We'll probably go defense. The OPs just asking a hypothetical question. The main qualification for being a first round pick is that you have to have somewhere to fit in basically right away. That's why you have to use your imagination, which I tried to do. If you draft a TE, you would have to plan on using 2 TEs a lot more. Perhaps they would do that I don't know. But it makes no sense to bench Otton. I tried to use my imagination on why they'd draft an offensive lineman. It could be they want to have more of a rotation of guys so they can have more effectiveness in 4th quarters, the end of the season and the playoffs. A WR you really have to use your imagination because who are you going to bump to the bench? Evans, Godwin or McMillon? So just relax, we probably aren't going to draft offense...... but you never know!We have a noticeable talent gap on defense compared to offense. We can't afford to miss out on a standout edge pass rusher or cornerback.
We'll probably go defense. The OPs just asking a hypothetical question. The main qualification for being a first round pick is that you have to have somewhere to fit in basically right away. That's why you have to use your imagination, which I tried to do. If you draft a TE, you would have to plan on using 2 TEs a lot more. Perhaps they would do that I don't know. But it makes no sense to bench Otton. I tried to use my imagination on why they'd draft an offensive lineman. It could be they want to have more of a rotation of guys so they can have more effectiveness in 4th quarters, the end of the season and the playoffs. A WR you really have to use your imagination because who are you going to bump to the bench? Evans, Godwin or McMillon? So just relax, we probably aren't going to draft offense...... but you never know!We have a noticeable talent gap on defense compared to offense. We can't afford to miss out on a standout edge pass rusher or cornerback.
2022 season was wrecked by injuries to the offensive line. Bredeson is a JAG. This offensive line class is fairly strong.
As for WR, don't look at the draft through just a 2025 lense. In 2017 we drafted Godwin and he was the 4th WR. 8 years later he's a main player. 3rd round vs 1st round I get it. But if he was a 1st round player and the Bucs drafted him in the 1st round it would still have been a great pick
Trey Palmer played 14% of snaps. So a high draft pick would obviously play more than that, but I don't think they'd be playing enough to use a 1st rounder on a WR.As for WR, don't look at the draft through just a 2025 lense. In 2017 we drafted Godwin and he was the 4th WR. 8 years later he's a main player. 3rd round vs 1st round I get it. But if he was a 1st round player and the Bucs drafted him in the 1st round it would still have been a great pick
I'm starting to warm up even more to Grey Zabel -
1) Typically, starting O-linemen get 80 to 90% of the snap count. This was true for our tackles last year, but the guards Bredeson and Mauch took 99% of the snaps. That's not ideal. We have very little quality depth anywhere on the O-line except perhaps Klein at tackle. If we have any injury issues with the starters our O-line will go from dominant to question mark in a heartbeat.
Goedeke is going to be tough to resign. He'll command over $21-22 mil per year and a franchise tag projecting to be $28 mil for a tackle. So the tag is not a good bargaining chip for the Bucs. We had to let Cappa go because his pricetag was too high. Hopefully they can extend Goedeke, but he holds the cards right now.
Bredeson's contract is really 2 years for $15 mil. The third year has zero guarantee. It's the type of contract they give to a player to make sure the they aren't hamstrung but still doesn't rule out drafting a player IMO.
Zabel played all four guard/tackle positions and Ourlads thinks his best pro position would be center. If Zabel was coached enough he could play anywhere on the line with no dropoff. We have no depth at backup center with Hainsey gone. It seems like there would be a lot of different options for Zabel to play as a rookie and be a dominant starter in future years.
Even if they don't draft Zabel, they'll need to draft an O-lineman on Day 2 IMO. The lack of depth on the O-line is the least talked about need on this team, but of course the Bucs are fully aware of the their needs regardless of who is talking about it.
@alldaway - it goes beyond cap hits and where guys are drafted. We’ve got a top 10 Qb, top 5 WR duo, top 5 offensive line. On defense we have what? Top 5 interior DL. And then no other position group sniffs top 10. Winfield is good, David is old. Zion is still living on potential. Yes, there is a big talent gap. And part of that comes with drafting in the last half of the first round every year. And missing on edge and MLB.
Investing too much resources in the defense doesn't make sense when the future of this team is the offense. Defense isn't far off because they just need anchor player at ILB and CB. Winfield Jr is an anchor player on the backend and then you have Vea/Kancey. Diaby and 2025 drafted OLB might be anchor players but that is to be determined...
McCollum is a solid #2 but I wouldn't call him a true #1 yet but he might become that player.
We'll probably go defense. The OPs just asking a hypothetical question. The main qualification for being a first round pick is that you have to have somewhere to fit in basically right away. That's why you have to use your imagination, which I tried to do. If you draft a TE, you would have to plan on using 2 TEs a lot more. Perhaps they would do that I don't know. But it makes no sense to bench Otton. I tried to use my imagination on why they'd draft an offensive lineman. It could be they want to have more of a rotation of guys so they can have more effectiveness in 4th quarters, the end of the season and the playoffs. A WR you really have to use your imagination because who are you going to bump to the bench? Evans, Godwin or McMillon? So just relax, we probably aren't going to draft offense...... but you never know!We have a noticeable talent gap on defense compared to offense. We can't afford to miss out on a standout edge pass rusher or cornerback.
Bredeson isn't a lock to start if you draft Zabel.
2022 season was wrecked by injuries to the offensive line. Bredeson is a JAG. This offensive line class is fairly strong.
As for WR, don't look at the draft through just a 2025 lense. In 2017 we drafted Godwin and he was the 4th WR. 8 years later he's a main player. 3rd round vs 1st round I get it. But if he was a 1st round player and the Bucs drafted him in the 1st round it would still have been a great pick
Licht likes to draft potential starters he feels can be developed in the 3rd round/4th. By drafting these players in a position of need a year early it allows the coaching staff to help these players learn the NFL ropes before being pushed into the starting line up. Godwin is an obvious example. Kwon Alexander is another as well as McMillan. T. Smith, Diaby, Irving, White, Otton, Camarda, Hainsey, Edwards, Nelson, Cappa, Whitehead, Beckwith, Dean and Sims. The two real misses in those "money rounds for Licht" has been Darden and Vaughn if we are to be honest.
And sometimes these players like Kwon and Godwin can push for playing time a year earlier than scheduled.
This is why while OLB and CB may be higher on the Bucs draft board so is OG and WR.
Having a rookie WR sit and learn for a year and act as depth as the same time is pure gold. You are fixing depth at the position while giving time for the young player to learn the NFL ropes behind Godwin and Evans.
If we do surprise pick offense..egbuke looks like a pro to me and i like him as #1 wr. Would we take membou or bama guard as bpa...doubt it ..but would be entertaining
I love the RB, but we have no need.
A WR makes sense for the future, if they feel the WR is a future WR1.
I don’t know if the Bucs want to give Otten a big contract. He’s developed fine, but he’s never going to be top end. He’s a bargain for his price now, but may not be after this season.
If we do surprise pick offense..egbuke looks like a pro to me and i like him as #1 wr. Would we take membou or bama guard as bpa...doubt it ..but would be entertaining
I am sure the Seahawks would be tempted to grab him and team him up with JSN and Kupp. But if he slips to the Bucs might have to think it over.
Here's what we've learned. Tyler Warren is going to be a bust. Sounds like we have no interest in him. Apprently Devin Culp is starting to happen with Grizz's offense.
McMillan is a top 5 pick.
Warren is a top 10 pick and a top 5 talent.
Jeanty is elite but we have no need.
So yeah, just not gonna happen and no need to trade up
