Tampa Bay Buccaneers Draft Review

1st Round, Pick #20: Adrian Clayborn (DE Iowa)

Mark Dominik is building this thing right down in Tampa, building up the defensive line. Last year they spent their first 2 getting strong up front with Gerald McCoy and Brian Price, and once again they made the right call by drafting a pass rusher in Adrian Clayborn. Before the season Clayborn was a consensus Top 5 talent, but he struggled a little bit this year, so his stock slipped a little. The talent is still there for Clayborn, he is very strong, explosive, and has a non-stop motor. I think he is a perfect fit as the Left Defensive End in Tampa's 4-3 scheme.

Grade- A-

2nd Round, Pick #51: Da'Quan Bowers (DE Clemson)

Many thought that Tampa would go with Da'Quan Bowers in the first round if he was still on the board, but they didn't want to take the risk, and needed to make sure they would get a guy that would produce for them. So once they got that guy in the first round, when Bowers fell to them in the 2nd, they didn't hesitate to pull the trigger on this Top-3 talent. Bowers knee is definitely a concern, but this is a terrific value. If Bowers does end up being healthy, or at least pretty close to healthy, the Buccaneers will have gotten themselves a steal. However, there is the chance that his knee is as bad as people are saying it his, but since this is a 2nd round pick, it makes the pick less risky. My personal opinion is that Bowers will be O.K, which makes me love this pick, and love what Tampa has got on the defensive line.

Grade- A+

3rd Round, Pick #84: Mason Foster (OLB Washington)

Tampa made exactly the right pick again here by taking the nations 2nd leading tackler last year in Mason Foster. This guy can definitely be classified as a tackling machine. He has tremendous instincts, takes great angles to the football, and has excellent technique when wrapping up the ball carrier. He has the ideal size, strength, and speed to be, once again, the perfect fit in the Bucs Tampa-2 defense. Tampa strikes gold yet again, by getting somebody who will be a very productive starter for a long time, and don't be surprised if he makes a couple Pro-Bowls before it's all said and done.

Grade- A+

4th Round, Pick #104: Luke Stocker (TE Tennessee)

This was just a situation of taking the best available player, which is a strategy I love. Even though Tampa already has Kellen Winslow, Luke Stocker was just too good for them to pass up here. Stocker is a complete tight end. He's got the ideal size (6-4 260), and strength to be a very run blocker and pass protector. And he also is an excellent receiver, with great route running skills, strong hands, and the smarts to find soft spots in the defense. Now Josh Freeman has yet another weapon at his disposal, and some insurance if Kellen Winslow ends up getting hurt.

Grade- A

5th Round, Pick #151: Ahmad Black (Safety Florida)

These picks, along with last years draft, really lead me to believe that the folks running the show in Tampa really know what they are doing, and I would be surprised if this young group of guys aren't serious contenders for the Super Bowl in a couple of years. They once again take a very talented player who has some flaws, but he fits their defensive scheme perfectly, so his flaws can be minimized. Black is a bit undersized, and has average speed, but he has tremendous instincts, great ball skills, but he just knows how to play the game, and is a playmaker. He is aggressive with the ball in the air, and knows how to go get it, and he is very solid in run support where he is always looking to drop the hammer. People knock him for his size and lack of speed, but just for example, watch this highlight video, and tell me this guy can't play!

Grade- A+

6th Round, Pick #187: Allen Bradford (RB U.S.C)

Please trust me when I say that I am judging this years draft class in all honesty, but this team just continues to get it right. Once again, Allen Bradford is a very underrated running back, he rushed for a staggered 7.2 yards a carry last year, including a couple 200+ yard games against Washington and UCLA. Bradford is not an elite athlete, but he has terrific vision, patience, and always breaks the first tackle, but he is not a bad athlete by any means. Tampa's RB situation is still not 100% concrete, and Bradford will do nothing but make that backfield stronger.

Grade- A

7th Round, Pick #122: Anthony Gaitor (CB Florida International)

If you are not a Tampa fan and are still reading this, I'm sure you are sick of me dishing out superlatives left and right to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers draft class, but get ready for some more, because they got another steal! I know I'm sounding like a broken record here, but Anthony Gaitor was a steal in the 7th round, and had he not played for FIU, he would have been a 2nd-3rd round pick. Gaitor is a bit undersized, but has great speed, is aggressive and physical, and has very good ball skills. I think Tampa fans will be pleasantly surprised when they see what they got with Gaitor in the 7th round.

Also check out our Exclusive Interview with Anthony Gaitor

Grade- A+

7th Round, Pick #238: Daniel Hardy (TE Idaho)

O.K, finally a pick by the Buccaneers that does not get an A. I think there were a few better players on the board, and Tampa already picked a tight end, so I'm not in love with this pick, but I can see why they like Hardy. He is a former soccer player, and is a very good athlete. He is pretty raw when it comes to blocking and running routes, but the potential is there.

Grade- C