The first day of the NFL Draft has come and gone, so now it’s time for the fun part: draft grades. The Bucs only had one pick in the first round, so it might be a little tough to give them a substantial grade, but it doesn’t hurt to try. As a bonus, we’ll look at picks from the other teams in Florida and the Bucs’ opponents in the NFC South.
Tampa Bay Bucs: Grade: A-
The Bucs did what everyone expected the team to do. It drafted an offensive lineman to protect TB12. And there’s a good reason why it was expected. It was the right thing to do. Plus, the Bucs got a really good one in their pick of Tristan Wirfs. Wirfs was kind of all over the boards in the mock drafts (as was everyone else; some draft boards had the Bucs getting Georgia’s Andrew Thomas, who went no. 4 to the Giants), but the general consensus is that Wirfs is a solid tackle who will be ready to play Week 1. The Bucs traded up a spot to get him at no. 13 (giving up fourth and first round picks for this year’s draft in the trade). The trade, however, may have been unnecessary, as the team who originally had the 13th pick, the 49ers (who got the pick from the Colts in a trade for star defensive tackle Deforest Bunker), didn’t seem likely to get Wirfs. However, the 49ers do have an aging left tackle in Joe Staley and could have been looking at Wirfs as Staley’s eventual replacement, so maybe the Bucs wanted to ensure they got their man. Better safe than sorry.
Bonus Teams:
Miami Dolphins: Grade: B-
Tank for Tua worked out, eh? The Dolphins got their man at no. 5, and while the pick is a bit risky considering the Alabama quarterback's injury history, it was the right move. The 'fins also had two other first-rounders, one of which they used on USC’s Austin Jackson, an offensive tackle, one of the many positions that the Dolphins needed to address. Another solid pick on a solid player with some upside. However, Miami traded back with the Packers to acquire more draft capital and took corner Noah Igbinoghene out of Auburn. It’s not that the kid doesn’t seem like a talented player; he’s extremely gifted athletically, with both of his parents being Olympic athletes from Nigeria. It’s just, with the Dolphins’ signing of corner Byron Jones to that expensive contract, I’m not sure this was a position of desperate need for the team. It could have gone receiver, linebacker, or defensive lineman, all positions that are a little light for Miami. Hey, they’re the experts I guess. But with the Dolphins’ track record, I wouldn’t be so sure.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Grade: B+
The Jags used their first pick to get University of Florida cornerback CJ Henderson. It might’ve been a bit of a reach, but he was the best corner in a draft that was seemingly light at that position. Solid pick, no real complaints. The team's next pick came in at no. 20, and it was another solid one in K’Lavon Chaission, a pass rusher out of LSU, a really athletic guy that can line up next to another gifted athlete in Josh Allen at outside linebacker, giving Jacksonville a dynamic duo to get after QBs for (hopefully) years to come. Solid picks, but no real game changers.
Carolina Panthers: Grade: B
I was assuming Carolina would snag Isaiah Simmons, who for some reason fell all the way to no. 8 and into to the welcoming arms of the Arizona Cardinals, who're continuing their outstanding offseason. But the guy the Panthers drafted, Derrick Brown Jr., is a monster himself. He’s an elite run stopper at the defensive tackle position, which is now a real strength for Carolina since Brown joins Pro Bowler Kawann Short. Can’t get enough defensive linemen, right? Maybe, but with linebacker Luke Kuechly’s recent retirement it might’ve also been smart to draft his replacement.
Atlanta Falcons: Grade: B-
Sigh. I’m not really sure why all of these corners were drafted in the first round as only a couple of them really screamed first round potential to me, but I am just a lowly blogger (Editor's Note: CB is more than coming into his own, and I'm looking forward to him growing on the beat). The Falcons’ pick of Clemson’s A.J. Terrell wasn’t nearly as bad as the other reaches for corners (c’mon Miami), as Terrell is a very talented guy coming from a very good football team, but the Falcons have other needs. Getting a pass rusher was the biggest one, and K’Lavon Chassion was available. The Falcons did lose starting corner Desmond Trufant, but they also came in at no. 30 for sacks in the NFL. Oh well. Less crap for TB12 to deal with.
New Orleans Saints: Grade: D+
This may seem harsh, but the Saints have a glaring need at inside linebacker, and they had a perfect opportunity to get a great, local guy to fill that need in LSU’s Patrick Queen. But instead they went with an offensive lineman in Michigan’s Cesar Ruiz, a position that isn’t a weakness for New Orleans at all. I’m not doubting Ruiz’ skill at the center/guard position (on the contrary; I was actually hoping he’d fall to the Bucs so they could plug him in at right guard), I’m just a little confused with the Saints’ strategy. They have an aging QB in Drew Brees, so building for the future might seem a little silly, especially given that their defense has given up the game-winning score on the last play of all three of their past playoff losses (choking of the historic kind), but I guess the Saints have a good track record when it comes to offensive lineman. Maybe there’s a reason they’ve won the NFC South so many times in the past decade and the Bucs haven’t. Or maybe there’s a reason the Saints choke every year in ridiculous fashion.
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This article appears in Apr 23-29, 2020.