Draft Scenario 1 (Mock Draft 3/25/2022)
Draft Strategy: My draft strategy here was to fill necessary needs and to provide much needed depth for positions currently filled by aging players. As well as, take some risky players coming off injuries that the Bucs may not necessarily need this season, but if they come back at their full potential they will be draft steals for them later on down the line.
Round 1, Pick 27, 27th Overall.
Zion Johnson
Guard
Boston College Eagles
Zion Johnson transferred to Boston College after playing at Davidson. It didn’t take long for Johnson to become a starter on a talented Eagles offensive line and he proceeded to start for three seasons. Two of those seasons came at left guard with one at left tackle. I believe his natural position is guard where his aggressive mentality enables him to handle the faster action that comes with playing on the interior. Johnson doesn’t have the ideal length or wide frame to play tackle in the NFL, although he can handle spot duty in a pinch. Johnson is a smart and physical blocker with consistent technique. He plays within himself and is rarely caught with poor posture or poor control of his frame. I believe he is best in pass protection but he’s still an above average run blocker that is comfortable operating in space. Johnson has plug-and-play potential at guard in the NFL and given how consistent his technique is, I would keep him on the left side. He has the makeup of an above average starter that can lock down a starting role at least through a second contract.
Written by Joe Marino via The Draft Network
My Take: Zion Johnson had 32 bench press reps at the combine which led all participants. Quenton Nelson had 35 at the 2018 combine. I’m not saying Johnson is on Nelson’s level, but for me bench press is really the only test score that I care about for NFL guards. But, I am not sure Johnson will fall to the Bucs, but I didn’t think there was a chance in hell for Tristan Wirfs to fall to the Bucs in the 2020 NFL draft, but he did. So maybe, the Bucs will get lucky again. Johnson would be able to come in and immediately compete with Aaron Stinnie for the remaining starting guard position or at the very least add some much needed depth and possibly replace Stinnie next season when his 1 year deal is up. Also, Boston College seems to be one of those schools that just pumps offensive linemen into the NFL, so how can you go wrong with this pick?
Round 2, Pick 28, 60th Overall.
Phidarian Mathis
Defensive Line
Alabama Crimson Tide
Phidarian Mathis is a former 4-star prospect from the state of Louisiana that was a part of one of those classic LSU vs. Alabama recruiting battles—he chose Alabama. Mathis is a redshirt senior that has been a part of a deep rotation along the Alabama defensive line. In the 2021 season, Mathis took a huge step in production. This year, Mathis has accumulated more than 40 tackles, nine tackles for loss, and more than seven sacks. Mathis is a versatile defender that can line up in multiple different alignments along a defensive front. He is a technician against the run and is able to consistently lock and shed offensive linemen to make timely tackles. He also has the athleticism combined with an array of pass rush moves to provide pressure from the interior of a defensive line. Mathis can play in multiple fronts and will immediately provide a physical presence for any defensive front. In the NFL, Mathis has the potential to earn a starting role his rookie year and become a productive defensive lineman for many years.
Written by Keith Sanchez via The Draft Network
My Take: Even if the Bucs resign Ndamukong Suh for another year he is 35 years old and even though he’s still a great durable player he played his fewest snaps last season. As I mentioned earlier, I believe the Bucs bring him back, but why not draft a guy that can learn from one of the best and take over for either Suh or William Gholston next year. Gholston only signed a 1 year deal, so he may be looking to play elsewhere or might consider retirement in 2023. So, the Bucs need defensive line depth regardless. Phidarian Mathis is huge at 6’4, 312 lbs and can play all along the Bucs defensive line. He had a breakout season last year with 53 total tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and 9 sacks. And I am shocked he’s not being mocked to go in round 1 and I wouldn’t be mad if the Bucs took him at 27. The guy is a game changer that will help Shaq Barrett and JTS get to the QB by literally eating up offensive linemen.
Round 3, Pick 27, 91st Overall.
Kyren Williams
Running Back
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Notre Dame running back Kyren Williams is an all-around running back who should provide his NFL team with plenty of value on all three downs at the next level. Williams’ best skills may ironically come on passing downs—he’s a former wide receiver at the high school level and those talents are quite evident in watching him as a pass-catcher. But Williams’ best trait overall may well be his work in pass protection, a skill that isn’t the primary role of his position but can be a major factor in early NFL impact and will boost his value as an every-down player. Williams is perhaps the most impressive back in pass protection I’ve watched in several seasons. His work in scan protections shows his excellent vision to identify pressure opportunities while also making rapid decisions to pivot and attack with physicality to help stonewall blitzers. All of this work comes out of “want to” and intelligence, as Williams doesn’t carry the kind of frame that you would typically associate with this kind of praise. As a ball-carrier, Williams has done well to make the most out of sub-par conditions in 2021 and has run tough behind a modest offensive line that lost a lot of its traditional luster this past season amid struggles to win the point of attack and an offense that didn’t always create strain to loosen up opposing defenses. Williams runs harder than his size as a fringe 200-pound back, but he’s by no means a power runner and is best suited for a wide zone system that will allow him and his nimble feet to string out the POA before locating and attacking a vacant gap.
