All great series must, unfortunately, come to an end. Using Breaking Bad – the best TV show of all time – as a reference point, Pewter Report’s “Felina” concludes our analysis of the Bucs’ last six drafts under general manager Jason Licht. To see what we have cooked up so far, our previous entries are below:

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

Bucs GM Jason Licht and head coach Todd Bowles – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Coming off a 13-4 season in 2021 that ended in a heartbreaking, 30-27 loss to the Rams, the Bucs were heading into 2022 with some large question marks. Prior to the NFL Draft, they were hit with the curveball of Tom Brady retiring after the season. After 40 days of throwing footballs on yachts, he decided to return and do so in red and pewter, unretiring for one final season.

Shortly after he announced his return, Bruce Arians stepped away, leaving the head coaching reins for Todd Bowles. The expectation was with Brady in the fold, the Bucs would still be competing for another Lombardi trophy. The only difference in this season compared to 2020 and 2021 was that the team was unable to retain all of their veterans compared to the year prior.

On offense, running back Ronald Jones II left to join the Chiefs, Pro Bowl left guard Ali Marpet retired, and right guard Alex Cappa left for the Bengals. Wide receiver Antonio Brown failed to finish 2021 after his infamous mid-game walking off the field, and tight end Rob Gronkowski finally decided to retire after playing with Brady his whole career.

On the defensive side of the ball, front-seven defensive line stalwarts Ndamukong Suh and Jason Pierre-Paul eventually settled elsewhere. In the secondary, safety Jordan Whitehead left in free agency and depth guys like safety Andrew Adams and cornerback Pierre Desir were no longer on the team.

So what did all of these players leaving mean for the Bucs heading into the 2022 NFL Draft? This was a big test for Jason Licht and the front office, as plenty of holes needed to be addressed instead of having the ability to select luxury picks.

After one season, it is too early to judge players just based on their rookie performance. They still have yet to fully develop and have a true offseason with the team that selected them. Even still, based on the ability they did show and the players selected after them, these picks can still be analyzed.

No. 33 – DE Logan Hall

Other players taken within 15 picks of note:

WR Christian Watson

CB Roger McCreary 

RB Breece Hall

S Jalen Pitre

RB Kenneth Walker III

S Jaquan Brisker

Next two players at position:

DE Arnold Ebiketie

DE Josh Paschal

The Bucs’ first selection and the first pick of Day 2 of the draft after trading out of the first round, Logan Hall has flashed the potential to be a presence along the interior of the defensive line for years to come. However, his rookie year was underwhelming for the situations he found himself in.

Bucs DT Logan Hall – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

With injuries and declining production across the team’s veteran defensive linemen throughout the season, Hall was expected to step up. He did finish his rookie campaign with 2.5 sacks and six quarterback hits, but after having two sacks and four quarterback hits in his first five NFL games, he only had half of a sack and two quarterback hits the rest of the way.

Within the building, general manager Jason Licht and head coach Todd Bowles talked highly about him after the draft and toward the end of the season.

Shortly after taking him, Licht commented that “his rushing skills from the inside is what we liked the most.”

Although he failed to impact the game much after the first few weeks of the season, he did not stop improving and developing behind the seasons. He has gained the trust of Bowles, who stated, “He’s becoming a full, three-down player. His development in the second part of the season we’re very pleased with.”

Other players the Bucs could have taken instead of Hall include wide receiver Christian Watson, cornerback Roger McCreary, safeties Jalen Pitre and Jaquan Brisker, and two young running backs in Breece Hall and Kenneth Walker III. While each of those selections debatably looks better in hindsight, that is not to say Hall is a failed pick yet.

There was allure in taking Watson, who grew up in Tampa and played for Henry B. Plant High School, but the Bucs chose to address the depth in the trenches.

Arnold Ebiketie and Josh Pascal were the next defensive ends taken, and they finished their rookie season with 2.5 and two sacks, respectively. With this in mind, a reasonable grade for selecting Hall is around a C-, but this can improve greatly after an offseason of bulking up and learning the defense.

