"I'll stick with offensive tackle here, as it is the best way to help Tom Brady and a Bucs team that is trying to win now," wrote Kiper. "Thomas started the past two seasons at left tackle for the Bulldogs, but he was their starting right tackle as a freshman, so he has some experience there. This is too high for a running back, but Tampa Bay could address that position in Round 2."
Kiper then went on to address another need for the Bucs, which is that of a pass-catching running back, in the second round of his Mock Draft 4.0.
"How about this help for Tom Brady?" said Kiper. "Ronald Jones II was in and out of Bruce Arians' doghouse last season, so it wouldn't be surprising for the Bucs to target a running back on Day 2. [Jonathan] Taylor rushed for 6,174 yards in his career, but he also lost 15 fumbles, and that's how you catch Arians' ire. Taylor's 4.39 40-yard dash at the combine was an eye-opener, though, and there's a chance he's the top back off the board."
Though Arians has voiced the need for a pass-catching back to complement the current stable of running backs, Kiper's thinking here is likely that Taylor is too good to pass up. The former Wisconsin Badger posted back-to-back 2,000 yard seasons his last two years in Madison and like Kiper said, reinforced his tape with a stellar Combine performance. He'd join running back Dare Ogunbowale as former Badgers in the Bucs' running back room.
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