The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are up next in the GGN Draft, represented by one of our best contributors, nrmax88.
With the third pick in the Gang Green Nation Community Mock Draft, nrmax88 picks for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers...
Russell Okung
I pondered Haden, thought about Ryan Matthews, considered Berry, but when it came down to it, TB needs help everywhere, and Okung is a beast who can jump in at tackle and contribute immediately. As we saw with the Jets, a good team starts based on their offensive line, and a cornerstone left tackle is the first step to doing that. I realize Okung may not be the popular or sexy pick, but with both big DT's gone, and no trading back (which I think may be best for the Bucs, with so many holes, if McCoy and Suh are gone), I had Okung as the BAP.
My Thoughts:
I think Berry or Haden would be wasted to a degree in a Tampa 2 defense like the Bucs run. The scheme requires secondary players to almost exclusively play zone on a small portion of the field. They would still be very good, but the scheme is designed so that Joe Corner or Safety can do a decent job in the secondary.
I like the pick for a few reasons. The first of which is starting left tackle Donald Penn's contract status is unclear. He wants a long term deal, but the team has been hesitant to give him one. Okung would be insurance. If the team still wants to give Penn a long term deal, they can move either him or Okung inside or to the right side. It's against conventional wisdom to take a lineman this high to play a position other than left tackle, but I think conventional wisdom is dumb. As nrmax88 said, it's about building a great offensive line, which requires five pieces. The success rate for first round tackles is very high, and you want a relatively sure thing for the money you'll be paying with this pick. Nice work, nrmax88.
David's Thoughts:
I really wouldn't go OT this early in the draft with the Bucs, Donald Penn who is the starting left tackle for them has really shown improvements over the last couple of years, and he potentially can be the future at that position being only 26. If he can maintain a level weight then they could sign him up for a long time before he becomes a unrestricted free agent next year. I wouldn't be surprised to see them go for the offensive line with one of their picks in the 2nd, there is good depth here. Take the play maker at 3 in Eric Berry and then pick up some offensive line help in the 2nd. That's what I would do if I were the Bucs.