Took a quick look at WalterFootball.com this evening and this is the list of rumors associated with the Bucs prior to their pick last year. Extra points to anyone correctly mentioning the big name missing from this list. http://walterfootball.com/draft2014rumorsteams.php
5/8: Jay Glazer says that the Buccaneers won't use the No. 7 pick on Johnny Manziel. 5/8: The Buccaneers could target Derek Carr if they trade down, according to Pat Yasinskas, ESPN. 5/8: "Johnny Manziel is not expected to be on the board past the No. 7 pick, which belongs to Tampa Bay." - Ed Werder 5/8: "Was told by a trusted source within the Bucs organization that Aaron Donald wasn't in play at No. 7." - Jenna Laine, Bucs Insider 5/8: "Spent a lot of time on the Manziel shell game over the last couple months. I believe he'll be a Tampa Bay Buccaneer tomorrow." - Charles Robinson, Yahoo! 5/7: "Buccaneer owners are pushing for Manziel but wish of head coach Lovie Smith is defensive tackle Aaron Donald." - Tony Pauline 5/7: The Buccaneers are expected to target Johnny Manziel in a move up to No. 2, per league media sources. This is obviously just a guess, as Sammy Watkins could also be the target. Tampa would have to move ahead of Jacksonville to assure itself of Watkins. Unfortunately, it has just six picks, so it's more likely that this is all a smokescreen. 5/6: The Buccaneers are trying to trade up to No. 2, according to league media sources. They would target Sammy Watkins or Johnny Manziel. 5/1: "The Bucs' interest in Manziel is real." - Adam Caplan 4/30: On Johnny Manziel and the Buccaneers: "The interest there is very real." - Ian Rapoport 4/30: "I think there’s a split in Bucs. whether to take QB or position player. It’ll be interesting." - Gil Brandt, NFL.com 4/24: The Buccaneers "would strongly consider" drafting Johnny Manziel if available at No. 7, according to Ed Werder. 4/23: "Johnny Manziel is on the short list of players the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are considering with their first-round pick in next month's NFL draft." - Vaughn McClure, ESPN 4/23: The Panthers and Buccaneers are high on Joel Bitonio, according to Tony Pauline. Bitonio is slotted at No. 32 in my 2014 NFL Mock Draft. 4/21: The Buccaneers, Panthers and Broncos have met with Donte Moncrief twice thus far (private workout, pre-draft visit). Go here for the entire NFL Draft Prospect Meetings List.4/18: Johnny Manziel will "fall a little more than people think," according to former GM Mark Dominik, who now works for ESPN. Dominik still has contacts with the Buccaneers, so he may have learned that Tampa Bay doesn't like Manziel. The Buccaneers will draft Blake Bortles at No. 7 if he makes it that far, but perhaps they do not feel the same way about Johnny Manziel, as I currently have it in my 2014 NFL Mock Draft. For more, go to our NFL Draft Rumor Mill. 4/18: Echoing Charlie Campbell's report, Ian Rapoport said that the Buccaneers are "prepared to dial up a signal-caller" at No. 7 overall. 4/17: The Buccaneers will pick Blake Bortles at No. 7 if he's available, and they won't trade up, per Charlie Campbell. Go here for more in our NFL Draft Rumor Mill. 4/14: Lovie Smith's interest in Johnny Manziel appears "geniune," according to Rick Stroud, Tampa Bay Times. 4/11: "I'm told the Tampa Bay Buccaneers hope to come out of the draft with at least one offensive tackle and/or offensive guard with starting potential." - Tony Pauline, DraftInsider.net 4/10: The Buccaneers, Jaguars and Jets have met with Jimmy Garoppolo twice thus far (East-West Shrine/Combine, pre-draft visit). Go here for the entire NFL Draft Prospect Meetings List. 4/8: "Tampa seems very intent on drafting a QB. May not be Rd 1, though." - Pewter Report 3/17: "Bucs represented by offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford at Teddy Bridgewater's Pro Day. By most accounts, not a stellar workout." - Rick Stroud, Tampa Bay Times. 3/12: Lovie Smith said the signing of Josh McCown wouldn't preclude the Buccaneers from selecting a quarterback in the draft, even at No. 7 overall. 3/10: "Tampa Bay won't turn down Bridgewater if he falls to their pick. The Bucs' new regime isn't convinced that Mike Glennon is the answer." - Charlie Campbell 2/20: "Bucs coach Lovie Smith says he believes a 'franchise quarterback,' worthy of the seventh overall pick will be available when the Bucs make their first-round selection in the NFL draft. If so, Smith says, don't be surprised if they take him." - Rick Stroud, TampaBay.com 2/18: "If Khalil Mack is available, he or an offensive tackle should interest the Buccaneers at No. 7." - Mike Mayock 2/17: ESPN's Pat Yasinskas discusses why Sammy Watkins is a good fit for the Buccaneers. 2/6: "The Bucs have to upgrade this position to bring balance to their offense. Wright still has plenty of untapped upside, but the Bucs need to bring in an all-purpose tight end through the draft or free agency." - Pat Yasinskas, ESPN Buccaneers 1/24: PewterReport.com has Derek Carr slotted to the Buccaneers in their mock draft, citing the fact that offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford coached David Carr at Fresno State.
Don't think there are any takeaways from this as of now. And almost every bit of smoke at this point says Winston. But, if the Bucs don't go Winston this year then I think everyone who has Bucs sources should probably not listen to them come draft time. And neither should we lol
