Mock Draft Tuesday (Just Go With It)

No All-Twenty Tuesday this week. I’m saving it for what will be my most in-depth All-22 segment I may have ever done in my time here at Pewter Report next week to ring in 2020. So stay tuned for that.

In the meantime, here’s a full seven-round 2020 NFL Draft mock draft for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. As of right now, Tampa Bay only has six draft picks in rounds 1-6, plus the Bucs will get a mid-round compensatory pick to be named later.

Round 1, Pick No. 14: Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon

As stated on the previous page, how high the Buccaneers select a quarterback will completely depend on what is done with Jameis Winston. After listening to how Bruce Arians spoke of the quarterback situation both after the final game on Sunday and to the media the following day on Monday, I believe now more than ever that if Arians can move on from Winston, he will – but he still need to have that option he trusts in order to do so.

Oregon QB Justin Herbert – Photo by: Getty Images

In Bruce’s five seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, he only drafted a quarterback one time. That was in 2014 what he drafted Logan Thomas in the fourth round. If you ask me, that potentially hints at two things.

First, with no quarterback even selected outside of Thomas, Arians might be under the mindset of either “let’s drafting a quarterback high or we might as well not be drafting one at all.” If that’s true, and if the Bucs are uncertain at all a quarterback, potentially looking to add one who could start and win for them, I think it will be via the first round.

Second, whatever QB it is has to have the arm to stretch the field. If quarterbacks with Winston’s play-making ability down the field grew on trees, this team would likely have no problem moving on from him for a different guy who might not turn the ball over as much. But the fact of the matter is they don’t. Arians’ offense must have a big-arm thrower as its signal caller. To me, that rules out guys like Georgia’s Jake Fromm and Oklahoma’s Jalen Hurts, and puts in plays guys like Washington’s Jacob Eason, Utah State’s Jordan Love and the player I have them selecting here, Oregon’s Justin Herbert.

Herbert might not have as strong of an arm as Eason or Love, but as you can see in the clip above, he has the arm to get it done, and his arm has been much more reliable during his collegiate career. Herbert is coming off back-to-back 3,000-yard passing seasons with 29 TDs and eight INTs in 2018 and an improved 32 TDs and five INTs in 2019. Here in his senior year, Herbert has improved in production and efficiency while also increasing his yards-per-attempt, continuing to stretch the field further.

At 6-foot-6, 240 pounds, Herbert has the arm, the consistency and even the mobility to be an Arians quarterback.

Round 2, Pick No. 46: Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville

If the Bucs are using their first-round selection on an offensive tackle, Alabama’s Jedrick Wills would be their ideal target. He’s big, strong and smooth, and he has played right tackle for the Crimson Tide for the last two seasons. That would make him an instant plug-and-play option on the Bucs’ right side of the line.

But if they go a different direction in the first round, Mekhi Becton from Louisville could be a strong play with their second-round pick.

First of all, just watch the clip above. I mean dominate doesn’t even begin to describe what this 6-foot-7, 365-pound mammoth of an offensive tackle can do to poor defensive edge players. With his size, Becton has plenty of reach to take on and disrupt pass rushers. He isn’t super clean with hand technique yet, but that is something that can be learned. As for his feet, a player his size should not be able to move as well as he does. He isn’t just a brute with his strength. Becton is balanced in his base, and can redirect well in just a few step after he anchors down.

He’s a left tackle. So if drafted by the Buccaneers, there would be a transition period with him likely moving to the right side in 2020. But he could even be a potential left tackle of the future.

Round 3, Pick No. 78: Jordan Elliott, DT, Missouri

I believe that offensive tackle is the top need for this Bucs team. So I think that will be addressed in the Top 50 no matter what. But I also believe the team could dip into the interior defensive line with a Top 50 pick, if no quarterback is selected. If Tampa Bay doesn’t and waits one more round, look for Elliott to be a preferred player to grab.

Elliott had one of the highest pass rush grades from an interior defensive lineman in college football this season from the people over at Pro Football Focus. As the lone threat for Missouri’s defensive line, Elliott had back-to-back eight-tackle-for-loss seasons.

The Bucs don’t just need any new defensive lineman. They need one with some pass rush potential. As you can see in the play above, Elliott has that, especially for how well built he is at 6-foot-4, 315 pounds.

Round 4, Pick No. 110: Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB, LSU

I believe that Ronald Jones II will still be on the Buccaneers next season. His team-leading 724 rushing yards weren’t as many as people may have hoped, but his 4.2 yards per carry average was certainly good enough to continue having a contributing roster spot going into next season. But I do think he will be joined by some new faces as the team moves on from Peyton Barber.

LSU RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire – Photo by: Getty Images

I have a major draft crush on LSU’s Clyde Edwards-Helaire. In fact, when it’s all said and done, I am not sure the Bucs will be able to get him in the fourth round, but for now you can dream. What is most appealing about Edwards-Helaire isn’t just what he does with the ball. As a running back in today’s NFL, one has to affect the game without the ball, too. That means in ways like precise route running, pass blocking and ball fakes with play action. Edwards-Helaire does all of that at a very high football IQ level.

He and Jones in the same backfield might not make for a duo that will lead the league in rushing, but it has the make-up to create an ideal complementary run game to what the Bucs like to do in the passing game. The Bucs don’t need more rushing yards, per se. They need more rushing efficiency.

Round 5, Pick No. 141: Tanner Muse, S, Clemson

In the previous section we talked about how Tampa Bay could use a ball-hawking safety on the back end. Well, unless a team is picking one in the Top 50, chances are the ball skills are going to take a dramatic drop off beyond the second round. But the athleticism wouldn’t with a guy like Muse.

Arians said before that he loves athletes. He has said something along the lines of just give him athletes and he’ll find the right spot for them. Muse is a 6-foot-2, 230-pound defensive back who can run a 4.3-4.4 40-yard dash.

That’s an athlete that will get Arians’ attention.

Round 6, Pick No. 173: Charlie Heck, OT, North Carolina

With one of their late picks, the Bucs would be well served doubling up on either the offensive or defensive line. In this mock, I have them doing so in the offensive trenches.

Heck is a 6-foot-8 tackle with good movement skills and a whole lot of experience. Heck was a four-year starter for the Tar Heels. His tight end and coaching family background would make him a solid Day 3 pick up.