The PewterReport.com Roundtable features the opinions of the PR staff as it tackles a topic each week that involves the Bucs. This week’s topic: who are the 2022 NFL Combine crushes the Bucs should focus on next week?

Scott Reynolds: Draft Sleeper Kelley Is An Arians-Type QB

This is a tough one because I don’t really have a true draft crush like in years past. There are a lot of players I really like in the 2022 NFL Draft class and three of them are invited to the NFL Scouting Combine. Washington cornerback Kyler Gordon would be a great fit in the second round because he can play in the slot or out wide and possibly be an upgrade over Sean Murphy-Bunting. I really like Nicholls State receiver Dai’Jean Dixon, a big, 6-foot-2, 200-pound target with great production who could see his stock get boosted as a higher Day 3 selection. The Bucs need more talent at receiver in 2022.

SE Louisiana QB Cole Kelley – Photo from: SE Louisiana

But the draft crush I’ll talk about is an even more obscure player than Dixon: Southeast Louisiana quarterback Cole Kelley. I had never heard of him until stumbling across his highlights after the season on YouTube. Scouting off highlights can be dangerous because it doesn’t tell the whole story. Yet, good luck trying to find entire SE Louisiana games to watch for a better evaluation. Kelley could really turn some heads at the Combine. He’s the biggest QB in the class at 6-foot-7, 248 pounds and is a strong-armed pocket passer like Bruce Arians craves. He also runs like a Mack truck and has 32 rushing scores.

Kelley had two great years of production as a starter for the Lions. He won the Walter Payton Award, which is the FCS Heisman Trophy, in 2020. And he was the runner-up last year despite an even better season with 5,124 yards passing, 44 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Kelley’s 73.6 percent completion percentage is the highest of any QB draft prospect this year. Because he played at a small school, the Arkansas transfer will likely be a Day 3 pick. I know the Bucs just spent a second-rounder on Kyle Trask, but he’s unproven. Taking a fourth or fifth-round flier on Kelley should increase the odds on the Bucs finding their quarterback of the future.

Matt Matera: Olave Can Fill Bucs Void At WR, Whether It’s WR2 Or WR3

The Bucs are looking to fill the role of WR2 and WR3 on the roster this offseason. The hope is to re-sign Chris Godwin, and while it seems likely, that’s not guaranteed. Whether it’s the second or third role, Ohio State’s Chris Olave can instantly upgrade the Bucs’ receiver room this season. I’m not comparing their games, but Olave measures in at 6’1,” which is around the same height that Godwin is.

Ohio State WRs Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson – Photo by: USA Today

What would make Olave so exciting for the Bucs is his route-running ability. He’s considered one of the best at it in this year’s receiver class. Tampa Bay’s offense is heavily predicated on wide receivers winning their battles down the field, and his route-running has helped him separate from defenders. Tyler Johnson can’t do that. Jaelon Darden struggled mightily in the chances he got this past year. Olave has a ton of athleticism and can play inside and outside. That’s helpful, especially given the scenario of Godwin’s contract negotiations and ACL recovery timetable if he’s still a Buc.

Olave has a knack for making the huge catch as a deep threat. But on top of that, he’s very fun to watch head up the field whenever he gets the ball. The Bucs can take a lot of shots with him or just quickly throw it and let him do the rest. He had his best year as a senior at Ohio State, making 65 catches for 936 yards and a team best 13 receiving touchdowns in 11 games. Olave is a threat to opposing defenses at all times when lining up. He’s also excelled with multiple quarterbacks, which he might have to do early on if Tampa Bay drafts him.

Jon Ledyard: All Eyes On Defensive Tackle Class For Bucs

Georgia DT Devonte Wyatt – Photo by: USA Today

Heading into the offseason, the Bucs may need to overhaul their defensive tackle room. Ndamukong Suh and Steve McLendon are free agents who could retire. Meanwhile, Will Gholston is set to hit the market as well. He’ll likely return, but the Bucs will still be short-handed at defensive tackle. Vita Vea and Rakeem Nunez-Roches are currently the only members of the 2020-2021 rotation under contract. Look for Tampa Bay to consider the interior defensive line class early in the draft.

