions so just about any player in the late second or third round before the Bucs selected again would be a better pick than Jackson.

Third Round
Bucs pick: guard Jeremy Zuttah 83rd overall

Top Players the Bucs Passed On
Detroit DE Cliff Avril- 92nd overall
Green Bay TE Jermichael Finley- 91st overall
New York Giants WR Mario Manningham- 95th overall

Other Quality Options
Cincinnati WR Andre Caldwell- 97th overall
New York Jets CB Dwight Lowery- 113th overall

Analysis: Zuttah is a quality depth player that may have the ability to be a starting center in the NFL. He flopped as the starting left guard in 2009, and showed improvement in 2010 while filling in at guard and center due to injuries. While Zuttah isn’t a complete bust, passing on Avril hurts. He had 8.5 sacks last year and a total of 19 sacks in three seasons for Detroit. The 25 year old looks like a long-term starter and a good player for the Lions. Finley and Manningham are also definitely better than Zuttah.

Fourth Round
Bucs pick: defensive tackle Dre Moore 115th overall

Top Players the Bucs Passed On
Indianapolis TE Jacob Tamme- 127th overall
Kansas City CB Brandon Carr- 140th overall
Arizona RB Tim Hightower- 149th overall

Other Quality Options
Denver RB Ryan Torain- 139th overall
Falcons DE Kroy Biermann- 154th overall
Dallas RB Tashard Choice- 122nd overall

Analysis: Moore spent time on the Bucs practice squad in 2008 and 2009 before being cut for good at the end of training camp in 2010. All of those players would have been better picks than Moore. Carr especially could be valuable right now given Talib’s uncertain status heading into the 2011 season.

Fifth Round
Bucs pick: quarterback Josh Johnson 160th overall

Top Players the Bucs Passed On
New Orleans G Carl Nicks- 164th overall
Kansas City G Barry Richardson- 170th overall

Other Quality Options
None

Analysis: The Bucs did well to land a quality backup quarterback at this point of the draft. Nicks and Richardson are both starters. Nicks has been dominant at times for the Saints. He fell in the draft because of character concerns. Long-term, Richardson or Nicks could yield more because Johnson will likely leave in free agency, but at the time of drafting Johnson the Bucs didn’t know they would land a franchise quarterback a year later.

Sixth Round
Bucs pick: linebacker Geno Hayes 175th overall

Top Players the Bucs Passed On
Buffalo WR Steve Johnson- 224th overall
Cleveland RB Peyton Hillis 227th overall
Indianapolis WR Pierre Garcon- 205th overall

Other Quality Options
Green Bay QB Matt Flynn- 209th overall

Analysis: Considering where they got him, Hayes is the best pick in the draft for Tampa Bay. He was a quality special teamer as a rookie, had a good debut as a starter in 2009, but regressed as a starter in 2010. Still, drafting Flynn would be on a par with drafting Johnson in that the team would have a quality backup for a few years. Flynn probably has greater trade value than Johnson. Garcon has been a solid player for the Colts when healthy. Johnson and Hillis had breakout years in 2010 and could be excellent pros. They are the only players that the Bucs passed on that you could say are a better pick than Hayes.

Seventh Round
Bucs pick: running back Cory Boyd 238th overall

Top Players the Bucs Passed On
Washington S Chris Horton

Other Quality Options
None

Analysis: Horton ended up becoming a starter for the Redskins as a rookie. He hasn’t held onto the job and is a backup. Boyd never made it onto the Bucs roster and his claim to fame is taking a punch from Talib at the NFL’s Rookie Symposium.

Final Results: When you add this draft to 2007’s first three picks of defensive end Gaines Adams, guard Arron Sears, and safety Sabby Piscitelli and one can see why 3-13 happened in 2009 and why Gruden and Allen were let go. Talib would be a dynamite player if he could stay out of legal trouble and work on getting better on the field. Johnson and Hayes were good picks where they were selected, but overall the Buccaneers could have had a much better draft.