2017 NFL Draft: Tampa Bay Buccaneers final grade
By John Buhler
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers got a total steal at No. 19 in tight end O.J. Howard. Here is the Buccaneers’ 2017 NFL Draft final grade.
Jason Licht continues to flex his muscles as one of the better general managers in the NFL. Somewhat quietly, he has rebuilt an atrocious Tampa Bay Buccaneers team into one that is capable of winning 10+ games in 2017 and making the NFC Playoffs for the first time in nearly a decade.
Licht wins on the phone with free agents and in the war room on draft day. He had another killer draft for the Buccaneers, highlighted by getting arguably the best pure talent in the NFL at No. 19. Somehow Alabama Crimson Tide tight end O.J. Howard found his way to Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers are in good shape heading into this season. Here is their 2017 NFL Draft grade.
First Round
O.J. Howard
Tight End, Alabama Crimson Tide
Patience is a virtue and it paid out big time for the Buccaneers in the first round. Many expected the Buccaneers to be the first team to take an offensive lineman in the 2017 NFL Draft at No. 19. That could have happened and probably would have if one guy didn’t fall into their laps.
Only a fool would pass up a tight end of this magnitude if a team was looking to improve its passing game. Tampa Bay already has a solid tight end in Cameron Brate. Now that they have Howard in the Air Coryell, look for Jameis Winston’s accuracy to improve.
It all comes down to one thing with Howard: does he really love football? Is he willing to bury through another man’s soul? Should he be all-in, he has the ability to be the next Greg Olsen in the middle of the Tampa Bay offense. Howard is a major mismatch like Olsen and Rob Gronkowski are in the game today. He is even on board with running blocking.
Howard did disappear for lengthy stretches while playing for the Crimson Tide. He did play his best games when Alabama needed him most, usually in the College Football Playoff. How often does a blue-chip pro prospect stay on the board until No. 19? Exactly and that’s why Licht didn’t bat an eyelash making the pick.