The way this draft is shaping up, one or more of the top 3 guys on the OL, Robinson, Mathews and Lewan, are going to be there with the 7th pick. Personally I'd be happy with either of the 3 but my favorite is Taylor Lewan. That's hard for me to admit being a Buckeye. Fact is Michigan has a history of producing quality OL in the NFL. Now OL isn't going to be a sexy pick and a lot of fans will groan. You must build a wall in front of your QB. Donald Penn's play has dropped off the past couple of years and don't insult me to say that Dotson can replace Penn on the left side. Dotson is a solid RT. Don't mess with what works. The next few weeks leading up to Free Agency will tell fans which direction the Bucs are going in. Decisions will be made on the OL with Penn, Nicks and Joseph. There are 4 or 5 intriguing prospects in Free Agency at the tackle position. OT1. Eugene Monroe2. Jared Veldheer3. Branden Albert4. Jordan Gross5. Anthony Collins6. Rodger Saffold7. Michael OherI expect Oakland to make a strong push to sign Valdheer before FA starts. The Ravens are going to either sign or Tag Monroe so Oher walks. Of this group I'd expect the Bucs to sign either Valdheer(if Oakland lets him test the market), Albert, Safford or Oher. If the Bucs do indeed sign Valdheer or Albert then drafting a OT with the 7th pick is highly unlikely. C1. Alex Mack2. Brian De La Puente3. Evan Dietrich-Smith4. Dominic Raiola (Re-signed one-year deal with DET)5. Ryan Wendell6. Jonathan GoodwinMack is the cream of the crop here. Does Cleveland Tag him? I don't see the Browns letting him walk. IMO, Jeremy Zuttah is better suited as a G and a upgrade could be needed at Center. Bucs will either splash with Brian De La Puente or go with a quality and affordable C in Jonathan Goodwin. Houston- is the wildcard and will set the draft. Do they go Clowney or a QB. I'm guessing it will be a QB.St. Louis- I fully expect a trade here. Someone is going to want Clowney if Houston doesn't take him or Cleveland will trade up to get the QB they covet. If the Rams stay at #2 then the December injury to Jake Long and the pending FA of Rodger Safford muddles this picture a bit. Do the Rams draft insurance at the OT position or take Clowney to pair with Quinn? With Chris Long on the roster, I think the Rams take their top rated OT. Jacksonville- Big quandary for the Jags. Clowney or a QB. All the prognosticators are saying QB. Cleveland- Questions here is which QB will it be. Do they trade up? Stand pat? Oakland- With 3 QB's already off the board and Clowney still sitting there this is a no brainer pick. Atlanta- Falcons are pissed that Clowney doesn't fall to them but take a nice consolation prize, TE Eric Ebron. Tampa Bay- Assuming Robinson is the top OT taken by the Rams, Tampa is left with the choice of WR Sammy Watkins, either OT Matthews or Lewan or a Defensive End prospect in Anthony Barr, CJ Mosley or Khail Mack. I'd love the Bucs to take a OT here and I'd take Lewan, but I feel they will address that need via Free Agency. Best guess here is the Bucs go playmaker in Sammy Watkins or trade back to recoup the 3rd round pick they lost to the Jets in the Revis trade.
Trade Penn, Cut Joseph, Restructure Nicks and Move Zuttah to Guard. Sign Veldheer and Mack. I will be the happiest person alive.
Trade Penn, Cut Joseph, Restructure Nicks and Move Zuttah to Guard.
This.Although, I'd rather they find a qb with a quicker release, a system that doesn't leave wr's out to dry, and scout some lower round talent.Idk if spending money on those positions is a good thing. We did that already, and it turned into an allstar lineup of crap. I refuse to believe any of the guys on this current line are hungry, besides for food.
Trade Penn, Cut Joseph, Restructure Nicks and Move Zuttah to Guard. Sign Veldheer and Mack. I will be the happiest person alive.
Not who would want to absorb Penn's contract though. What the Bucs do with Penn, Nicks and Joesph is going to determine how they proceed in Free Agency and the Draft. As much as I'd like it the Bucs aren't landing Veldheer and Mack. That would negate signing a Free Agent DE which is more important IMO. My Bucs OL would be (assuming that Nicks is done due to injury) RT DotsonRG JosephC De La PuenteLG ZuttahLT LewanSign Michael Oher as your swing Tackle and draft a Guard as a depth guy.
The Bucs FO will need to do something because the o-line is a hot mess.
Buc,Cleveland has I think 11 picks in this draft and I really expect them to trade with the Rams and draft Bortles. If that happens, and I think it's very likely, I think Jacksonville will take Clowney (Gus Brantley is their coach) and that will leave Manziel to Oakland. I also don't see Altanta taking a TE since they drafted Toilolo last year, so my guess is that they draft Robinson to protect Ryan.However, I too like Lewan and could see the Bucs taking him at #7, but they should have a lot of options available and much will be decided on how free agency shakes out.
Draft Matthews, give Penn and Joseph guaranteed money to chop their numbers down. OT- Matthews, DotsonOG- Penn, JosephC- Zuttah
Not sure why so many people think Penn kicking inside will work. Also, any lineup with Joseph still starting is a non-starter for me.
Penn at oG?Hahahahaha hahahaha!!!
Not sure why so many people think Penn kicking inside will work.
Because he's a fat run blocker. It's not rocket science.
Also, any lineup with Joseph still starting is a non-starter for me.
There's an unrealistic expectation going around of acquiring all these new linemen.Even in this thread someone mentioned signing Michael Oher as a backup. He's going to get a $30M contract.
A run blocker?I never viewed him as such. Fat? Yes. Pass blocker? Above average. Run blocker? Spare me.
Penn may be replaced if the Bucs can sign a LT for a cheaper cap cost.Nicks probably is given a pass for now but when June rolls around we will know for sure if he sticks or they cut him looseZuttah is going to be given a clean slate and a fresh start.Joseph is done and probably the first to go IMO.Dotson is obviously an entrenched starter at RT. Based on what I am reading it looks like the Bucs will be targeting a LT upgrade and an upgrade at RG.New FA LTNicksZuttahNew FA RGDotsonReserves will be picked up from the draft most likely.
Not sure why so many people think Penn kicking inside will work.
Because he's a fat run blocker. It's not rocket science.
Also, any lineup with Joseph still starting is a non-starter for me.
There's an unrealistic expectation going around of acquiring all these new linemen.Even in this thread someone mentioned signing Michael Oher as a backup. He's going to get a $30M contract.
I'm not the one doing all the acquiring. I'm perfectly content sticking with Dotson, Zuttah, and Penn in the short run and going with relatively low dollar stop gaps at G (middle draft or FA). I'd take a look at the tackles with the first rounder if that's the best guy at 7. Penn is heavy, but he's barely a run-blocker, and isn't a leverage player. He's a relatively nimble guy for a big man which makes him work as a pass-blocker on the outside though he's gotten worse with age. You can survive with him in the short-run.
Plus, makes no sense to move Penn to guard when you could cut him, save a ton of cap room, and use the money for a guy who has actually done it.
The Bucs are probably going to end up with a starting Tackle in the draft (or at least soon to be starting) , outside of Mack somehow getting to Free Agency I don't think they are going to be looking to sign anyone.
