The NFL is a tough nut to crack. The Bucs have had 37 cracks at is and they have one SB victory. Which isn't far off from what it should be statistically but our lows have been worse than most for longer stretches of time. When you look at the history of our franchise and the first round pick it's clear a few of things have happened. A) We've made some really lousy decisions with our first pick - see Bo Jackson and B) We have been really lousy the wrong year or C) We've traded away our picks for a player or coach (See Keyshawn, Gruden, Revis - if you ever look at a detailed analysis of what these picks cost us, it will make you cry in your cereal.) which would make sense if this was basketball but makes zero sense in football. D) would be a rotten combination of A and B. While D is easy in hind site A seemingly can be prevented with proper evaluation (players health history, competition level in college, do we really need this player, is the player a slam dunk based on college tape, combine and or pro-day analysis). I vividly remember talking to my friend on the phone the year we drafted Gaines Adams saying "Remember this,.......we could have had Adrian Peterson.". I was too young during the Bo Jackson draft to fully understand all of it but remember being furious that Bo wouldn't play for my team (having seen his 30 for 30 I have a completely different perspective but at age I2 wanted answers). Jon Gruden, As you recall, the NFL will no longer let a franchise give up picks and money for a coach (man it was a different league back then.) so for the eternal measure of the Lombardi I am grateful but man, but we have suffered because of it since. Looking at this year's draft a couple of things are clear to me from a Buccaneer perspective. We did what we did in free agency to be able to pick the best player available and the best player available based on the information we have gathered to this point is not a QB. When you couple the fact that this QB class is below average, that we have two seemingly capable QBs on our roster, we almost have to look at WR, OL or maybe LB. The four sure fire draft picks this year are Clowney, Mack, Robinson and Watkins. Given the fact that other franchises almost have to go QB, one of these other players will be available to us. It's time to start drafting like a real franchise and stop getting in our own way. Lovie is the right hire I am sure of it. Now we just need to get the players in place to compete year in and year out. Onward and upward.
