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NFL Draft: Which 2-12 Team Needs the No. 1 Pick Most?

By Will Osgood

Dec 13, 2014; New York, NY, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota kisses the Heisman Trophy during a press conference at the New York Marriott Marquis after winning the Heisman Trophy. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 13, 2014; New York, NY, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota kisses the Heisman Trophy during a press conference at the New York Marriott Marquis after winning the Heisman Trophy. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 14, 2014; Charlotte, NC, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers guard Patrick Omameh (66) on the sidelines in the fourth quarter. The Panthers defeated the Buccaneers 19-17 at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 14, 2014; Charlotte, NC, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers guard Patrick Omameh (66) on the sidelines in the fourth quarter. The Panthers defeated the Buccaneers 19-17 at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Odds for No. 1 Pick: 25.7%)

Strengths: Vincent Jackson. Mike Evans. Austin Seferian-Jenkins. Three names, three strengths. They make up three-quarters of a basketball team on grass. It shouldn’t even take a franchise quarterback to get the football to those three.

On the other side of the ball, Gerald McCoy, Lavonte David, Mason Foster and Alterraun Verner have to be considered great fits in the Tampa-Two defensive scheme.

Weaknesses: It shouldn’t take a franchise quarterback to get the football to the triumvirate of talented pass-catchers in the Tampa offense, yet neither Josh McCown nor Mike Glennon has done a good job of getting those guys the football.

Defensively, the Bucs have been a major disappointment. With Lovie Smith and Leslie Frazier working together to operate the defense, no one could have expected it to be a unit that through 14 games would rank 25th in points allowed, 24th in yards per passing attempt allowed and the eighth worst on third down, at 43 percent of opponents’ third downs converted, according to NFL.com.

Case For Needing the No. 1 Pick: I personally do not project Marcus Mariota to be a miracle worker. I don’t think he can instantly turn a franchise around from 2-14 (the likely final record of whichever team gets the No. 1 pick) into a playoff team in one season.

But if you’re the Bucs, and you have three freaks to throw the ball to, you simply need a competent quarterback. There is little doubt that Mariota can be that, even in his inaugural season in the league.

Next: Oakland Raiders

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