Draft Scenario 4 (TBA)
Draft Strategy: Once again, I started this draft by taking the best player available, then I transitioned to filling roster needs and then finished up by adding some defensive line depth.
Round 1, Pick 27, 27th Overall.
Devin Lloyd
Linebacker
Utah Utes
Lloyd is a 5th year junior who aligns at LB for Ute defense. He has good athleticism, quickness, and agility. The passing game is an area in which he improved from 2020 to 2021. My initial assessment pegged him as a two-down linebacker, however, he has had some on-the-ball production which has solidified his ability to remain on the field in sub-package situations. In the passing game he can rush from inside or outside, and while he shows some stiffness in space, he can still get depth in his zone drop, come up, and tackle underneath. He has also proven in 2021 that he can get home in pass-rush situations from various alignments. In the run game, he’s a thumper who plays downhill and physical. He has a heavy run lane anchor and has good tackling efficiency in the box. He’s a downhill player who is among the nations leader in TFLs. He uses his agility inside to defeat blockers and find the football. He has been productive in the box when he can quickly diagnose the run. On third downs, he has proven that he can remain on the field on passing downs and projects as a productive special teams player if necessary.
Written by Drae Harris
My Take: In my opinion I don’t think there is a snowball’s chance in Hades for Devin Lloyd to fall to the Bucs at 27. And to be honest, I don’t know if they would even draft him if he did, because of the current win now mentality. But if he does, they need to take him. Lavonte David is 32 and he isn’t getting any younger. Devin White is only 24, but could could you imagine a triple threat next year of David, White, and Lloyd? Then when David decides to retire, the Bucs would have Devin squared which could make up the best linebacker duo in the NFL.
Round 2, Pick 28, 60th Overall.
Cole Strange
Offensive Line
Chattanooga Mocs
Cole Strange started 44 games during his time at Chattanooga with 41 of those coming at left guard, two at left tackle, and one at center. He does offer positional flexibility but I like him best at guard where his run blocking and football IQ are best on display. Strange is an aggressive but controlled blocker that has a nasty demeanor with good power. He’s a good athlete that showcases the ability to work laterally and hit blocks in space. He’s a people-mover in the run game and his motor always runs hot. In pass protection, his punch is firm and he has a stout anchor. He has terrific awareness and understands body positioning. He showcased himself very well against Kentucky in 2021 which helps ease any concerns about the quality of competition he played against at Chattanooga and will have the opportunity to compete at the Senior Bowl. When it comes to concerns, Strange can be tardy to refit his hands and keep his feet engaged in pass protection. This leads to issues with opponents working to his edges and those edges being slippery. He will also turn 24 before the start of his rookie season. Overall, Strange can provide versatility as a reserve but has the traits needed to develop into a quality starter.
Written by Joe Marino
My Take: Another small school offensive lineman that Jason Licht could draft and turn into a future Pro Bowler, Cole Strange. Strange has been rising on a lot of draft boards and for good reasons. Even though he played for Chattanooga, he dominated. He also impressed a lot of scouts at the Senior Bowl showing that he can play with the best of them.
Round 3, Pick 27, 91st Overall.
Isaiah Spiller
Running Back
Texas A&M Aggies
Texas A&M’s Isaiah Spiller is an exciting running back prospect who has had consistent production playing in a very competitive SEC. Spiller is a north/south runner who offers outstanding size and runs with excellent power. Spiller displays very good vision as a runner and is patient attacking the hole, giving blocks time to manifest, and he flashes a good burst through the hole. He has an explosive jump cut to make defenders miss or hit the open gap. Spiller runs with excellent power and is a load to bring down in the open field. He offers very good contact balance and easily runs through arm tackles. Spiller lacks elite top-end speed but he does offer some short-area quickness to plant his foot in the ground and go. He also has a long stride, which can cover ground in the open field when he gets going downhill. His excellent vision and natural instincts as a runner allow him to naturally navigate through the holes and in the open field. While not the shiftiest of runners, he does show an ability to jump cut and make defenders miss laterally. As a receiver, Spiller is mostly used on quick outs, wheels, and screens. He displays good hands overall and can track the ball with ease. He can work on his pass blocking —he shows inconsistent hands and technique.
Written by Brentley Weissman
My Take: Most big board rankings have Isaiah Spiller in the top 5 amongst all RBs entering the NFL draft. So to land him in the 3rd round would be a steal. Ronald Jones signed with the Chiefs, so the Bucs could look to the draft to fill his role. In Spiller’s 3 years with the Aggies he rushed for 2,993 yards, 25 TDs, and had a 5.5 yards per carry average. He also had 74 catches for 585 yards and 1 TD.
Round 4, Pick 28, 133rd Overall.
