FAB 3. Was The Bucs’ 2019 Draft Class Licht’s Best?

Bucs general manager Jason Licht has drafted some very good players since taking over the franchise in 2014. Mike Evans, a three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver, was Licht’s first-ever draft pick, and is still his best pick to date.

Licht has selected three other Pro Bowlers in his first six drafts with the team, including quarterback Jameis Winston (2015), middle linebacker Kwon Alexander (2017) and wide receiver Chris Godwin (2019). Winston was the Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year in 2015, too.

Licht has drafted some good players, but how have his draft classes fared in general?

Bucs LG Ali Marpet and LT Donovan Smith – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Only Evans remains from the 2014 draft, yet nearly half of the 2015 class, including offensive linemen Donovan Smith and Ali Marpet – and Winston for now – are still in Tampa Bay, with all four starting on offense.

But Licht’s 2016 draft class, which featured notable misses like cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III, edge rusher Noah Spence and kicker Roberto Aguayo, will be a complete wipeout if special teams ace Ryan Smith, the team’s fourth-round pick, doesn’t return in 2020.

Tampa Bay’s 2017 draft class would look a heck of a lot better if not for a pair of unfortunate injuries to promising young defenders Justin Evans, the team’s second-rounder, and linebacker Kendell Beckwith, a third-rounder. Both started as rookies, with Evans missing the last 20 games due to foot injuries, and a broken ankle costing Beckwith his NFL career.

Tight end O.J. Howard, the Bucs’ first-round pick that year, has Pro Bowl measureables and athletic ability, but has yet to have a true breakout season where he lived up to his draft status. Godwin, who had the third-most receiving yards in the league during his first Pro Bowl season, was an absolute steal in the third round, and one of Licht’s best picks. Licht got two starters from this draft class – and possibly a third if Evans can return from foot surgery and reclaim his starting role in 2020.

Licht’s 2018 draft looked better this year than it did a year ago, as nose tackle Vita Vea, the team’s first-round pick, was healthy for 16 games and became a force inside for the league’s top-ranked rushing defense. Vea also aided the team’s pass rush as he pushed the pocket back and helped Tampa Bay record 47 sacks, which is the second-most in team history.

Licht had three second-round picks in 2018, and running back Ronald Jones II shook off a disastrous rookie season and led the team in rushing yards and touchdowns in 2019. Cornerback Carlton Davis was among the league leaders in pass breakups with 19. Cornerback M.J. Stewart, the team’s other second-rounder, is more of a backup and special teamer than he is a starter.

Bucs NT Vita Vea – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Vea, Jones and Davis are all starters, as is Alex Cappa, Licht’s third-round pick. Cappa made strides in his second year, and became the team’s starting right guard. Jordan Whitehead, the Bucs’ fourth-round pick, was a starting safety in 2019 by default, as Evans and D’Cota Dixon, a promising undrafted free agent, spent the year on injured reserve.

Wide receiver Justin Watson, the fifth-round pick, has been a backup and a special teamer throughout his first two years in Tampa Bay. Watson played better with more opportunities at the end of the year, and could be in the mix for the third receiver role in 2020.

Linebacker Jack Cichy, Licht’s sixth-round pick, is a backup and special teamer there has battled injuries his first two seasons. Licht’s 2018 draft class looks full of solid contributors, but Vea appears to be the only one with Pro Bowl potential.

While Licht’s draft class from 2019 just wrapped up its rookie season, it looks to be his best, most impactful group of draft picks to date.

Inside linebacker Devin White, the fifth overall pick, was a play-making machine after missing two and a half games at the start of the season. White finished with back-to-back NFC Defensive Rookie of the Month awards in November and December and ended the year with 91 tackles, four fumble recoveries, three forced fumbles, three pass breakups, 2.5 sacks, two defensive touchdowns and one interception. White has the look of a perennial Pro Bowler.

Bucs CB Sean Murphy-Bunting – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Licht caused a stir when he drafted Western Michigan cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting in the second round ahead of some more notable cornerbacks from bigger schools. But Murphy-Bunting, who wound up as the starting nickel cornerback, led all NFL rookie cornerbacks with three interceptions, and also had a key pick-six against Detroit.

Cornerback Jamel Dean, the first of two third-round picks, led all NFL rookies with 17 pass breakups and also had two interceptions after emerging as a starting cornerback in the second half of the season. Safety Mike Edwards, who was also drafted in the third round, had a few starts down the stretch, but was slow to develop. He’ll be in the mix for a starting job in 2020, but will need to make more splash plays like he did in college.

The Bucs were thrilled with outside linebacker Anthony Nelson, the team’s fourth-round pick, when he was healthy. Nelson missed time due to knee and hamstring injuries, but Tampa Bay will likely move on from Carl Nassib in free agency and call on Nelson to replace him in the edge rush rotation with Shaquil Barrett and Jason Pierre-Paul – if both are re-signed as expected.

Between White, Murphy-Bunting, Dean, Edwards and Nelson, the Bucs rookies led the league with 35 pass breakups, as well as interceptions with six, and defensive touchdowns with three.

Bucs K Matt Gay – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Licht sent shockwaves through the NFL when he drafted kicker Matt Gay in the fifth round just two years after drafting Aguayo in the second round. Gay proved to be a much better kicker and entered the last week of the season making 84.4 percent of his kicks before a dismal 0-for-3 effort against Atlanta, which dropped his average to 77 percent. Gay has a strong leg and will be the Bucs’ kicker in 2020.

Wide receiver Scotty Miller was the team’s sixth-round pick, and he finally emerged as a deep threat in the second half with a 15.4 average and a touchdown. He’ll compete with Watson for playing time on offense in 2020.

The only draft pick that didn’t make it is defensive tackle Terry Beckner, Jr., who was the team’s seventh-round pick. Licht got four sure-fire starters in 2020 in White, Murphy-Bunting, Dean and Gay in the 2019 draft, as well as players like Edwards, Nelson and Miller that could take on bigger roles in 2020. That’s a damn good draft class, and perhaps Licht’s best in Tampa Bay thus far.