*Walt taking 2014 and 2018 |
Charlie Campbell, Senior Draft Analyst |
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Buccaneers Open to Trading Down
Updated Feb. 28, 2018
By Charlie Campbell. Follow Charlie on Twitter @draftcampbell.
This is a critical offseason for Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht and head coach Dirk Koetter. Young franchise quarterback Jameis Winston is entering his fourth year, and this is the fifth offseason that Licht has had to build Tampa Bay into a winner. There were big expectations in 2017, but the Buccaneers had a disappointing season, going 5-11 and being the only team in the NFC South not to make the playoffs. Tampa Bay currently has the longest streak of missing the postseason in the NFC, as they haven’t earned a playoff spot since 2007.
On the positive side, the Buccaneers hold the seventh-overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. In a class with five potential first-rounders at quarterback and plenty of teams in the quarterback market, Tampa Bay is in a good position to field offers in a possible trade down. In speaking to sources with the Bucs, trading down is definitely on the table and something they would strongly consider.
The Buccaneers enter the offseason with a number of needs to address. They could use more pass rush, as they were last in the NFL in sacks last year. Adding more secondary talent is also needed to address their vulnerable pass defense. On the other side of the ball, Tampa Bay could use more help on their offensive line and will need to add more talent at running back after moving on from Doug Martin. With a number of needs to address, it makes sense for the Buccaneers to move down in the draft and add more picks to help fill holes on their roster. Sources say they are all ears and open to a variety of possibilities, including draft picks or veterans in a move down. By the sounds of it, Tampa Bay is definitely open for business and happy to listen.
A year ago, the Los Angeles Rams were a similar situation with a general manager on the hot seat and a young quarterback. Los Angeles was able to nail its offseason with an excellent haul of free agents and draft picks who quickly contributed to Los Angeles ending the longest playoff drought in the NFC. If the Buccaneers nail their free agency signings and draft picks, they have enough talent in place to potentially end their playoff drought next year as well.
