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About the Author: Scott Reynolds

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Scott Reynolds is in his 30th year of covering the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as the vice president, publisher and senior Bucs beat writer for PewterReport.com. Author of the popular SR's Fab 5 column on Fridays, Reynolds oversees web development and forges marketing partnerships for PewterReport.com in addition to his editorial duties. A graduate of Kansas State University in 1995, Reynolds spent six years giving back to the community as the defensive coordinator/defensive line coach for his sons' Pop Warner team, the South Pasco Predators. Reynolds can be reached at: [email protected]
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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers added speed, leadership and playmaking ability to their defense with the selection of LSU inside linebacker Devin White with the fifth overall pick. Now Tampa Bay has to address other needs on Day 2. The Bucs have the 39th overall pick to start things off, and general manager Jason Licht needs to produce a better pick in the second round, which has been his Achilles heel in Tampa Bay.

Here is a look at the positions of need and the players that are available as the second day of the draft begins with the start of Round 2 at 7:00 p.m. ET on Friday, April 26.

Cornerbacks

The Bucs could use another play-making cornerback, preferably one with the position flexibility to play outside and in the slot. Defensive coordinator Todd Bowles wants big, fast, physical cornerbacks, and Licht needs to draft a ball-hawking playmaker.

Washington CB Byron Murphy
The Bucs love Murphy’s ability to play man coverage and make plays on the ball. They just wish he were a tick faster and a bit bigger in size. Murphy has first-round ability, but second-round measurables.

Lsu Cb Greedy Williams - Photo By: Getty Images

LSU CB Greedy Williams – Photo by: Getty Images

LSU CB Greedy Williams
Williams loves to cover, but is suspect against the run, as he’s not a great tackler. Williams has great size and 4.38 speed, but isn’t the most fluid athlete, which is why he slid into Day 2.

Temple CB Rock Ya-Sin
Ya-Sin had a great Senior Bowl where his draft stock took off. Ya-Sin has a good combination of size (6-0, 192) and speed (4.51) and didn’t allow a pass of 20 yards or more at Temple last year.

Central Michigan CB Sean Bunting
The Bucs want to improve the speed of their defense and Bunting ran a 4.42 at the NFL Scouting Combine and has good size at 6-foot, 190. The Bucs were at his pro day and had him in for a Top 30 visit.

Notre Dame CB Julian Love

Love is quick, physical and really has a nose for the ball. He’s ultra-competitive and forces a ton of pass breakups to go along with the occasional interception.

Penn State CB Amani Oruwariye

The Tampa native has good size and instincts to make up for his lack of speed. He’s an ideal No. 2 cornerback, but may not be talented enough to be anything more.

Auburn CB Jamel Dean
The Bucs had Dean in for a pre-draft visit and drafted his former teammate Carlton Davis in the second round last year. Dean is big, physical and fast, running a 4.30, which was one of the fastest times for a cornerback at the NFL Scouting Combine. Dean is a Bucs’ Best Bet (Rounds 1-3).

Clemson CB Trayvon Mullen
Mullen would bring championship experience, physicality and some good instincts to the cornerback position in Tampa Bay.

Safeties

Tampa Bay could use another play-making safety as Justin Evans is still recovering from a turf toe and there are a lot of young, unproven players at the safety position.

Delaware S Nasir Adderley

Delaware S Nasir Adderley – Photo courtesy of Univ. of Delaware

Delaware FS Nasir Adderley
Adderley was coached by Bucs safeties coach Nick Rapone at Delaware last year, and this play-making ballhawk could play free safety or cornerback in Tampa Bay.

Florida SS Chauncey Gardner–Johnson

Gardner-Johnson played both single high safety and in the box at Florida and is a lights-out hitter and skilled playmaker in the secondary.

Virginia FS Juan Thornhill
Thornhill had a very good senior bowl to cap off a great college career in which he had 13 interceptions, including six last year. He’s one of the fastest safeties, running a 4.42 at the Combine.

Washington SS Taylor Rapp
The Bucs loved Rapp’s film, production and instincts, but his 4.77 time in the 40-yard dash will cause his stock to tumble. For a team that wants to add speed, Rapp may be too slow for Tampa Bay.

Right Tackles

Demar Dotson will turn 34 this year and is in the final year of his contract. It’s time for the Bucs to draft an heir apparent as Caleb Benenoch might not be good enough to start.

Kansas State RT Dalton Risner
The Bucs had a private workout for Risner and love his strength, leadership qualities and his ability to play either right tackle or right guard at the next level. Risner is a Bucs’ Best Bet (Rounds 1-3).

Gators Rt Jawaan Taylor

Gators RT Jawaan Taylor – Photo by: Jay Metz

Florida RT Jawaan Taylor
Taylor had a bad medical report on his knee, which kept him out of the first round. The Bucs love his tape, but is he off their board? How far will Taylor fall?

Oklahoma RT Cody Ford

There’s a pretty good chance Ford goes before No. 39, but the Bucs brought him for a pre-draft visit and have the need for an eventual replacement for right tackle Demar Dotson.

