In my battle plan I’m heading into the 2019 NFL Draft with a plan to immediately fix issues on the offensive line, bring in a cornerback to compete for a spot in the Bucs’ secondary, and then bring in depth at linebacker and the defensive line.

After trading their seventh round pick for Drew Stanton and swapping the Bucs’ fifth-round pick for the Seahawks’ fourth-round pick in a trade that sends Cameron Brate to Seattle, the Bucs sit with five draft picks, one pick in each of the first three rounds and then two picks in the fourth round.

I also intend to trade down with the Jaguars in the first round, taking advantage of their eight total draft picks and their need for a quarterback. In exchange for moving up two spots and leaping over the New York Giants, another team that could very likely be looking for a quarterback in this year’s draft if they don’t attack one in free agency, the Bucs will land Jacksonville’s second and fourth-round selections.

Jenkins’ 2019 Bucs’ Draft Picks

Round 1 (No. 7 – from Jacksonville) – Alabama OT Jonah Williams – Junior

With the seventh pick in the NFL Draft (via Jacksonville) I have the Buccaneers selecting Jonah Williams, an offensive tackle out of Alabama.

Williams is a player who can immediately step in and start at right tackle with the departure of Demar Dotson. He’s arguably the most pro-ready tackle in the draft this year and will give a boost to the Bucs’ run game at the point of attack, and when moving into the second level, in addition to his pass-blocking ability. The three-year starter for the Crimson Tide is a tough, technically-sound player who adds athleticism and can instantly become a cornerstone toward the Bucs rebuilding a revamped offensive line.

His biggest weakness is his length when engaging with edge rushers, but he makes up for that issue (to an extent) with good, fundamental play.

Round 2 (No. 38 – from Jacksonville) – Texas DE Charles Omenihu – Senior

Omenihu is a defensive end out of Texas that is utilized primarily as a 4-3 defensive end who could be a great addition to grow alongside veterans Jason Pierre-Paul and Gerald McCoy. I know all the talk surrounding the Bucs’ defensive scheme right now revolves around the transition to a 3-4 under look, I think he could still fit in a 3-4 scheme. I also think that with the alignment of talent the way it is on the current roster, the Bucs’ defense will be variable with a variety of looks that still includes a lot of 4-3 packaging and Omenihu could be a great bookend to rotate in with Carl Nassib and Noah Spence, across from Pierre-Paul.

He can play well in the run game and his size (6-foot-6, 276 pounds), length, power and get off speed are his biggest strengths, but he will probably need to continue developing his hand usage and rushing tools at the NFL level.

Omenihu had 9.5 sacks in his senior year and racked up a crazy 18 tackles for loss, both of which ranked him second in the Big 12. Some people have him sliding a bit further down draft boards than I would expect now, but I could see him shooting up some the ranking following the combine and when you find your guy, you go and get him.

Round 2 (No. 39) – Penn State CB Amani Oruwariye – Senior

Oruwariye is a cornerback from Penn State that burst on the scene in his junior season.

At 6-foot-1 and just over 200 pounds, the Tampa native (Gaither HS) is a tall, big-bodied receiver that uses his size and footwork to play his best in press or zone coverages. I’d be interested in seeing his 40-time at the combine but he could be a good fit to work his way into a rotation with Carlton Davis and Jason McCourty in my battle plan scenario, adapt to the speed of the NFL and eventually take over a starting role opposite Davis when the Bucs eventually decide to move on from their veteran rental.

Oruwariye is big enough and tackles well enough to avoid being a liability at cornerback in the run game and finished his senior season with 50 total tackles, three interceptions, a forced fumble and 11 passes defended.

Round 3 (No. 70) – Oklahoma OG Dru Samia – Senior

Samia was a guard in one of the most dominant offensive lines in college football, with three linemen likely going in the top-100 in this years draft, at Oklahoma.

I was able to talk to a few players that really won me over at the Senior Bowl in Mobile this year, one of them being Charles Omenihu, but Dru Samia was easily one of my favorites. He’s a big, strong, nasty guard that plays aggressive, wins with leverage and can win consistently and block well at the point of attack and downfield. He started all four years at Oklahoma, showing versatility by playing at tackle before being moved inside to guard and told me that he could truly play anywhere across the line.

Samia is another guy that can step right in for the Bucs and at least compete for a starting job at guard.

Round 4 (No. 107) – Notre Dame DT Jerry Tillery – Senior

With the Bucs keeping McCoy, finding an instant-impact defensive tackle isn’t a necessity, but as I have the team releasing Beau Allen and Mitch Unrein they will take advantage of this deep defensive tackle class and grab Notre Dame’s Tillery early in the fourth round.

Tillery is a defensive tackle with the power to eat up blockers but has a good jump off of the ball that also allows him to shoot gaps well. He plays with a high motor and produces with a good first punch and strong bullrush. I could see him working with enough versatility in the Bucs’ defense to play as a 3-tech in 4-3 fronts or a 5-tech in 3-4 fronts, making him just the guy to join a rotation behind Vea and McCoy under Bowles.

Tillery played all four years at Notre Dame and finished his season with seven sacks, 8.5 tackles for loss and two forced fumbles.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_pZJkY2iqg

Round 4 (No. 109 – From Jacksonville) – Ole Miss WR Damarkus Lodge – Senior

With the Bucs’ fourth-round pick that they acquired from the Jaguars I have them selecting Lodge out of Ole Miss.

Lodge plays bigger than his 6-foot-1 stature would suggest and was able to produce in Mississippi’s vertical offense with his speed, separation and great body control. With the Bucs releasing DeSean Jackson and losing Adam Humphries to free agency the team will look to bring in another talented receiver to compete with second-year pass-catcher Justin Watson.

Lodge had to compete with other standout receivers D.K. Metcalf and A.J. Brown for touches in his time at Ole Miss, but finished his senior season with 65 receptions for 877 yards and four touchdowns.

Round 4 (No. 123 – From Seattle) – WVU LB David Long – Senior

Long from West Virginia is an interesting player. He has day two upside in the draft but could slide to day three depending on his combine performance as well as his physical limitations (5-foot-11, 230 pounds.) If that happens, the 2018 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year could be there for the Bucs to scoop up with the fourth-round pick they acquire from Seattle in the Cameron Brate trade.

Long is a strong, sure tackler who would provide depth at the linebacker position and possibly find some quick playing time, depending on the time frame of Kwon Alexander and Kendell Beckwith’s return to action.

Starting in all 12 games as a redshirt junior for the Mountaineers in 2018, Long also earned second-team AP All-American honors and finished the year with 108 total tackles, seven sacks, two forced fumbles and 20 tackles for loss, a number that led the Big 12.

Click the next page for my “Way Too Early” Projected Bucs’ 53-Man Roster.