BUCS’ BEST BET AT S (EARLY 1-3)
S Budda Baker – Washington – Junior – 5-10, 195 – 4.45
Baker is a tremendous talent capable of playing strong safety, free safety or nickel cornerback in the slot. He plays much bigger than his size and really packs a wallop in run support and across the middle in coverage. Baker, who was coached by former Bucs defensive backs coach Jimmy Lake at Washington, has been called a bigger version of Ronde Barber in terms of being an intelligent, instinctive football player. The playmaking Baker was a three-year starter for the Huskies and recorded 199 tackles, 15 pass breakups, 13 tackles for loss, five interceptions, four sacks and three forced fumbles. Baker was a tremendous leader at Washington and could be an instant starting safety in Tampa Bay. The Bucs are very interested in Baker, who could be the pick at No. 19 or perhaps a few spots back if Tampa Bay elects to trade down in the first round to acquire an extra draft pick or two.

Louisiana Tech S Xavier Woods – Photo courtesy of La. Tech

BUCS’ BEST BET AT S (LATE 4-7)
S Xavier Woods – Louisiana Tech – Senior – 5-11, 219 – 4.51
Woods was a big-time playmaker at Louisiana Tech, known for his hard hits and penchant for interceptions. Capable of playing either free safety or strong safety, Woods had 14 career interceptions and 18 passes defensed. Woods is a big, compact safety that hits like Oakland’s Karl Joseph or even Tampa Bay’s own J.J. Wilcox and has forced six fumbles in his Bulldogs career. Woods, who was at One Buccaneer Place on a pre-draft visit, is a film room junkie that had a 3.78 GPA at Louisiana Tech and that led to him being a four-year starter for the Bulldogs. Woods can also play on special teams, which increases his versatility as a fifth- or sixth-round pick. Another late-round safety option for the Bucs could be Colorado’s ballhawk Tedric Thompson.