No. 57 – OL Luke Goedeke

Other players taken within 15 picks of note:

ILB Troy Anderson

CB Cam Taylor-Britt

RB James Cook

OL Abraham Lucas

Next two players at position:

OL Ed Ingram

OL Luke Fortner

In mentioning Luke Goedeke, fans will be quick to come at him for his poor play at the beginning of the season at left guard, which led to his benching. But fans and analysts alike should not write him off just yet. Coming out of Central Michigan after playing as a right tackle, Goedeke was asked to fill the shoes of Ali Marpet and be the next left guard for the Bucs immediately.

Bucs LG Luke Goedeke – Photo by: USA Today

This is quite the transition, and not every offensive lineman hits the ground running like Tristan Wirfs. Everyone now regards Ryan Jensen as one of the best centers in football, but he spent his first three seasons switching between tackle and left guard before settling in at center in his fourth season.

Center Robert Hainsey did not start his rookie year and had to make the switch from tackle to center himself. Even the guy who took Goedeke’s spot, Nick Leverett, had a year to develop behind the scenes. Yes, each of these guys was not taken as highly as Goedeke, but being thrown into the fire and transitioning across the line on the fly, all while protecting Tom Brady, comes with a lot of pressure and great expectations.

While he floundered in his first seven starts against a gauntlet of defensive tackles, he came back to start in Week 18 at right tackle against the Falcons and had his best game of the season. Like with Hall, an offseason of adding strength and being able to learn the ins and outs of whatever position he lines up in is crucial.

The next players taken at his position did not fare a ton better, while of the other players in his range, James Cook had the best rookie season. As of now, this pick grades out just below Hall’s at a D+, but it can very easily jump a lot higher if he takes the next step.

No. 91 – RB Rachaad White

Other players taken within 15 picks of note:

RB Brian Robinson Jr.

TE Cade Otton

Next two players at position:

Tyrion Davis-Price

Brian Robinson Jr.

The Bucs finally went with a running back in the third round, and they did well for themselves by taking Rachaad White. By all accounts, White had a solid rookie season as a dual-threat back in the offense. He totaled 481 yards on the ground and added 50 receptions for 290 yards through the air.

Bucs RB Rachaad White – Photo by: USA Today

In the second half of the season, he took more of a foothold in the running game over the incumbent Leonard Fournette. His big coming-out party was in Munich, Germany, in Week 10, when he had his first 100-yard game and first ‘Angry Runs’ scepter awarded to him.

He would also have the game-winning receiving touchdown against the Saints on Monday Night Football, as well as a key score in the team’s 19-16 win over the Cardinals on Christmas day.

With White changing his jersey number to 1 this offseason, it can be seen as a symbol for emerging as the number one back for the team in 2023. Looking at the other players and running backs taken after him, Brian Robinson put up better numbers but also had 76 more carries.

For all intents and purposes, Jason Licht taking the former Arizona State Sun Devil addressed a need and White may turn out to be the best running back he has selected in his tenure.

Put this one in the grade book as an A-.

No. 106 – TE Cade Otton

Other players taken within 15 picks of note:

RB Dameon Pierce

CB Coby Bryant

CB Jack Jones

Next two players at position:

TE Daniel Bellinger

TE Charlie Kolar

Cade Otton would be the first of two tight ends taken in this draft, and he will also be competing at the starting spot at his position in 2023. For Otton, this is deserving after putting up impressive numbers for a rookie tight end. He did compete with Cam Brate for snaps and touches throughout the season but still managed to have 42 receptions for 391 yards and two touchdowns.

Bucs TE Cade Otton – Photo by: USA Today

Both of these touchdowns were significant in their own right, as he had the game-winner against the Rams in Week 9 and the first touchdown to help the Bucs come back against the Saints before Rachaad White.

With Brate being cut, Otton is expected to be the starter barring a tight end being taken early to compete with him. The team recently had a tight end on a Top 30 visit, so he may very well have some competition.

The Bucs hit on this selection, but how far it travels is yet to be determined. The tight ends taken before and after failed to have the impact Otton had, and the potential for more of a role in the offense next season makes this pick worthy of an A-.

No. 133 – P Jake Camarda

Other players taken within 15 picks of note:

QB Bailey Zappe

OL Zach Tom

QB Sam Howell

Next two players at position:

P Matt Araiza

P Trenton Gill

Taking a specialist in the fourth round was a surprise, and it does give off some Roberto Aguayo vibes. However, Jake Camarda had as good of a season as a punter can have.

