Man, right when the Buccaneers were back on top, the mountain comes crashing down. Tom Brady retires. I mean, he is 44 years old, so you can’t blame him, but I was hoping for the GOAT to play just one more season.
Tampa Bay is most likely going to struggle next year, ( I still have some hope ) and unfortunately for me and the rest of the Bucs fans, I think we’re headed back to the days of old, where the NFL Draft is our season’s Super Bowl. But, I can’t complain too much, we did just got our second Super Bowl in franchise history and it was an exciting ride watching the GOAT in Tampa Bay. And I’ve been alive to witness both Super Bowl wins in the 2002 and 2020 seasons.
I still remember watching Super Bowl XXXVII in my room as a kid, wearing my custom #45 Evans jersey, (which I still have, but it doesn’t fit anymore, for obvious reasons), just going crazy every time the Bucs made a big play on defense. I had the ultimate sports bedroom as a kid. My wall was painted grey with a Buccaneers wall paper boarder all along the top of the wall and my aunt painted the Buccaneers logo on my wall next to my bed, it was pretty legit. My favorite players back then, were Mike Alstott, Derrick Brooks and Simeon Rice. And the Bucs murdered the Raiders, it was awesome.
Super Bowl LV was no different, other than watching it in my house as an adult with my baby girl and wife, this time wearing my all black Mike Evans jersey and my little jelly bean wearing her little Bucs onesie, but still going crazy after each big play by the Bucs. I don’t have the same kids room, but I have turned my garage into a pretty epic mancave. My favorite players on the 2020 team were Mike Evans, Devin White and of course Tom Brady. Even though, a lot has changed in my life in those 18 years, my love for the Bucs and football has stayed the same.
I only hope it’s not going to take another 18 years to see the Bucs win another one. So, with Brady gone, Gronk most likely to follow and a long list of other key players set to hit free agency, what can the Tampa Bay Buccaneers do? Hit the NFL Draft and hit it hard. My 2022 NFL Mock Draft for the Bucs starts now.
2022 Notable Free Agents
Using the mock draft simulator from “The Draft Network” website I was able to draft some solid players that could help the Buccaneers repeat as NFC South Champs next year.
Round 1
Pick #27
Phidarian Mathis
Alabama Crimson Tide
Defensive Line
The Number 1 priority for the Bucs will be to add some defensive line help. With both Ndamukong Suh and William Gholston set to hit free agency the Bucs will need to find at least one of these guys’ replacement. I have a feeling Suh will retire and Gholston may leave for more money. But if the Bucs can resign Gholston and draft Phidarian Mathis out of Alabama, the Bucs defensive line will look pretty solid with Phidarian Mathis, Vita Vea, and William Gholston upfront.
Mathis is huge and can toss offensive linemen around like rag dolls, stop the run, is explosive and can get to the quarterback. He also has enough awareness to get his big bear paws up to bat down passes at the line of scrimmage (5 career PDs at Alabama). Mathis is no Ndamukong Suh, but he is effective and if he’s lined up next to Vita Vea, offenses around the league will have to game plan around that dynamic duo.
Round 2
Pick #60
Derion Kendrick
Georgia Bulldogs
Cornerback
With Carlton Davis set to hit the free agency market and the Bucs being in cap hell, I don’t see them being able to bring him back. So let Jason Licht work his magic and draft another solid CB. If the pick isn’t who I’m picking here at 60, I trust whoever Licht decides on. I mean he did hit on Carlton Davis, Sean Murphy-Bunting, and Jamel Dean. Both Murphy-Bunting and Dean are still under contract, but the Bucs will most likely need to replace Davis.
So I take the best CB available, Derion Kendrick. Kendrick started as a WR at Clemson, but converted to CB his sophomore season. He played for the Tigers for 3 seasons then transferred to Georgia for his senior season. Kendrick ended up being a huge part of the Bulldogs’ dominate defense last year. He had 2 key interceptions in the Bulldogs’ win over Michigan to advance to the National Championship Game. Even though, Kendrick is still a bit raw, I believe Todd Bowles would be able to coach him up and develop him into a starting NFL caliber defensive back.
Round 3
Pick #91
Kyren Williams
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Running Back
Leonard Fournette and Ronald Jones are both free agents and I don’t think the Buccaneers will bring either one of them back next year. Fournette got his Super Bowl ring and will be looking to get paid. I would love to see Jones back, but I think he had a falling out with Bruce Arians and the coaching staff, so I expect Jones to be gone as well.