Chigoziem Okonkwo
Tight End
Maryland Terrapins
Maryland tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo is a physically impressive specimen who will move the needle for NFL teams looking to add strong receiving ability to the middle of the field. The Terrapins found a number of ways to get Okonkwo involved in the passing game, utilizing him up the seam, working as a slice target in the shallows, and even drawing up a number of TE screens for him in order to keep him as a constant threat. Okonkwo has high levels of run-after-catch upside as well and served as a punishing open-field runner who could stress you with both speed and power with the football. He’s still something of a work in progress as a blocker and I’m not certain he’s going to claim a high volume of snaps early on unless he goes to an offense that covets prioritizing his size as a target and is willing to forego involving him in the run game and in pass protection at all. Okonkwo missed the 2020 college season on account of myocarditis but made a triumphant return to the field and enjoyed a career season in just about every facet in 2021, finishing as the team’s second-leading receiver (52 receptions) and tied for the team lead in receiving touchdowns (5).
Written by Kyle Crabbs
My Take: Chigoziem Okonkwo could be a hidden gem in this year’s draft. He’s 6-2, 244lbs and last year he had 52 catches for 447 yards and 5 TDs, which put him in the top 2 for catches and TDs and top 3 in yards for the Terrapins last season.
Round 7, Pick 27, 248th Overall.
Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa
Defensive Line
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Notre Dame’s Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa is another intriguing prospect in this year’s defensive line class. Tagovailoa-Amosa is a four-year contributor who has steadily improved with each passing season. Originally a 3-star recruit out of Hawaii, Tagovailoa-Amosa has developed into one of the best players on a vaunted Notre Dame defense. Tagovailoa-Amosa played predominantly interior defensive line in his first three years with the Fighting Irish, mostly lining up at 3-technique or 1-technique. In 2021, the school hired a new defensive coordinator so Tagovailoa-Amosa was asked to shed 15 pounds and step outside to rush off the edge. Tagovailoa-Amosa is a versatile defensive lineman who offers good size and very good length. He displays above average power at the point of attack and moves very well for a player his size. In the run game, Tagovailoa-Amosa shows an ability to set the edge with good power and leverage. He uses his length well and is able to lock-out while keeping his body clear to locate the football. He is a good athlete with regard to his short-area burst and lateral pursuit chasing the ball down the line of scrimmage. In the passing game, Tagovailoa-Amosa displays a good first step, strong and active hands, and a relentless motor. He won’t win with quickness or bend the arc with grace, but he has enough athleticism to gain an edge and has good power to knock the tackle back on his heels with a motor to finish. In terms of areas of improvement, I’d like to see Tagovailoa-Amosa be more consistent as a run defender as it pertains to shedding blocks and making plays on the ball-carrier. Additionally, as a rusher, he needs to work on secondary rush moves once his initial rush is stymied. Tagovaila-Amosa’s best position in the NFL will likely be as a rotational 3-technique where he can win with his natural leverage, hands, and power. The further he plays outside, the more his lack of top-tier athleticism is magnified.
Written by Brentley Weissman
My Take: Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa was one of Notre Dame’s defensive anchors for the last 3 seasons. In his final season he slimed down to play DE, but I’d like to see him add that weight back on to play along the Bucs front 3. He’s a guy that can eat up blockers to help a team’s edge rushers get to the QB and provide some additional depth. He would be a great 7th round pick.
Round 7, Pick 40, 261st Overall*
LaBryan Ray
Defensive Line
Alabama Crimson Tide
LaBryan Ray is a redshirt senior prospect that has been a part of the Alabama football program since the 2017 season. Ray has an in-depth injury history, suffering a season-ending injury during his freshman year, and has suffered injuries that have caused him to miss games every year since then. Physically, Ray has an impressive overall frame, possessing a muscular upper half, a thick, strong lower half, and impressive overall length. Ray is a career-long rotational defensive lineman that has played multiple positions within Alabama’s multiple front. He is primarily utilized as an early-down interior defensive lineman to stop the run. Ray has strong hands at the point of attack that allows him to press offensive linemen and disengage to make the tackle. Ray plays the run with good discipline as he is able to consistently maintain outside leverage and set the edge when need be. As a pass rusher, Ray can use some improvement, as his go-to move is a bull rush. Overall, Ray is a big and strong interior defensive lineman that will have value early on in his career as a run defender while he tries to develop a pass rush skill set to become a three-down interior defensive lineman in the NFL.
Written by Keith Sanchez
My Take: LaBryan Ray is one of those guys that never lived up to his potential in college. But maybe he could in the NFL. He’s a big guy at 6-5, 295lbs and I think landing in Todd Bowles defense would give him his best opportunity to be a rotational player in the NFL.
Stogies & Football 