Meanwhile Rich McKay -
The 1995 Buccaneer draft reviewThe Bucs drafted alternately 7th, 6th and 5th through the rounds of this draft. The Bucs traded their 1st and 3rd round pick to the Eagles for their first (12th overall) and two second round picks. They then traded the two second round picks to the Cowboys to move back into the first round and select Derrick Brooks. The additional seventh round pick came from the Kansas City Chiefs for CB Darren Anderson.
DRAFT ANALYSIS - It will never probably get any better in terms of any NFL draft anywhere than the selections of Warren Sapp and Derrick Brooks. Great draft-day work by the front office to secure the players and both selections were perennial All-Pros and future NFL Hall of Famers. Even though Melvin Johnson never worked out as well as hoped, this will have to go down as the Bucs' best draft ever.
GRADE: A+
The 1996 Buccaneer draft review
Throughout the rounds of this draft, the Bucs drafted alternately 12th, 11th, 10th, 9th, 8th and 13th. The additional 1st round pick came from the Indianapolis Colts in return for QB Craig Erickson. The extra 4th round pick came from the New York Jets for DT Marc Spindler and WR Charles Wilson. The Bucs traded their original 2nd round pick to San Diego in return for a No.1 the following year, but gained a 2nd round pick from the Cleveland Browns in return for TE Harold Bishop.
DRAFT ANALYSIS - A great return with the tremendous selections of Alstott and Abraham, lynchpins of the Buccaneer revival under Tony Dungy. Only Regan Upshaw could be considered anything below average from the top five picks and the influence of Rich McKay and Jerry Angelo from the front office could be seen all over this draft.
GRADE: A
The 1997 Buccaneer draft review
The Bucs drafted alternately 8th, 7th and 6th through the seven rounds of this draft. The additional 1st round pick came courtesy of the San Diego Chargers in return for the Bucs' second round pick the previous year. The additional 4th and 7th round picks were compensatory for the loss of free agents. The Bucs originally traded their 1st and 4th round picks to the Jets to move up two spots in the first round. They then traded that top pick to Seattle for the 12th overall pick and an extra 3rd rounder.
DRAFT ANALYSIS - Only the middling performance from Reidel Anthony stops this being one of the best drafts in franchise history. Starters and depth right through the first five rounds and even Al Harris was successful elsewhere in the NFL. And of course taking of the best players in franchise history in the 3rd round. The groundwork for the Bucs' success under Tony Dungy's reign started in this draft.
GRADE: A
The 1998 Buccaneer draft review
Tampa Bay drafted alternately 23rd and 22nd in this draft. The Bucs traded their first round pick to Oakland for a pair of second round picks. They then traded the second of those 2nd rounders to San Diego in a deal that brought them a 2000 first round selection and gained them an additional 2nd round pick in this draft. Another deal was done with Atlanta to move up in the 2nd round that cost a 4th rounder. The additional 4th round pick came from Baltimore in return for the following year's third round pick as part of the Errict Rhett trade. The extra 6th round pick was a compensatory pick in return for losing free agent. A 5th round pick was sent to the Jets for FB Lorenzo Neal.
DRAFT ANALYSIS - Great pick in Kelly and average selections in the form of Green and Duncan. In the age of salary caps and free agency, making sure you get real contributions from rounds 2 through 4 is essential. The first round trade turned out to be worthwhile and all bar one of the Bucs' selections played for the franchise at some point or other.
GRADE: A
Rich McKay continued -
The 1999 Buccaneer draft review
The Bucs drafted 15th in the first round and then alternately 19th through 15th from then on. The additional 6th and 7th round picks came from the Jacksonville Jaguars in return for swopping 6th round picks. The original 6th round pick had been traded to Baltimore for QB Eric Zeier, but an additional 6th round pick came from the Kansas City Chiefs in return for S Melvin Johnson.
DRAFT ANALYSIS - Another great draft through the top selections with starters everywhere. The Bucs were drafting by need and hit every one of their goals in the process.
GRADE: A
The 2000 Buccaneer draft review
The Bucs drafted alternately 27th and 26th through the seven rounds of the draft. The additional 1st round pick came from San Diego as a result of draft day dealings in 1998. The two 1st rounders were then traded to the Jets for Keyshawn Johnson. The fourth round pick was traded to Carolina for the chance to swop picks in the 2nd round
DRAFT ANALYSIS - Keyshawn was one of the best offensive players during his first three years in Tampa and the Super Bowl run making the trade of the two No.1 picks worthwhile. Every other pick contributed in some way even if Whalen was away from the Buccaneers, making this draft a positive overall instead of a negative.
GRADE: B
The 2001 Buccaneer draft review
The Bucs had the 21st overall selection in the 2001 draft but made a draft-day deal with the Buffalo Bills to move up seven spots in the 1st round. The price was a 2nd rounder/ The remaining rounds of the draft saw them select alternately 20th, 23rd, 22nd and 21st. The additional 7th round pick came from Atlanta for QB Eric Zeier
DRAFT ANALYSIS - The need to draft a left tackle forced the Bucs' hand in trading their 2nd round pick to move up and take Kenyatta Walker. It just did not work out. Dwight Smith and John Howell were both good picks and the two sixth round selections, Cook and Wyms, both also contributed to the success of the Bucs over the next few years. So because of the Walker mistake, the overall rating for this draft is a low one. GRADE: C
The 2002 Buccaneer draft reviewThe top two picks in this draft went to Oakland as part of the deal that brought Jon Gruden to Tampa Bay. The Bucs selected alternately 22-21 in this draft. They also received three additional 7th round selections as compensatory picks.
DRAFT ANALYSIS - In terms of the players selected, there was no impact at all apart from Jermaine Phillips. But in terms of the picks traded for Jon Gruden, well, there is a Vince Lombardi Trophy at One Buc Place with his fingerprints all over it.
Im struggling with Scott Reynolds take on Jason Licht already being the best GM in Bucs history.
I might be alone in this thought, but what about Rich McKay? He helped turn the Buc’s around from being the Yuccaneers. Is there a reason I’m missing Licht being put on this pedestal already?
McKay was not a great drafter. He only drafted 2 good offensive players, ever -- Dunn and Alstott. People hold him in high regard because before him, we had buffoonery running the front office. He hired Dungy, so he gets credit for turning around the franchise... but Licht is a far more accomplished GM and a better talent evaluator. It's really not even close. McKay was overrated and got pushed upstairs in Atlanta because they wanted a real football guy as GM.
1) “McKay was not a great drafter.”
- FALSE
2) “People hold him in high regard because before him, we had buffoonery running the front office.”
- Is that any different than why Licht is being held in high regard?
3) “He hired Dungy, so he gets credit for turning around the franchise”
- McKay’s hires were Dungy and Gruden. Hit gold on both. Licht has had trouble with coaches outside of BA.
4) “Licht is a far more accomplished GM and a better talent evaluator. It's really not even close.”
- That’s a really bold statement. Please explain…
5) “McKay was overrated”
- How?