One player expected to come off the board in the Bucs’ range of the first round is Georgia defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt. Tampa Bay has been trying to get younger and more explosive up front, but the last few draft classes haven’t obliged. The 2022 class isn’t loaded with defensive tackle talent, but Wyatt may be the best of the group. His pass rush plan needs to improve, which can happen at the NFL level. However, Wyatt has traits that shouldn’t be ignored early in the draft.

If the senior can blow up the Combine, it’ll cement his status as the top defensive tackle in the class. Still, I’m not sure he comes off the board much earlier than No. 27 overall. Meanwhile, the competition might be lacking in Indy. Jordan Davis and Travis Jones are unlikely to wow, and Phidarian Mathis isn’t a great athlete either. Wyatt has a prime opportunity to improve his stock in Indy and solidify a first round selection.

Kasey Hudson: There’s Still Room On The Watson Train, Hop On.

I’ll happily continue to hype up NDSU WR Christian Watson. Watson’s is flying under the radar and turning heads when it counts the most. As much as I would appreciate seeing the versatile receiver in a Bucs uniform, he deserves to be drafted in the first two rounds. I think he’ll solidify his stock at the Combine.

North Dakota State WR Christian Watson – Photo by: USA Today

The three-year NDSU starter can play anywhere. Outside, in the slot and even in the backfield. I know what you are thinking. There are other versatile wide receivers from better schools with larger resumes. What’s the difference here? The 6-4, 211-pound athlete is projected to run a 4.4 or slightly less in the NFL combine! The average Combine results of a successful NFL receiver is a 4.54 forty. Imagine a current Mike Evans build with Scotty Miller speed. Bet you are liking the idea of him in a Bucs uniform now.

Watson in the right system can arguably become one of the top rookies in the NFL next season. The right system is the Bucs’ offense. Watson can help solve the WR3 conversation and be an asset on special teams. While you all have heard my thoughts on Darden’s role and future, Watson can be a healthy challenge to Darden’s abilities. Moreover, it’s the character fit for me. Every scout, former coach and NDSU fan has nothing but the best things to say about Watson’s humility, coachability and grit. Those are traits Tampa Bay’s culture gravitates to. And at the end of the day, who doesn’t love a full circle, ‘welcome home’ story for the Tampa native?

J.C. Allen: Drafting Small School Linemen Isn’t “Strange” For Licht

There’s a very real chance the Bucs could lose both Ryan Jensen and Alex Cappa in free agency this offseason. While there are a few players on the roster the team could turn to there’s very little experience amongst the group. Robert Hainsey, the team’s third round pick in 2021, played only a handful of snaps. 2021 undrafted guard, Nick Leverett played admirably when thrust into action this season when both Ali Marpet and Aaron Stinnie, who is also a free agent, were sidelined with injury. John Molchon and Sadarius Hutcherson are also on the roster, but have yet to play in an NFL since signing with the team as undrafted free agents in 2020 and 2021 respectively.

Bucs C Ryan Jensen – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Which leads me to the point that drafting an offensive lineman in this years draft is almost a certainty. A guy that I have become enamored with is Cole Strange out of Chattanooga. The redshirt senior, started 44 games for the Mocs. 41 came at left guard, two at left tackle and one at center. He has the versatility the Bucs look for in their linemen. Like Hainsey, Strange has been putting in extra work at the center position. At 6-6, 301 pounds, he has a similar build to Cappa as well. Throw in the fact that Jason Licht has a track record drafting small school offensive linemen, he seems like a perfect fit for the Bucs.

What I really like about Strange is the tenacity he plays with. Strange reminds me of Jensen in the way he plays through the whistle with a nasty demeanor. He showed good athleticism at the Senior Bowl, going up against some of the best defensive line prospects in the draft. This kid is a mauler in the run game and stout in the passing game as well. Strange has a good first punch and plays with great balance, leverage and awareness.

However, he will struggle with twitchy rushers and will be 24 years old, but has all the tools to become a quality starting guard in the NFL. I’ll leave you with a quote of his from Justin Melo’s Draft Prospect interview series:

“I know for a fact that I’m going to add to the culture of toughness and physicality because I love to play hard,” Strange said. “If that’s already part of the culture there, I’m going to add to it.”