Bucs P Jake Camarda – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

His booming leg, speed, and improvosational ability were on display throughout the year, as he had 79 punts averaging 48.8 yards. He pinned 22 of those inside the opposing team’s twenty, and throughout the season, it was noted just how far his punts traveled through the air. His longest went for 74 yards, and plenty of them went over the 60-yard mark.

The Bucs could have taken a quarterback in Bailey Zappe or Sam Howell, and this could have been justified after Brady’s unretirement just before the draft. The team did (and does) still have Kyle Trask, but he is an unproven signal caller after two seasons.

Camarda has been impressive for his position, but taking a punter in the fourth is not the best value selection. Ryan Stonehouse went undrafted last season and led the league with 53.1 yards a punt. Still, it was not a complete waste and is worthy of a B-.

No. 157 – CB Zyon McCollum

Other players taken within 15 picks of note:

CB DaRon Bland

Next two players at position:

CB DaRon Bland

CB Samuel Womack

Arguably the second-best cornerback in the class behind Sauce Gardner was taken just before Zyon McCollum in Tariq Woolen by Seattle. Just after McCollum, another cornerback who flashed his ball-hawking ability in DaRon Bland was selected. Woolen would have six interceptions in 2022 and Bland had five. McCollum failed to record one and spent much of the season developing behind the other cornerbacks on the roster.

It was easy to see why the Bucs were high on him, as his measurables jumped off the chart even more than the 4.26 40 time and 6-4 height of Woolen.

His athletic ability gives him a high upside, but it has yet to translate into production. Jason Licht likes taking his cornerbacks, and pairing someone of McCollum’s potential under the tutelage of Todd Bowles can still mean great things for him.

Last season, McCollum only started three games and while he had 24 combined tackles, there were also some that he missed in the open field. As he catches up to game speed and understands the schemes and techniques, McCollum could become the third cornerback behind Carlton Davis III and Jamel Dean. It would not be surprising to see that happen as early as next season, but McCollum still has a ways to go.

For the cost of a fourth-round pick in the upcoming draft, the decision to take McCollum grades out as a C-. There were better cornerbacks taken before and after him, but he has all the tools in the toolbox to reach his sky-high potential.

No. 218 – TE Ko Kieft

Other players taken within 15 picks of note:

CB Tariq Carpenter

Next player at position:

TE Nick Muse

Bucs TE Ko Kieft – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Late in the draft, teams are looking to add depth players that have the ability to stick on the roster. For Ko Kieft, he proved his worth beyond the stat sheet.

Kieft only had seven catches for 80 yards and a touchdown over the course of the season, but he did plenty of things not seen in the box score. His value was as a blocking tight end, fullback, and special teams ace. He filled all of these roles admirably and will continue to fill this role for years to come.

The most surprising statistic of his rookie year was having 11 combined tackles on special teams. Over the course of the season, he was often the first one there to make the tackle right as the ball hit the returner’s hands.

Kieft may not compete with Otton for the starting tight end job, but he has quickly become a fan favorite for doing all of the small things. The fact that nobody in this range of picks stood out as much makes Kieft a B pick.

No. 248 – DE Andre Anthony

Other players taken within 15 picks of note:

RB Isiah Pacheco 

QB Brock Purdy

Next two players at position:

OLB Jeff Gunter

OLB Jesse Luketa

Andre Anthony did not make the team out of the preseason and was last signed to the Bears practice squad in September. While he did not pan out, two other players in this range did.

Isiah Pacheco was the featured back for the Super Bowl-winning Chiefs, while Mr.Irrelevant Brock Purdy was very impressive down the stretch and led the 49ers on an improbable playoff run. They were both A picks, but unfortunately, Anthony is an F here.

This draft class is the freshest one to evaluate, and many of the players taken can still improve. But the fact that neither of the team’s second-round picks, Logan Hall and Luke Goedeke, were the most impressive is concerning. Rachaad White, Cade Otton, and Jake Camarda were all hits, but as of now, not home runs. Grading out the class as a whole, a C+ grade at this point is a fair assessment.