It’s no secret that having success in the NFL Draft requires a good bit of luck. Sure, there are “safe” prospects. But those players are usually at the top of the board, selected early due to their attributes. As teams start moving later through the draft, it really becomes about projecting what a player could be.

The name of the game when you’re not picking at the top is to have as many throws at the dart board as possible. Not every pick is going to be a hit.

With the Bucs having the No. 27 selection, there are a few scenarios that could play out in the team’s favor. Some experts project Georgia defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt to Tampa Bay at the bottom of the first round. I’m still not convinced. There are too many defensive tackle-needy teams in front of the Bucs. It would be miraculous if Wyatt was still on the board.

Georgia DT Devonte Wyatt – Photo by: USA Today

Tampa Bay has brought in or met with quite a few wide receivers projected to go in the first round. Though it’s looking more likely that Chris Olave and Treylon Burks are gone before the 27th pick.

The Bucs have also been looking at some corners as well. A potential position of need with both Jamel Dean and Sean Murphy-Bunting becoming free agents next season. However, they haven’t brought in any of the big-name, first-round prospects and they are projected to be off the board before 27 anyway.

Then there is the elephant in the room – the first-round guard talk. Do I think the Bucs should take a guard round one? No. Plain and simple this is a deep draft at the position and they can still get a quality offensive lineman in the second or third rounds. Perhaps someone like Dylan Parham or Cole Strange.

Of the two top names at the position, I’d be more inclined to select Zion Johnson over Kenyon Green. But it’s looking like even he won’t be available when the Bucs are on the clock.

As Tampa Bay comes on the clock, it’s very likely most of the top prospects on their board will have been selected. If the likes of Olave, Burks, Wyatt and Johnson are all off the board, the Bucs should try to trade back. Jason Licht has said himself there’s a lot of depth in the middle to late rounds at numerous positions. Of course it takes two to tango, but with positional fits and needs available in those rounds, adding picks would be a tactical move. Especially with the gap the Bucs currently have between the fourth (133) and seventh rounds (241 and 261). The question is how far do they want to move back?

The Bucs use their own trade evaluation chart, but here are a few trades they could make to gain extra draft capital using the Rich Hill trade chart.

The Dream Scenario:

Falcons trade: 43 and 58 (231 points)

Bucs trade: 27 (216 points)

Potentially looking to jump back into the first round to select a quarterback, Atlanta could offer the farm to move up. This would give the Bucs three picks in the second round and three within the top 60. In addition the Bucs would have flexibility to trade back if they wanted to gain even more picks. While unlikely, it’s not unprecedented. In 2018, Baltimore traded a second- (No. 52), fourth-round picks, and a 2019 second-rounder for Philadelphia’s first (No. 32) and fourth-rounder to select QB Lamar Jackson.

Move Into The Early Second:

Bucs GM Jason Licht – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Seahawks trade: 41 and 72 (213 points)

Bucs trade: 27 (216 points)

Another team that could be in the quarterback market that could decide to jump other QB needy teams. This would give the Bucs two third-rounders and flexibility to move around the draft the way they see fit. The Chargers made a similar trade in 2020 to move back into the first round to pick No. 23 from No 37.

Move Into The Top Of The Second:

Jaguars trade: 33, 106 and 180 (220 points)

Bucs trade: 27 and 261 (217 points)

The Jags could make a move to get back into the first round here leapfrogging other teams for the coveted fifth-year option on a prospect. The Bucs fill in some draft capital from their fourth to seventh round picks and also give themselves flexibility to move around the board. They give up a seventh-rounder in addition to 27. In 2016, San Francisco traded second-, fourth- and fifth-round picks to Kansas City for pick No. 28 and a seventh-rounder to move up nine spots.

Move Back In The First:

Lions trade: 32 and 97 (222 points)

Bucs trade: 27 (216 points)

The Bucs stay in the first round in this final trade scenario. Detroit would move up jumping ahead of the other teams in front of them to possibly secure a quarterback before other teams could trade up for one or potentially another prospect they covet. In 2016, the Broncos made a similar trade to move up for quarterback Paxton Lynch giving up No. 31 and No. 94 to Seattle for No. 26.