Each season, this time of year, I have all these names and prospects committed to memory and each season we end up taking one or two of those guys. Who predicted Kwon Alexander or Kevin Pamphile or Charles Sims?? So that said, my aim was to come up with a draft day haul that looks like an actual Jason Licht/Buccaneers draftee list. I'll admit, while I like SO many players in this draft, I actually have really started to LOVE the idea of this draft haul. IMO it is VERY realistic as far as trades/players being available where I mocked them.1a- CB Vernon Hargreaves III * It is always wiser to take the BPA, especially when it fits a real need, than reach for a guy because he fills a 'bigger' need. Case in point.. Hargreaves > Spence, Lawson, Dodd, Floyd.. Hargreaves is every bit the ballhawking, instinctive, A list CB he's hyped up to be. This time three months ago it was a long shot for him to make it out of the top 5. Size is a joke. How much did that hold back Ronde? Grimes will be the IDEAL mentor for VH3 this year and next. Hargreaves will give us certainty at a position that lacks such a thing. Banks is a questionable man coverage corner with speed deficiencies who happens to be a free agent next year and Vernor has underachieved since day one. Grimes is a bridge player and that leaves us with a bare cupboard in the secondary. Though, that is no shocker considering the slate of QBs who have carved us up in recent years. Austin Davis, Case Keenum, and Derek Anderson come to mind. Much has been made about our lack of a pass rush and rightfully so, but it's hard to hit the QB when the ball leaves his hands in two seconds or less. VH3 is the no brainer pick here and for Pewter Report, front office, or anyone else in the Bucs community to say otherwise is a perfect example of smokescreening to get your guy.1b- S Karl Joseph * I believe Karl Joseph goes to Carolina at pick 30. Not on Licht's watch.. He makes use of his Arizona connections by moving up a dozen picks at the cost of QB Mike Glennon and a conditional mid to late rounder in 2017. Glennon serves as right hand man to Palmer before taking the reigns in 2018 with the franchise that had every intention of drafting him in the third in 2013, according to several sources. Joseph pairs with Hargreaves to form a great young nucleus of a playmaking, ballhawking, tenacious, aggressive secondary. Joseph is second best to only Ramsey and is sure to carve out a niche for himself early on in his career as our starting FS. 3- DT Sheldon Day * Scott Reynolds has mocked Sheldon Rankins to the Bucs for months now. It's understandable, but rather than take Rankins at 9, VH3 made more sense as the better overall prospect. Still, after solidifying the secondary, we MUST address the DL and validate our signing of DL coach Jay Hayes. Day is actually a lot like Rankins. Cut from the cloth of Geno Atkins, Aaron Donald and the great Warren Sapp. He's an undersized pass rushing DT. One inch and a few pounds smaller than Rankins. His production is even similar. In 2015 he recorded 45 tackles, 15.5 for loss, 4 sacks, 4 passes batted and 2 forced fumbles. He makes much better sense in round 3 than Rankins in round one.4- DE Jihad Ward * Yes I waited until the fourth to mock a DE to the defense. No I haven't been hanging out with Jdouble or UFOjoe. My sanity is as in-tact as it ever was. Jihad Ward is a major sleeper on one condition. If you have Jay Hayes as DL coach.. Ward will give the Bucs the same value Kwon gave us in the fourth last year. Ward spent most of his college days at WR/S before finally catching on at DE. Massive sized, athletic DE reminds me a lot of Carlos Dunlap, a guy Hayes coached up to one of the better all around DEs in the league. Fits what Mike Smith believes in as well, draft DT high and get good, smart, athletic hard workers in the mid rounds to play DE.5- WR Kolby Listenbee * Listenbee reminds me of a slightly bigger and not quite as fast John Brown who, I believe, was also a 5th round selection. Currently, Kolby is talked about as a possible third round pick, but I believe his rawness and lack of route running abilities will knock him down to the fifth. May take some movement to move up a few spots to take him. Fits well as a speedy playmaker between Evans and Jackson. Good competition for Kenny Bell.6- FB Dan Vitale * It's not as flashy as a Watt or Gronkowski but those guys who likely will be taken in the fifth are not available here. Luckily, Dan Vitals is a stud blocker with some overall athleticism to run or catch passes. Great fit with his tenacity and instincts for finding the hot LB on running plays6- C Isaac Suemalo* Oregon State's versatile lineman has a possible future at center if he can bulk up some. Has nastiness in his game. Like Marpet, he played OT in college but also some guard. Good project player to groom for a year while we get by with Joe Hawley for the short term.
