Even after acquiring wide receiver DeSean Jackson, it’s no secret that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are still looking to add weapons for Jameis Winston and that offense via the draft.
Throughout the draft process, we’ve seen players like Corey Davis, John Ross and Dalvin Cook be mocked to the Bucs at their first round, No. 19 overall pick, but we’ve also seen writers (and the team itself) think “bigger” with a possible addition to the tight end position.
After confirming that Alabama’s O.J. Howard had met with the Bucs during Senior Bowl week and the Combine, plus a scheduled private workout in Tampa Bay, it became clear that this interest to add a tight end early was real.
Now, ESPN’s Adam Caplan reports Miami TE David Njoku visited the Bucs earlier this week as well.
TE David Njoku, who visited the #Buccaneers earlier this week, will be 1 of 2 TEs to go off the board in the 1st rd.
— Adam Caplan (@caplannfl) March 22, 2017
For PewterReport.com readers, hearing this news is less of a shock than it is a confirmation. Njoku was chosen as the Buccaneers pick in PR’s latest 7-round mock draft, and was also featured in the Cover 3 column for an extensive film breakdown of his game.
For the Bucs to get Njoku, as Caplan explained, it will likely take that No. 19 overall pick to see him in red and pewter.
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About the Author: Trevor Sikkema
I don’t know if it’s ever been addressed before on this site, but what actualyy happens on these visits? I know they run them through some drills and see how they are in the classroom with film, but I just wasn’t sure if they try to do any kind of buttering up. It’s not like they are an FA or we are trying to get them to commit to us or anything. Do we take them out for a night in Ybor or anything?
I’m guessing these are more about getting to the know the guy and not the player. Sure thy’ll run through some drills, but probably most about getting to know the man as well as the player. I believe when Jameis came in for his, the Bucs brought Mccoy or VJ out to dinner and stuff with them.
Licht loves young players who havent reached their physical potential yet. I think this guy is our first rounder if Howard is off the board.
Saw him interviewed on NFL Network. Well spoken and seemed likable.
After watching the YouTube highlights I came away pleasantly pleased.
I’m sure that Litch has a plan I also like the idea of draft someone from Miami, seems to me they might handle the heat here better. I can’t count the kids from up north just wilting in training camp. It might be impossible to goof the first pick up. Mocks have us all over the place. Actually saw a mock that Solomon falling to 19. Dream on.
GO BUCS
I can’t say I am against this pick, but Brate was at the top of the NFL with TD’s last year, and not many offenses truly can feature two tight ends. The Patriots didn’t even use Martellus Bennett consistently last year. I would have rather paid some cash to sign him then use our first round on this guy. He is more athletic than Brate, but how much more upside will he have with Brate playing, and the Bucs lacking at #2 or #3 WR and RB. If Deshaun Jackson or Mike Evans goes down, we are in the same… Read more »
If he’s the best of the bunch at 19 then he’d be my guy. He was very impressive on NFL Network.
I also watched him on NFL Network, seems to be very smart guy.
The only difference between him and Howard is blocking and with coaching will get better only being 20 years old he may have more upside so I think Bucs should draft him. Alot of teams use 2TE.
Seems like a good option … if the top WRs the Bucs have targeted are off the board at 19, he’s a good option .. but at the same time, I could easily see Licht finding a willing trade partner to trade down a few spots to get Njoku and then upgrade our second pick, or some other such kind of trade.
If Christian McCafferey is there, he would be a great pick. He is a RB, can play WR, and returns kicks. If the Bucs picked him, they resign Doug Martin to a league minimum with incentives. If Martin is good, they have McCafferey as a WR and KR. If Martin isn’t okay, he is the RB.
Should Mike Evans or D-Jax get injured, we are right back where we were last year… no RB, no #2 WR.
McCafferey makes more sense than an athletic developmental TE.
I like McCaffrey’s versatility too.
If all of the WR,TE are off the board, then draft best DE.
All the teams in our Div. can score. A better pass rush will help the DB’s.