Lets talk draft grade now that the draft has ended.
1st - Rueben Bain Jr. - EDGE - Miami: A+
Never in a million simulations could anyone have Bain going all the way down to 15. This was the premier pick of the draft for the Bucs and they filled not only a real position of need but also was able to grab BPA.
2nd - Josiah Trotter - LB - Missouri: F
This was a really poor pick and a colossal reach for Licht and company. Trotter by most accounts would have been available in the 3rd if he was their guy. By taking him, the Bucs passed on the following: Avieon Terrell, Jake Golday, Brandon Cisse, CJ Allen, Eli Stowers, Gabe Jacas, Anthony Hill Jr, and Jake Slaughter....all of which were rated head and shoulders higher than Trotter.
3rd - Ted Hurst - WR - Georgia State: B-
Hurst is a good pick and will be a vital part of the team in the future. The only bad thing about this pick is it is a trickle down effect from reaching on Trotter in the 2nd in my opinion. That domino kept the team from drafting guys like Daylen Everette, Emmanuel Pregnon, Eli Raridon, and Gennings Dunker.
4th - Keionte Scott - CB - Miami: B-
Scott gives them a good nickel CB and a guy that plays the run very well. He isn't going to lock many receivers down though and he is smaller in height than I personally like my corners and there were some beasts in this draft (over 6'0). I don't have much of a quarrel with this pick but they did leave some quality players on the board with Dani Dennis-Sutton, Mike Washington Jr, and Kaleb Elarms-Orr (again in my opinion).
5th - DeMonte Capehart - DT - Clemson: B
This pick is a deceiving one because of Capehart's role in Clemson's defense. He did only start 12 games at Clemson but his RAS score was second in the entire DT class and his ceiling is gigantic. This was a good pick to build off in the future.
5th - Billy Schrauth - OG - Notre Dame: C
Good enough pick to add O-Line depth. It isn't sexy but very few 5th rounders are plus its a solid pick. Schrauth is very heavy-footed in his play which is good when it comes to standing defenders up but its bad because he's a slow mover.
6th - Bauer Sharp - TE - LSU: F
No idea what Licht and company were thinking when they made this pick but it was almost as bad as reaching for Trotter. Trotter at least has some value in the run-stopping game. Sharp will be off the team or relegated to PS duties only. What makes this worse is the players left on the board when they traded up to get this guy. Still on the board: Kaytron Allen, Anez Cooper, Jack Kelly, Jam Miller, and Dallen Bentley.
OVERALL GRADE: C-
For the draft to start out the way it did, Licht and company found a way to colossally fuck it up. This should have been a slam dunk A- / B+ draft the way it was shaping up and they found a way to piss it into the gutter. Got a few good pieces that will be long term building blocks and a couple of wastes. Once Licht and Bowles are shown the door at the end of the season, it will be interesting to see what the new regime does with what remains of this draft class.
