THE BUCS PICK I’D SWAP OUT
SCOTT REYNOLDS: “The pick I’d swap out would be wide receiver Chris Godwin in the third round for running back Kareem Hunt. I like the Godwin pick – after all, PewterReport.com had him as a Bucs’ Best Bet at wide receiver. But in my opinion, the Bucs needed to come away with a potential workhorse running back in this draft. Hunt could have been that guy in Tampa Bay and he has a track record of breaking tackles and not fumbling. I don’t trust that Doug Martin and Charles Sims can stay healthy. I just don’t – and history is on my side. I hope I’m wrong for the Buccaneers sake, but this team’s running back stable concerns me – even with Jeremy McNichols on this roster. Is McNichols a feature back candidate? I don’t know. When healthy, the Bucs’ stable of backs is pretty good. But when it’s banged up, it’s not. I think Jacquizz Rodgers is actually the player to beat out for the starting role in Week 1, but it looks like Martin will once again be the Bucs’ eventual starter – but only in the fourth week of the season due to his three-game suspension to start the year. I think Hunt is a much better runner than Peyton Barber – and even McNichols – and would have been a huge asset to the Bucs’ backfield.”

USF RB Marlon Mack – Photo courtesy of USF

MARK COOK: “The pick I’d swap out would be linebacker Kendell Beckwith with USF running back Marlon Mack. While I appreciate the physicality of Beckwith, I am really stunned the Bucs waited so late to address the running back position when they took Jeremy McNichols in the fifth round. I am guessing they must have had McNichols rated the same or even a touch better than Mack, and if he ends up having a better career, then it works out just fine for Tampa Bay. I just preferred the homerun threat from anywhere on the field that Mack possesses. McNichols had some great numbers in college, but you don’t really see that second gear you want from a running back. Yes, Beckwith was projected to be a second rounder prior to his injury, but even when healthy, and if he plays the strongside as Licht suggested, he’ll be on the field for just 35-40 percent of the defensive snaps as the Bucs run a lot of nickel.”

TREVOR SIKKEMA: “The pick I would swap out in this draft would be the Justin Evans selection. Not that I don’t think Evans can’t develop into a nice player, but I wonder what more he brings to this team than J.J. Wilcox. We’ve sort of figured out this team like to lay their roster over their big board when creating a draft strategy and ask themselves, “Is this player better than something we have now?” I’m not sure how much better Evans is than Wilcox. I would have personally rather seen Eddie Jackson or Tedric Thompson later to bring something a little different, but knowing in hindsight they got their wide receiver Chris Godwin anyways, that makes it a little better. I said on the live cast that if you flipped the Godwin and Evans selections, the draft would look better overall. So, the same haul makes it OK.”

CLICK PAGE 3 FOR THE THE PEWTER REPORTERS OVERALL ASSESSMENT OF THE BUCS’ DRAFT