Northern Illinois RT Max Scharping
Scharping is one of the better pass protectors in this draft, and has experience playing left and right tackle. He had a solid showing at he Senior Bowl and a formal interview with the Bucs at the NFL Scouting Combine.

Elon RT Oli Udoh
Udoh is a big, raw right tackle from a small school that is probably a year away from contending for a starting spot. He’s likely a Day 3 pick, but Tytus Howard going in the first round shows anything is possible, and Udoh could wind up being drafted in the second round.

Defensive Ends

The Bucs are thin at the five-technique defensive end position where Will Gholston is the current starter. The problem is that Gholston is a one-dimensional run-stuffer and Tampa Bay wants a defensive end that can also rush the passer.

Boston College De Zach Allen

Boston College DE Zach Allen – Photo by: Getty Images

Boston College DE Zach Allen
Tampa Bay loves Allen’s size, strength, quickness and hustle. He’s a better pass rusher than Will Gholston and would replace him at the five-tech defensive end position. Allen is a PewterReport.com Bucs’ Best Bet at DE (Rounds 1-3).

Ohio State DE Dre’mont Jones
Jones is a versatile defensive lineman that could play the five-tech defensive end spot, but also has value to kick inside in nickel defense and rush the passer from the three-tech spot.

Edge Rushers

Tampa Bay passed on Kentucky outside linebacker Josh Allen and opted for White in the first round. There are still plenty of good pass rushers left and one could be had in Day 2.

Florida OLB Jachai Polite

Polite bombed some interviews at the Combine, in addition to the drills in Indy and at his pro day, but he can get to the QB with skill – and he visited One Buc Place.

Louisiana Tech De Jaylon Ferguson

Louisiana Tech DE Jaylon Ferguson – Photo by: Getty Images

Louisiana Tech OLB Jaylon Ferguson

Ferguson had an NCAA-record 45 sacks in college and visited the Bucs. He’s a bit stiff, but has nice speed-to-power and could be a star edge rusher in the NFL. Ferguson was the second-round pick in PewterReport.com’s FINAL 2019 Bucs’ 7-Round Mock Draft.

Michigan OLB Chase Winovich
Edge rushers will be in demand in the first 50 picks, and Winovich was more productive than Rashan Gary, a player that got drafted ahead of him, at Michigan.

Wide Receivers

The Bucs spent a lot of time researching wide receivers leading up to the draft and there’s a good chance they draft one considering they traded away DeSean Jackson and lost Adam Humphries in free agency. Tampa Bay will either be looking for a speed receiver or a big receiver – preferably both.

Ole Miss WR D.K. Metcalf
Metcalf generated a ton of buzz at the NFL Scouting Combine after blazing a 4.33 at 6-foot-3, 228 pounds. What kept him out of the first round is unreliable hands and a neck injury last year.

Ohio State WR Parris Campbell
Campbell is a fringe first-round talent that the Bucs like an awful lot. He’s incredibly fast (4.31) and polished, and is a big play waiting to happen.

South Carolina WR Deebo Samuel
It’s a little too early for Ohio State’s Terry McLaurin, who is also on Tampa Bay’s radar, but Samuel is a Chris Godwin clone with a running back build and 4.48 speed.

Ohio State WR Terry McLaurin
McLaurin played opposite Campbell at Ohio State and is nearly as fast (4.35). He’s a Bucs’ Best Bet (Rounds 1-3) and would look good in red and pewter in the third round.

Baylor Wr Jalen Hurd

Baylor WR Jalen Hurd – Photo by: Getty Images

Baylor WR Jalen Hurd
Hurd is a Bucs Best Bet (Rounds 4-7), but he could be drafted in the third round due to his size (6-5, 220) and his ability to play running back and wide receiver.

UMass WR Andy Isabella
The Bucs have shown a good deal of interest in Isabella, who is one of the fastest receivers in this draft (4.31). His lack of size (5-9, 188) will likely push him into the third round.

Running Backs

The Bucs coaching staff is very high on the current stable of running backs, which includes Peyton Barber, who was only signed to a one-year deal, and Ronald Jones II, who is coming off a disastrous rookie season after being a second-round pick. The Bucs could use a fast running back that can catch the ball in the middle rounds.

Memphis RB Darrell Henderson
It’s doubtful that the Bucs would draft another second-round running back after taking RoJo, but Henderson can run and catch – and absolutely fly. He’s special and would be a great pick-up in the third round.

Penn State Rb Miles Sanders

Penn State RB Miles Sanders – Photo by: Getty Images

Penn State RB Miles Sanders
Sanders is bigger than Henderson, but isn’t as fast or explosive. Still, he has less mileage on his tires after being Saquon Barkley’s understudy for three years and is on the rise.

Alabama RB Damien Harris
Harris has a good – but not great – combination of size and speed (4.57). He’s a solid running back, but is he special? Harris is likely a third-round pick.

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