Bucs’ Best Bets At Safety

Bucs’ Best Bet At S Rounds 1-3: Cal FS Ashtyn Davis

Davis is a very, versatile athletic safety that can play in the box, but is probably better suited to play free safety at the next level. Davis recorded 166 tackles, two tackles for loss, 12 pass breakups, seven interceptions, three fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles in his four years with the Golden Bears. Davis has great ball skills, evidenced by six interceptions combined over the last two years, in addition to three fumble recoveries. Davis has very good football instincts and a knack for being around the ball.

One knock on Davis is that he is a 24-year old redshirt senior and being two to three years older than most draft prospects entering the NFL. Perhaps that makes him a more experienced and more mature player, but he’s the same age as Bucs safety Justin Evans, who is entering his third season in the league in 2020, and it could shorten his NFL career. That, and a torn abductor muscle that needed surgery and prevented Davis from working out at the NFL Scouting Combine, could hurt Davis’ draft stock a bit. He could be a strong value for the Bucs, who informally interviewed him in Indianapolis.

Bucs’ Best Bet At S Rounds 4-7: Georgia FS J.R. Reed

Reed is the son of former NFL wide receiver Jake Reed, who used to play against the Buccaneers as a member of the Vikings back in the NFC Central division days. Reed had a productive three years as a starter and a leader for the Bulldogs defense, totaling 199 tackles, nine tackles for loss, 14 pass breakups, five interceptions, three fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles and two defensive touchdowns.

Reed is a good athlete with a solid build at 6-foot-1, 202 pounds. He’s fast enough at 4.54 in the 40-yard dash to man up against tight ends and some bigger receivers in coverage from the slot, but it’s his instincts and high football I.Q. that have NFL teams excited about his promise at the next level. The Bucs had an informal interview with Reed at the NFL Scouting Combine and he could be a selection for Tampa Bay near the top of Day 3 in the fourth round.