Written by Kyle Crabbs via The Draft Network
My Take: The Bucs resigned Leonard Fournette, which was huge for the next 3 years. They also still have Keyshawn Vaughn who is pretty good as well. But Vaughn isn’t much of a pass catcher and Fournette is getting old (for a RB). Kyren Williams is the most underrated RB in the draft and he is also the best RB that has come through Notre Dame in a long, long time. He can catch, run up the middle, take it to the outside and has break away speed. Williams would give Brady another weapon out of the back field and he’s the type of RB that flourishes in a Bruce Arians / Byron Leftwich offense.
Round 4, Pick 28, 133rd Overall.
Damone Clark
Linebacker
Louisiana State University Tigers
Damone Clark is a two-year starter for the LSU football team. Prior to the 2020 season, he was named a team captain and given the No. 18 jersey—in the LSU program, that jersey is given to a player that shows high character on and off the field. During the 2020 season, Clark struggled to play at a high level and was pulled in and out of the lineup for the Tigers. Clark turned the corner in 2021 and played the linebacker position at a high level. He plays the game with a high motor that has become infectious across the whole defense. He is a versatile defender for the Tigers and it shows in his stats, recording more than 100 tackles and five sacks during the 2021 season. Clark has exceptional athleticism and makes plays all over the field. Clark has outstanding closing speed to ball-carriers that allows him to pursue and tackle ball-carriers all over the field. Clark is a special athlete at linebacker that uses those athletic traits to track and pursue ball-carriers and is a big reason why he ranks amongst the top in the nation in tackles for the 2021 football season.
Written by Keith Sanchez via The Draft Network
My Take: Damone Clark was a projected second or third-round pick in the NFL Draft prior to an MRI at the NFL Draft Combine that revealed a herniated disc in Clark’s back. Even though, he is expected to make a full recovery he will most likely fall in the draft. Clark was a key piece in LSU’s turnaround on defense in the second half of the season. He had an excellent senior season leading the team in total tackles with 136 and had 5.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. And Lavonte David isn’t getting any younger and it would be wise for GM, Jason Licht, to take a chance on Clark in the 4th round. Clark and White would make for a very scary linebacking group for the Bucs, once David decides to hang up the cleats. And even though Clark isn’t expected to play in 2022, he might be available down the stretch for the Bucs if they run into any injuries late in the season.
Round 7, Pick 27, 248th Overall.
Smoke Monday
Safety
Auburn
Smoke Monday has aligned in various positions including on the back end, the over hang, and down near the box. He is a good athlete with regard to agility, speed, and body control. In the run game, he is aggressive as a tackler. He seems to enjoy the physicality aspect of the game as he is an eager tackler who comes up hard in the run game. He rarely misses tackles in confined areas. In the passing game, he has value in his versatility. Because of his size and skill set, he can align in a number of different spots in passing situations. He has some range on the back end and can get off his spot and to his landmark. He is also an effective blitzer showing good closing quickness. When covering TEs, he stays in phase and uses his good size and length to challenge at the catch point. In the NFL, he’ll likely be a rotational safety who will also be a core special teams player. On third downs, he is best playing as the money LB in sub-package situations. His skill set reminds me of Jayron Kearse.
Written by Drae Harris via The Draft Network
My Take: Smoke Monday’s name alone should get him drafted. I also think Monday can be a great special teamer on field goals and punts. He’s fast enough to be a gunner that can change the outcome of the game, similar to how Scotty Miller caused a huge forced fumble on a punt against the Eagles that helped seal the win for the Bucs in the playoffs last year. Monday has also been known to block punts as he did against Alabama back in 2018.
Round 7, Pick 40, 261st Overall*
Christopher Allen
EDGE
Alabama Crimson Tide
Alabama edge defender Christopher Allen projects as a potential starting hybrid defender at the next level. He is a natural fit for a 3-4 defense at outside linebacker, allowing him to set hard edges against the run and pinning his ears back to rush opposing quarterbacks. His arm length paired with a powerful frame creates issues for tackles that struggle with bull rushers. Allen works out of a two and three-point stance depending on the situation. His ability to stack, peek, and shed blocks make him a menace on early downs. He’s a high-effort defender that has a motor that never stops. Opposing quarterbacks cannot be complacent waiting on routes downfield to uncover from tight coverage because Allen’s pursuit is non-stop. Improving his rush maneuvers will be beneficial to his development against NFL offensive tackles. Nick Saban moved him on both sides of the formation working as the boundary and field edge defender. In a pinch, he can spot drop in the flats for zone coverage, but stray away from man coverage. He is at his best triggering downhill with full force and power to shock his opponents with a backfield surge.
Written by Damian Parson via The Draft Network
My Take: Christopher Allen suffered a fractured foot during the Crimson Tide’s season opener against Miami last year and he didn’t get back on the field for the rest of the season. Allen when healthy is a very good edge rusher and would add some great depth for the Bucs. I also believe if Allen had played last season, I wouldn’t even be talking about him in the 7th round. So, if he is there in the 7th the Bucs need to take out another flyer on a guy with huge upside that has only fallen due to injury. Especially, if JPP does go somewhere else this season or even if he stays, the Bucs can always use more elite pass rushers in their 3-4 defense.
Stogies & Football 