Team needs: Quarterback, Offensive line, Wide Receiver, Defensive end, Safety

Buccaneers’ selections

Round 1- 1st overall

Round 2- 34t^h overall

Round 3- 65th overall

Round 4- 109th overall

Round 5- 162nd overall

Round 5- 168th overall

Round 6 -184th overall

Round 7- 218th overall

Good fits early:

Jameis Winston: ESPN’s Ron Jaworski has reported that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will select Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota with the first overall pick in the draft, but it’s important to remember that this is the season of misinformation. There might be leaks or suggestions that Mariota is the pick, but the Buccaneers frankly need to make Winston the pick. Winston is ready for NFL football right now, and after a 2-14 season a year ago, Lovie Smith and Jason Licht may not be able to afford to wait for Mariota’s learning curve. While there’s been no indication that the Buccaneers have told Winston that he’s the pick, he’s certainly conducted himself as if he believes he is. Winston could be seen in Tampa earlier this week attending former Buccaneer Mike Alstott’s charity golf tournament. Winston took the not so subtle hint a step further, wearing a Mike Alstott Family Foundation shirt on his visit with the Tennessee Titans.

Marcus Mariota: While a much different leader than Winston, there’s no question to those around Marcus Mariota that he’s very much a leader. There are many who believe that quiet leadership doesn’t work at the quarterback position, but it worked for Mariota at Oregon, and it’s worked for guys like Eli Manning and Joe Montana in the NFL. Mariota will win over his NFL teammates because he’s fearless, and the kind of athlete you can’t ignore. The biggest question for Mariota will be how his game transitions to the NFL.  It’s unfair to believe that any guy who comes out of the wide open spread offense that teams like Oregon run will fail at the next level, it’s fair to have concerns about how a player will make that transition. For the Buccaneers, the risk that Mariota could take a couple of years to get comfortable at this level, is as great as the risk that Winston will slip up off the field.

Leonard Williams: This would be the shock of the century, but if somehow the Buccaneers decide not to draft a quarterback, Leonard Williams would be the pick. Many believe Williams is the best player in this draft, and he’s the consensus top non-quarterback on the board. Williams is the kind of defensive player that everyone wants. There are guys who fit better in one system or another, but it’s likely if you asked any defensive coordinator in football what system Williams fits best, the answer would be, “on my football team.” Williams has the power to play inside and the athletic ability to play on the outside. Tampa Bay is drafting a quarterback on April 30^th, but if they weren’t going to, Williams would be the pick.

Don’t be surprised if the Buccaneers select as many as three offensive lineman. Tampa Bay’s offensive line was putrid in 2014, and despite the fact that Dirk Koetter was able to work wonders with a decimated offensive line in Atlanta last season, the Buccaneers desperately need to add depth and talent to the line.

Tampa Bay’s offensive line was so poor in 2014 that Winston or Mariota may not be the pick if there was a sure fire stud left tackle available in this draft. The Buccaneers have to address the offensive line early and often, only stopping if they find a premiere pass rusher.

As bad as the Buccaneers offensive line was, the outside pass rush was almost as bad. After spending a truckload of money on Michael Johnson last offseason, Tampa Bay cut him leaving the defensive end position extremely thin. It would be a surprise if Tampa Bay didn’t draft an offensive lineman and a pass rusher in rounds two and three after drafting a quarterback first overall. Actually, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Bucs focus on offensive line and pass rusher depth in almost every round after Winston. The team could use a slot receiver and safety help, but neither need is as glaring as the needs on both lines.

Potential late-round targets:

Trent Brown: Remember, the Buccaneers need to target the offensive line early and often. Florida Gators tackle Trent Brown is a guy who might go as late as the sixth or seventh round because he’s struggled in pass protection and his game needs a lot of cleaning up. Brown is a young man you draft with the hopes that you can turn him into an NFL football player, not a player you draft with the idea of plugging right into your offensive line. That said, Brown is the kind of player who could turn into an absolute steal if you can coach him up because he’s an absolute monster at 6-foot-8 and 355 pounds. You can teach a lot of things, but you can’t teach that.

Deon Barnes: Defensive end is another position the Buccaneers could target multiple times in the draft, and Penn State defensive end Deon Barnes could be a fit in the middle to late rounds if they do. Barnes recorded six sacks last season with Penn State, and the Buccaneers get almost no pressure off the edge. The Buccaneers are stacked at defensive tackle, and an end with Barnes’ ability should be able to produce off the edge for Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers need talent and depth at pass rusher, and Barnes could provide both if he’s available in rounds four or five.

Jamison Crowder: If the Buccaneers are not sold that Robert Herron can become an impact player this season, they could look to the later rounds of the draft to find a guy who could work in the slot, and Duke receiver Jamison Crowder could fit the bill. Crowder is a small guy at just 5-foot-8 and 185 pounds, but that could help him get lost among the trees in the Tampa Bay passing attack, and Crowder has shown the ability to return punts which the Buccaneers could use as well. It’s unlikely that receiver is a huge concern for the Buccaneers who need help at key positions like quarterback, defensive end, and across the offensive line, but if the Bucs target a slot guy with return skills late, Crowder could be a fit.

For Tampa Bay’s draft to be a success, it must start with Jameis Winston. It’s possible that Marcus Mariota may be a great NFL quarterback one day, but it’s also possible Lovie Smith and Jason Licht won’t be around to see that happen if they were to select him. While there is some concern with Winston off the field, he has the higher ceiling and higher floor on it. Winston wants to be a Buccaneer, and he’s made it no secret. There is no sure thing in the NFL draft, and it’s possible the Buccaneers make a mistake. If the Bucs do make a mistake, it has to be on Winston.

Winston alone won’t make this a successful draft. Even if Winston is one day a Hall of Famer, if the rest of this draft is a failure, than this draft is a failure. The Buccaneers aren’t just drafting high in round one, but throughout the draft, and their picks need to pan out. This is a team that needs an infusion of talent, and not just at the quarterback position. For this draft to be a success, the Buccaneers must select Winston and a starter at either defensive end or on the offensive line, and they need to add depth in both areas. If the Buccaneers get this draft right, it will be the draft that turns the organization around. If they get it wrong, it will likely be the end of Smith and Licht.

No pressure, guys.