Getty The Buccaneers could take Georgia's Nakobe Dean with the 33rd pick or trade it for more draft capital on Friday, April 29.
Quarterback-hungry team could add to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers‘ “absolute robbery” of a trade during the NFL Draft’s opening night.
The Bucs grabbed the first pick for the second round of the draft on Friday, April 29, by trading the 27th pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Pro Football Focus’ Brad Spielberger called it an “absolute robbery” because the Bucs also picked up the 106th and 180th picks, and all of the picks graded higher than the Jaguars’ 27th pick.
Now, the Bucs could trade that 33rd pick for a team desperately in need of a quarterback for more draft capital according to Greg Auman of The Athletic. Numerous top quarterbacks remain with Liberty’s Malik Willis, Cincinnati’s Desmond Ridder, Nevada’s Sam Howell, and Ole Miss’s Matt Corral. Only Pitt’s Kenny Pickett went in the first round.
“They’re going to get a lot of action to move down again,” Tampa Bay Times reporter Rick Stroud said. “I think there’s strength in numbers here although they passed on some pretty good players.”
After an anticlimactic first round, the Bucs are on the clock first for the second round of the NFL Draft.
@NFLSTROUD, @TBTimes_Bulls, and @rachelwest__ discuss why Tampa Bay traded down and what they might do with the first pick on day two ⬇️
Auman highlighted three options that could work swimmingly for the Bucs. Atlanta, Seattle, and Houston each have a pair of picks apiece between the 37th and 80th spots that could go to the Bucs, Auman noted.
Trading with Atlanta, the Bucs would nab the 43rd and 74th picks. If the Bucs traded with Seattle, the team would get the 41st and 72nd picks. Auman highlighted Central Michigan offensive linemen Bernhard Raimann and Luke Goedeke as quality third-round options.
In a trade with Houston, the Bucs would acquire the 37th and 80th picks. Auman wrote that the Bucs could add value that late with Georgia linebacker Channing Tindall or Jeremy Ruckert.
Trading the 33rd pick doesn’t happen often just twice in the past two decades, Auman noted. The Tennessee Titans grabbed the 40th, 108th, and 245th picks in 2015. The Oakland Raiders netted the 38th and 105th in 2007.
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Who the Bucs Could Take at 33
If the Bucs stay at 33, the team has good options with the pick. The top-two rated remaining prospects include Clemson cornerback Andrew Booth and Georgia linebacker Nakobe Dean, Auman reported.
Andrew Booth Jr. is ready to bring his highlight reel INTs to an NFL team. 💯
📺: 2022 #NFLDraft — April 28-30 on NFLN/ESPN/ABC
Pewter Report’s Jon Ledyard suggested Houston edge rusher Logan Hall, Colorado State tight McBride, Michigan edge rusher David Ojabo, Oklahoma defensive tackle Perrion Winfrey, and Penn State safety Jaquan Brisker. Sports Illustrated’s Bucs Gameday suggested defensive lineman Travis Jones from UConn, Boye Mafe from Minnesota, and Kyler Gordon from Washington in addition to some of the aforementioned players.
It’s Been a While for the Bucs
Last time the Bucs traded down from the first round in 1998 per Buccaneer.com’s Scott Smith, the Bucs picked up two second round picks in Brian Kelly and Jacquez Green. Both players contributed to the Bucs Super Bowl season in 2002.
Licht hinted at such a strategy in his pre-draft press conference on April 19. Knight anticipated the first trade before the draft via social media.
“There may not be 30 guys that you think are legit first-round picks, but there’s going to be a lot of good players in the middle rounds,” Licht told the media.
Trading the 33rd pick doesn’t happen often just twice in the past two decades, Auman noted. The Tennessee Titans grabbed the 40th, 108th, and 245th picks in 2015. The Oakland Raiders netted the 38th and 105th in 2007.
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