I enter the 2018 NFL Draft trying to address needs at defensive end, defensive tackle, running back, safety and adding depth at cornerback and the offensive line.

I’m tempted to have Tampa Bay stay at No. 7 and draft Washington defensive tackle Vita Vea or Ohio State cornerback Denzel Ward, but Arizona, which has the 15th overall pick, calls and wants to trade up. I look at the draft trade chart and make a deal with the quarterback-needy Cardinals that will give the Bucs the 15th pick in the first round and Arizona’s second-round pick, which is No. 47 overall. I also secure the Cardinals’ sixth-round pick in 2019 as part of the trade, which gives the Bucs nine selections in the 2018 NFL Draft.

Bucs’ 2018 Draft Picks

Round 1 (No. 15 – from Arizona) – UTSA DE Marcus Davenport – Senior

You didn’t think I was done at defensive end with the signing of Alex Okafor did you? Davenport is raw and not a finished product, but I liked what I saw at the Senior Bowl. He struggled early, but got better all week and had a fantastic Senior Bowl game with half a sack and a fumble recovery for a touchdown. At 6-foot-6, 264 Davenport ran an impressive 4.58 at the NFL Scouting Combine with a 1.63 10-yard split, and improved every year at UTSA to finish with 37.5 tackles for loss, 21.5 sacks, eight passes defensed, six forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries, including one for a touchdown. Okafor, Davenport and Spence are three guys that can get to the quarterback off the edge, and Tampa Bay’s first-round pick has star potential. With his size, length and strong hands, Davenport can rush off the edge in a 4-3 or 3-4 scheme.

Round 2 (No. 38) – San Diego State RB Rashaad Penny – Senior

Tampa Bay is need of an explosive, starting-caliber running back, and I’ve been Penny’s campaign manager since last September. Penny, who was the nation’s leading rusher with 2,248 yards and 23 rushing touchdowns, is not a banger despite being 5-foot-11, 220 pounds, but he won’t shy away from contact, either. But what he loves to do – and does best – is run to daylight. Penny was the Senior Bowl Offensive MVP and showcased his 4.46 speed on a 73-yard touchdown catch in the game. Penny is explosive in the run game, catching the ball out of the backfield and in the return game where he has returned seven kicks and one punt for touchdowns.

Round 2 (No. 47 – From Arizona) – Fort Hays State DT Nathan Shepherd – Senior
Shepherd is a big man at 6-foot-5, 315 pounds and dazzled at the Combine with a 5.09 time in the 40-yard dash. Playing at a small school like Fort Hays State, Shepherd, who hails from Canada, was his conference’s defensive player of the year with 38 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss and four sacks despite being constantly double-teamed. Shepherd has the size and athleticism to play nose tackle in a 4-3 or 3-4 Under scheme. He was unblockable for the first two Senior Bowl practices before breaking his hand and would look great next to Pro Bowler Gerald McCoy in Tampa Bay.

Round 3 (No. 69) – Humboldt State OL Alex Cappa – Senior

Cappa is a nasty blocker who shined at the Senior Bowl. He is a tenacious finisher in both the running and passing game. The Bucs could use some depth at both guard and tackle. Cappa was a left tackle in college due to his 6-foot-7, 305-frame and his athleticism, but practiced at both guard and tackle in Mobile, Ala. and played both positions in the Senior Bowl game. The Bucs could view Cappa as a potential starting guard or right tackle, and he would be a great value in the third round.

Round 4 (No. 108) – UCF LB Shaquem Griffin – Senior

After a sensational NFL Scouting Combine in which he ran a 4.38 and put up 20 reps of 225 pounds with a prosthetic hand, Griffin may be gone by the fourth round. But if he isn’t it would be great to see the Bucs draft this tremendous football player, who is an inspiration to all. Griffin has great leadership and playmaking ability, evidenced by his 33.5 tackles for loss, 18.5 sacks three interceptions, four forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries, including one for a touchdown at UCF. Last year, Griffin was the American Conference Defensive MVP as he helped lead the Knights to an undefeated season. Griffin is not just a hometown, feel-good story. With Adarius Glanton’s injury, the Bucs need depth at outside linebacker, and Griffin’s speed off the edge could help Tampa Bay’s pass rush, either in a 4-3 scheme or a 3-4.

Round 5 (No. 144) – Arizona State RB Kalen Ballage – Senior

Ballage is a tremendous Day 3 value pick as Tampa Bay bolsters its ground game with this 6-foot-1, 227-pound athletic bruiser. Ballage ran a 4.46 at the NFL Scouting Combine and had an impressive 6.91 time in the 3-cone drill. Ballage rushed for 1,984 yards and 27 touchdowns in four years at Arizona State, in addition to catching 82 passes for 684 yards and two touchdowns, which shows his versatility. The tandem of Penny and Ballage give the Bucs two dynamic running backs for the long haul, while Peyton Barber and Jerick McKinnon provide the team with proven veteran play.

Round 6 (No. 180) – Southern CB Danny Johnson – Senior

The Bucs need to draft and develop another cornerback, especially since Brent Grimes and Ross Cockrell are on short-term deals and questions linger about the future of former first-round pick Vernon Hargreaves III. At 5-foot-10, 185 pounds Johnson is big enough to play in Tampa Bay’s scheme and is fast enough with a 4.44 time in the 40-yard dash. Johnson performed well at the Senior Bowl against better competition, and proved he belonged after recording an astounding 17 interceptions in his four years as a starter. Johnson has some Grimes like qualities to him in terms of instincts and being able to highpoint the ball on 50-50 passes and come down with the INT.

Round 6 (No. 202 – from Pittsburgh) – Arizona SS Dane Cruikshank – Senior

Running a 4.44 at 6-1, 206 and putting up 25 reps of 225 pounds, Cruikshank (pronounced crook-shank) has good combination of size and speed. What I like is Cruikshank’s ability to play near the line of scrimmage in run support or as a blitzer off the edge. He loves to hit hard and fills a need at strong safety for the Bucs. I think this kid is a real sleeper because he also has the ability to cover down the seam and has solid hands. Cruikshank had five interceptions in two years at Arizona, and picked off both UCLA QB Josh Rosen and USC QB Sam Darnold last year.

Round 7 (No. 255 – compensatory pick) – Kansas State WR Byron Pringle – Junior

This may seem like a “homer” pick because I went to K-State, but it’s also a “homer” pick because Pringle hails from Tampa and currently resides in Lutz. He grew up a Bucs fan and would love nothing more than to bring his 4.46 to his hometown team. The Bucs have a need at kick returner and Pringle averaged 27.6 yards per return for the Wildcats and scored two touchdowns. Tampa Bay needs to round out its receiving corps and needs help on special teams. Pringle is hard-working and hungry, but needs to show better concentration to avoid drops. When he’s focused, he can go deep, evidenced by Pringle’s 19.6 yards per catch average in his two years at K-State, including his 24.1-yard average last year thanks to a monster game against Oklahoma State.

The Bucs sign former Marshall quarterback Chase Litton, a 6-foot-6, 232-pound project from Tampa, as an undrafted free agent to challenge Ryan Griffin for the third quarterback job, and also add Kansas State kicker Matthew McCrane as an undrafted free agent to serve as training camp competition for Patrick Murray.

Click the next page for my “Way Too Early” Projected Bucs’ 53-Man Roster.