Round 3: Alabama State RT Tytus Howard
6-5, 322 – Senior

Previous Pick: Memphis RB Darrell Henderson
The Bucs bolster their offensive line in the third round with Howard, who impressed as a small school prospect at the Senior Bowl in January. Tampa Bay general manager Jason Licht has drafted three Senior Bowl offensive linemen in left tackle Donovan Smith, left guard Ali Marpet and right guard/tackle Alex Cappa, who starred in the game last year, so the selection of Howard continues that trend.

Howard was a quarterback and a basketball player in high school before gaining weight and moving to the offensive line at Alabama State. He started 13 games at right tackle during his first two years before starting all 11 games at left tackle during his junior season. When the coaches moved him back to the right side for his senior campaign, Howard was a first-team All-SWAC selection, starting 10 games.

The best thing Howard offers, aside from his 6-foot-5, 322-pound frame, is his athleticism and that was on display in Mobile, Ala. as he squared off against the likes of Mississippi State defensive end Montez Sweat in practice and more than held his own. Howard has an impressive kick slide in pass protection and wingspan with 34-inch arms to be very effective against fast edge rushers. He also showed he could pla at an NFL level against Auburn in 2018.

Where Howard struggles is against big, strong, powerful defensive ends. Despite being one of the bigger right tackles in this year’s draft class, the Monroeville, Ala. native did just 21 reps of 225 pounds and needs to really hit the weight room to develop his upper and lower body strength to be able to start at the next level.

Howard, who ran a 5.05 in the 40-yard dash, is a bit of a project, but his athletic tools have really intrigued Tampa Bay. The Bucs visited with him at the Senior Bowl, had a formal interview with him at the NFL Scouting Combine and had him in for a Top 30 visit in April. Tampa Bay likes the fact that he has the quickness and agility to play either left or right tackle, and could be groomed to be the eventual replacement at right tackle for Demar Dotson with the ability to fill in for Donovan Smith on the left side in a pinch.

Click Below For Tampa Bay’s 3rd-Round Pick.