Round 7: Drake TE Eric Saubert – 6-4, 245 – 4.72 – Senior
With their final pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, the Bucs select Saubert to help shore up the tight end position in Tampa Bay. With Cameron Brate firmly entrenched as the starter after catching eight touchdowns in 2016, the Bucs could use another pass-catching weapon in case an injury strikes Brate again. Tampa Bay’s offense struggled with him missing the final game and a half due to a back injury he suffered at New Orleans in Week 16.

Saubert capped off his four-year career at Drake with 190 catches for 2,253 yards and 21 touchdowns as one of the team’s main offensive weapons. He posted three 100-yard games as a senior, showcasing good speed with a 55-yard catch against Campbell and a career-long 73-yard reception in his final game against Stetson.

Saubert’s Drake Career Stats
2016: 56 catches for 776 yards (13.9 avg.) and 10 TDs with a long of 73 yards
2015: 48 catches for 506 yards (10.5 avg.) and 6 TDs with a long of
2014: 32 catches for 348 yards (10.9 avg.) and 2 TDs with a long of 21 yards
2013: 47 catches for 549 yards (11.7 avg.) and 2 TDs with a long of 36 yards

Saubert, who has been selected to play in the East-West Shrine Game in St. Petersburg, Fla. in January, reportedly runs a 4.74 time in the 40-yard dash, which would make him one of the faster tight ends in the draft as 4.85 is the average 40-time at the position. Saubert’s speed compares favorably to that of Brate, who was timed at 4.77 coming out of Harvard.

With Brandon Myers’ contract up and Luke Stocker being more of a blocker than a receiver, the Bucs could use another pass-catching tight end to compliment and back up Brate. Alan Cross is listed as a tight end, but is really a fullback as he lacks the size to be an effective in-line blocker at the line of scrimmage at 6-foot-1, 235 pounds. Tampa Bay re-signed practice squad tight ends Tevin Westbrook and Kivon Cartwright, but neither has much experience in the NFL.

The Bucs spent their final draft pick on H-back Danny Vitale last year, but he didn’t make the active roster. Saubert is a bigger prospect and has more experience on special teams where he blocked two punts for the Bulldogs. Reserve tight ends must play a role on special teams in order to make the roster, and that’s an area where Saubert can immediately help the Bucs.