On paper, the Bucs roster is pretty solid (it was decently solid before all these battle plan changes). With smaller upgrades to both trenches, as well as at running back and with a lot of help at the cornerback position, I’ve positioned myself to take the best player available at the most crucial spots.

In this draft, I have traded back from No. 7 overall to No. 21 and No. 22, as well as picking up an extra second-round pick in exchange for the Buffalo Bills moving up to get what is likely their quarterback. Due to the Michael Bennett trade, I do not have a fourth-round pick, but trading back still gives me plenty of draft ammunition.

Here’s how my draft would play out.

Bucs’ 2018 Draft Picks

Round 1 (No. 21 – from BUF) – Alabama DT Da’Ron Payne

Payne had a pretty quite career in Tuscaloosa before the college football playoff in 2017.

Not only did Payne have to wait his turn behind the likes of Jarran Reed, Jonathan Allen and A’Shawn Robinson, Payne also played a position that does most of the dirty work and doesn’t get much of the statistical attention with just five career tackles for loss and three career sacks. But, if you’ll turn on his tape, you don’t need the stats to see this man is a monster in the middle.

At 6-foot-2, 311 pounds, Payne’s 4.95 40-yard dash at the Combine put him in the 83rd percentile for players his size. His burst off the line of scrimmage is great in pass rush, and he’s a player who can anchor hard against the run. He would be a fantastic compliment and a big energy boost to Gerald McCoy.

Round 1 (No. 22 – from BUF) – Ohio State DE Sam Hubbard

In my second pick of the first round i wouldn’t go too far from the thought of Payne and would double-dip in the defensive line category with the selection of Hubbard.

Hubbard was a former safety before he packed on 60 pounds and became a defensive lineman, and that background is evident by how athletic he is for an edge player. Hubbard is still raw as a prospect, as you would expect for a player how had to put on that much weight, but he still managed to get 30 career tackles for loss and 17 career sacks in three years at OSU. The most alluring part of Hubbard for the Buccaneers would be that, though his base is as a traditional 4-3 defensive end, he can play inside and out on the defensive line. He’s basically a younger Robert Ayers from 2016, in that sense.

Hubbard’s 6.48 3-cone drill at the Combine put him in the 97th percentile in a drill that is often key for edge rushers, speed rusher especially. At 6-foot-5, 270 pounds with that potential bend and speed, he won’t get out of the first round, and he wouldn’t get past me at No. 22.

https://youtu.be/BIYMBnhErMg

Round 2 (No. 38) – Fort Hays State DT Nathan Shepherd

Three defensive linemen in a row, huh, Trev?

Yes, this team was the worst pass rush team I’ve ever seen at the professional level in 2017, and I won’t stand for it again.

If you follow my work on PewterReport.com or on Twitter, you know I’m a big fan of Shepherd. Born in Canada, Shepherd didn’t have a lot of football options, and didn’t even get up to appropriate defensive line weight until he transferred to Fort Hays State after not having the finances to continue at his first college. I didn’t know anything about Shepherd before I saw him at the 2018 Senior Bowl, and he was by far the most impressive prospect there. After seeing him there and going back to his tape, he’s the real deal — his Combine performance prove that, too. He’s a 315-pound man who moves like a 270-pound linebacker and hits like a mack truck. He holds the point of attack well and has very strong hands against blockers.

Due to his small-school background, as well as his age (he’ll be 25 in October), I think he’ll be available in the second round. I’d take him in a heartbeat.

Round 2 (No. 56 – from BUF) – Ohio State C Billy Price

Price had an unfortunate injury during the bench press portion of the NFL Combine, but that could open up the door for the Buccaneers to get a bit of a steal in the second round.

By using the second round pick acquired from Buffalo, I’d take either Price or Iowa’s James Daniels here in the second round which would allow Ali Marpet to move back to guard. Price has a captain and a leader of the Buckeyes team, and after his injury at the Combine, he said something along the lines of “You’d have to put a bullet in between us Buckeyes’ eyes to stop playing football.”

Yep, I’ll take that guy in my tranches, thank you very much.

Price, who played guard for three seasons and moved to center as a senior, started 55 consecutive games at Ohio State to top Luke Fickell’s school record for starts and consecutive starts of 50. Price also tied Pat Elflein’s school record for most games played by an Ohio State football player: 55.

Round 3 (No. 69) – UCF LB Shaquem Griffin

Yes, I would take UCF’s Shaquem Griffin in round three. Heck, if I was a team that needed a linebacker more than the Bucs do, I’d take him before this.

People have asked, “How is he going to play in the NFL at a high level with one hand?”

My answer to that: The same way he played in college at a high level with one hand.

Griffin was the American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year in his first year as a starting outside linebacker in 2016 with 20 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks. The following season, he recorded 13.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks as the defensive leader on UCF’s 13-0 team. If that’s not enough for you, how about this: Griffin posted 20 reps on the bench press while using a prosthetic hand and recorded a 4.38 40-yard dash, the fastest time ever for a linebacker.

Beyond that, I’ve talked to Griffin twice now, once at the Senior Bowl and once at the Combine, and I have yet to meet a better person in my years of covering the draft. He’ll make the team on the field better and he’ll make the locker room better, too.

Draft him — I would.

Round 5 (No. 144) – Tennessee RB John Kelly

Getting into some of the later-round picks, John Kelly is a back who I could see complementing this Bucs running back group well.

The Buccaneers did meet with Kelly at the Combine, and I think that’s a good fit — Kelly did, too, as he told me he thinks he could be a nice fit down here, plus mentioning the weather.

Kelly never eclipsed the 1,000-yard rushing mark in college, but that’s because he was behind Alvin Kamara for two years and then the Volunteers being so awful in 2017. Kelly was just about their only offense. He as great balance, loves to get yards after contact and is still relatively young.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOMf7rchDO8

Round 6 (No. 180) – Florida WR Antonio Callaway

Former Florida wide receiver Antonio Callaway would be going a lot higher than this if it weren’t for his off the field issues, but it’s the sixth round, and I’m all about taking chances this late in the draft.

Callaway was one of the most explosive players in all of college football before a credit card felony (which turned into a misdemeanor) led to him being removed from the gators program. His 4.44 40-yard dash at the Combine prove the kind of downfield threat he could be, and has tape running all over players like Desmond King and Minkah Fitzpatrick in certain games. As a late-round guy who can be an explosive return man, too, I’m fine with this risk.

Round 6 (No. 202) – Florida K Eddy Pineiro

With Patrick Murray gone, I would have my sights set on Florida Gators kicker Eddy Pineiro.

Pineiro was a former soccer player who turned into one of the more prized transfer players two years ago, in which he chose Florida over Alabama. Pineiro has an incredibly strong and consistent leg. He’s shown he can make kicks under pressure, and can really boot the ball in the back of the end zone. I know some Bucs fans get PTSD seeing a kicker being drafted, but Pineiro is worth it this late.

Round 7 (No. 255 – Compensatory Pick) – Florida S Marcell Harris

Harris was due to have a very solid year as a the Gators strong safety before an Achilles tear ended his final collegiate season prematurely.

So long as all the medicals and recovery check out, I think he’s worth a late-round pick, as the Bucs are still searching for a strong safety to pair with Evans as the free safety.