I get it. Nobody wants to think about the worst case scenario in Round 1, but it needs to be done. We’ve barely mentioned USC’s Austin Jackson as a potential Bucs’ selection at No. 14, but with the real possibility existing that the top four tackles in the draft could be off the board by the time Tampa Bay is on the clock, it’s an option we need to examine.

Don’t worry, it’s not all bad! I think you’ll like the options I’ve profiled as potential second- and third-round picks, too. Remember, Bucs Briefing isn’t meant to be read as a mock draft, rather a separate evaluation of three different prospects Tampa Bay could consider in Round 1, 2 and 3.

Round 1, Pick 14

Austin Jackson, OT, USC

Height: 6-5

Weight: 322

Class: Junior

D.O.B.: 5/17/99

Statistical Profile: Jackson has appeared in every game (39) since arriving at USC, including 15 starts over the past two seasons, all at left tackle. His play was stellar enough to earn him an All-Pac-12 first team award

Scouting Jackson: The best measure for evaluating any college player to the NFL is to watch them against top competition. By that standard, Austin Jackson simply isn’t worthy of the hype he’s getting as a potential top 15-20 pick.

Jackson was absolutely gouged by Iowa’s A.J. Epenesa and Utah’s Bradlee Anae, two athletically limited edge rushers whose ceilings at the position pale in comparison to the vast majority of NFL pass rushers Jackson will face. Even Notre Dame’s Julian Okwara, who was manhandled by Michigan and Georgia for the most part, was able to get the better of Jackson repeatedly toward the end of their match-up.

Now the good news is that Jackson is one of the youngest players in the class, and he has the ideal frame and enough athleticism to become a better player in time. I also was not aware until recently that Jackson was a bone marrow donor this past summer for his younger sister, who suffers from Diamond-Blackfan anemia. It’s possible that this noble sacrifice interfered with his ability to adequately prepare for the 2019 season.

What I do like about Jackson is that he shows some savvy in his pass protection, able to win even when his technique is poor at times. A lot of pass rushers worked through his punch easier than you would have liked, but he did a nice job in recovery of riding them up the arc. Also, Jackson doesn’t hesitate to go to a snatch-and-trap technique when he feels a power rush taking him somewhere he doesn’t want to go.

Jackson’s pass sets are all over the place in terms of reaching proper landmarks against rushers, but he does have quick feet and ideal length to handle speed. Some of his initial movements are smooth in pass protection, but he struggles to consistently establish half-man and maintain that relationship against any semblance of a sophisticated pass rush move.

One of my biggest concerns with Jackson is that he just doesn’t play with any level of physical dominance. In the run game he constantly falls off blocks, struggles to control and move opponents against their will and whiffs too often on second level targets. In pass protection his punch lands softly and rarely does Jackson end fights early.

The NFL is above all else a physical league, especially in the trenches, and to fall short in that area isn’t promising for future success. I won’t argue with anyone who says Jackson has excellent tools to work with, but it’s going to be a long, uphill climb for him to succeed at the next level. A strong position coach is crucial.

Bucs Fit: It sure seems like the Bucs are looking for culture-changers and physical presences up front, which makes me think Jackson won’t be high on their list of first-round targets. All of his starts have also come at left tackle, and given the fact that he still has plenty of improvements to make there, switching him to the right side early in his career would be a questionable move.

I’m going to be lower on Jackson than perhaps any other draft analyst, so obviously I would view this pick as a disaster for Tampa Bay. But even putting my feelings aside, I’m not sure he fits what the Bucs are trying to build up front. It would have to be a pretty desperate situation for Jason Licht to select Jackson at No. 14. I’ll only get nervous if the Bucs decide to trade back and see what happens before they select.