Realistically, I don’t see Kyren Williams still being on the board in round 3 and I think he goes in round 2. But in the mock draft simulation I did, he was there. And if he is there when the Bucs go to pick at 91, Jason Licht better be running to the phone to call in the pick.
Obviously, I am a Notre Dame fan, but Williams is basically the definition of the hybrid RB that teams love in today’s game. He can run, break tackles, has great vision, has breakaway speed and can catch. The Bucs also will still have Ke’Shawn Vaughn, who is more of an old school type RB. Williams and Vaughn would complement each other regardless of who becomes the starter and this pick would allow the Buccaneers to keep their offensive play calling the same.
Round 4
Pick #129
Cade Mays
Tennessee Volunteers
Offensive Lineman
Both starting Center, Ryan Jensen and starting Guard, Alex Cappa will be free agents this offseason. Also key reserve Guard, Aaron Stinnie will also be a free agent. I would prefer the Bucs to bring back all 3 players, but I wouldn’t break the bank to do it. Jensen may be the odd man out, because he will be 31 this year and he may want too much money that the Bucs don’t have. The Bucs have also been grooming Robert Hainsey to eventually replace Jensen. Hainsey was a 3 year starter for Notre Dame and he has a lot of talent. If the Bucs think Hainsey can be the starter for the Bucs, they may move on from Jensen. I think the Bucs bring back Aaron Stinnie, for sure, but Cappa could also be a guy looking for a big pay day. Just recently, Cappa was added to the Pro Bowl roster as an alternate. Cappa just turned 27, and now has a Pro Bowl added to his resume and it may be hard for the Buccaneers to bring him back now that Tom Brady is gone.
So, the Bucs will possibly need to replace 2 starting spots along their line next year. I could see Hainsey and Stinnie taking over the Center and Gaurd position or the Bucs trying Ali Marpet out at Center again and move Hainsey over to Gaurd. Regardless, they will need some additional offensive line depth and competition.
I don’t see Cade Mays still being on the board in round 4, but in the mock draft simulator that I did, he was there. And just like the previous pick, Jason Licht better be running to pick up the phone to call in this selection. Mays started his career at Georgia, but later transferred to Tennessee. He played in 42 games and made 35 starts during his entire collegiate career. Of his 35 starts, 19 came at right guard, 12 at right tackle, two at left guard and two at left tackle. So he’s played every position, except Center. I think he will end up playing more Guard than Offensive Tackle. Mays would come in and compete for a starting spot or give some much needed depth.
Round 5
Pick #168
Justyn Ross
Clemson Tigers
Wide Receiver
I really hope that the Bucs can get a done deal to bring back Chris Godwin. I think they will, considering Godwin will be coming back from a torn ACL, which should lower the offers he sees in free agency. Even with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin as the 1 and 2, the Bucs could use a WR3. That could end up being Tyler Johnson, but a why not pick for the Bucs would be Justyn Ross in the 5th round, if he is still there.
In my opinion, I thought Justyn Ross was better than Tee Higgins at Clemson, and he most likely would be a 1st round pick if it wasn’t for his neck and spinal issue that caused him to miss the 2020 season and the recent surgery to repair a broken foot. With the injury concerns, I can see Ross falling on draft day. As a Freshman Ross had 1,000 yards on only 46 catches. That’s an average of 21.7 yards per catch. I would use a 5th round draft pick any day of the week for just a 1% chance at getting that type of return. Ross in the 5th round could end up being the steal of the draft, if he can heal from those serious injuries.
Round 7
Pick #244
Christopher Allen
Alabama Crimson Tide
Linebacker
I don’t see the Bucs bringing back Jason Pierre-Paul, who is set to hit the free agent market and who may even consider retiring from the NFL. Which I think was the plan once the Bucs drafted Joe Tryon-Shoyinka in the first round of last year’s draft.
I believe the plan is for Joe Tryon-Shoyinka to replace JPP, but why not add some additional edge rushing help in the 7th round, especially if Christopher Allen is still somehow remaining on the board. Allen fractured his foot at the beginning of the season, but from what it sounded like, he had a decent chance of returning for the College Football Playoff. I think Allen could eventually work his way up an NFL depth chart into being an every down starter, so it was very surprising to see him available in the 7th round. Maybe, that’s why there are so many busts in the NFL. There just aren’t enough good scouts out there and there are too many awful GMs evaluating player talent.
If this draft happens for the Buccaneers, I would feel pretty good about post Brady life and the future would look pretty bright for the Bucs. They just have to continue to develop Kyle Trask and when he’s ready give him the keys to the ship (pun intended). Go Bucs!
Stogies & Football 