Well, friends, we made it.

Last week I received the question a few times asking if I was going to give out a “Bucs Big Board” before the draft. Since I’m a man of the people, I have granted that wish.

Now, this is not the Buccaneers official Big Board as it stand in Jason Licht’s office. This is what I personally believe the Buccaneers Big Board looks like (or, close to it) after picking up hints, clues, texts, conversations and just learning more about how the Buccaneers’ decision makers operate and the train of thought they seem to work under throughout the draft season.

So, here it is:

Here are a couple of notes.

The players at the top are quite simply the best football players in this class, and the ones whose skills translate to what the Buccaneers like to do on offense or defense based on their college tape. Myles Garrett, regardless of scheme, is the top man. After that, Adams, Lattimore, Williams and Howard would be no brainers as the top prospects to have at their position, I think. And when it comes to McCaffrey, the NFL loves him. I don’t think Jason Licht is any different.

PewterReport.com has been projecting the Buccaneers to take either Budda Baker or Adoree’ Jackson in the first round this year, either at No. 19 or in a trade back, and that is because I think both are Top 15, perhaps even Top 10 on Tampa Bay’s board in terms of having a high floor (safe picks) as well as great fits to the scheme and long-term plan.

I referenced that word “safe” in the lasts sentence of the previous paragraph, and I think that is a theme of the Buccaneer’s big board this year. Licht even said in his pre-draft press conference the quote, “there are plenty of safe, clean players in this draft [who are good football players].” That makes me think that players like Dalvin Cook, Joe Mixon, Malik McDowell, Reuben Foster, Caleb Brantley and even David Njoku to a degree, where talented, and for various reasons with each, not just character reasons, could be lower on their board than we think. In a contract year where Licht knows his team is just a few pieces away from the playoffs, I think he’s going to go for safe picks rather than risk it, home run hopefuls like he has in the past. However, “safe” doesn’t mean he won’t do his share of moving around this draft. I’d expect more than one trade to happen.

Speaking of, no Obi Melifonwu on this list, and Corey Davis is also quite low. From one or more of those hints I’ve gathered throughout the offseason, the team is lower on both of those players than the fans and even myself have been.

There are a few pass rushers near the top to choose from, but I don’t think Kansas State’s Jordan Willis is one of them. I think Charles Harris, Derek Barnett and Taco Charlton would be picks before Willis. Just my hunch.

So, that’s my best guess, folks. I’m certainly no prophet, but with only hours and minutes from the first pick of the 2017 NFL Draft, I wanted to give you any leftover information I had.

Make sure you tune into our live draftcast for all three days of the NFL draft starting tonight. Come watch the draft with us, react to each pick in real time, and keep the chat room and comments flowing with your take on each pick. See you then!