Reynolds’ Selections 16-20

16. S Dexter Jackson
17. TE Cameron Brate
18. G Ali Marpet
19. G Frank Middleton
20. KR Karl “The Truth” Williams

Reynolds’ Reaction – Picks 16-20

Former Bucs safety Dexter Jackson

I finish off my secondary in the 16th round with the selection of the Super Bowl XXXVII MVP, safety Dexter Jackson. My version of Tampa Bay’s defensive backfield consists of cornerbacks Ronde Barber and Donnie Abraham and safeties Dwight Smith and Jackson. Barber, Smith and Jackson were all Super Bowl participants with Barber turning in the best play in franchise history – a crucial, 92-yard pick-six in the 2002 NFC Championship Game – and Smith and Jackson combined for four of the Bucs’ five interceptions in the Super Bowl. And who had the other interception, which happened to be a pick-six? Oh yeah, my first pick in PewterReport.com’s Bucs Fantasy Draft – linebacker Derrick Brooks.

In the 17th round, I pick Brate to fill my tight end spot. It was interesting to see Sikkema pick Howard one spot ahead of me given the fact that he hasn’t caught a pass in the NFL last year, while Brate, who is ahead of him on the depth chart, had eight touchdowns, which was tied for the most in the league among all tight ends last year. With Brate and wide receivers Mark Carrier and Kevin House along with all-purpose back James Wilder, my passing game will be quite potent and capable of moving the chains at will or striking from long distance.

In the 18th round, I started a run on guards with the selection of Marpet because I like his upside and his position versatility. It was a tough decision over Joseph, a two-time Pro Bowler, whom Sikkema selected next, but I pulled the trigger on the young mauler. I was absolutely stunned to see Cook take Hawley as his center, especially with Tony Mayberry, Jeff Christy and Jeff Faine still available. I like Hawley, but he’s been a two-year starter in Tampa Bay and is being replaced this year by Marpet. Not a smart pick, and Cook really rolled the dice with the selection of Sweezy, who has yet to play a down in Tampa Bay.

Former Bucs G Frank Middleton

The run on guards was in full swing when I took a real sleeper pick in Middleton to play opposite Marpet. Middleton was a big-time pile driver in the WD-40 days of Mike Alstott and Warrick Dunn and brings size, power and attitude to my offensive line. I almost drafted Mayberry in the 19th round as my center, but with Cook taking Hawley and Sikkema, our resident Millennial, who probably doesn’t even know who Mayberry is, I wanted to grab Middleton before Cook did.

In the 20th round I wanted to give my special teams a boost by drafting the Bucs’ all-time return specialist in Williams. There is plenty to like about “The Truth,” starting with the fact that his five punt returns for touchdown are the most in team history by a long shot. He had 2,279 punt return yards for a 10.7 average, and 1,227 kick return yards. Factor in his 1,770 receiving yards and seven touchdowns as a wide receiver, and Williams had 5,205 all-purpose yards in Tampa Bay. That’s the fifth best all-purpose yardage total in Bucs history behind Wilder, Alstott, Dunn and Michael Pittman.

Next, let’s find out how Sikkema could take a player who hasn’t even played a down for the Buccaneers yet.