Tampa Bay Buccaneers full 2018 NFL mock draft

By Joe Romano | Apr 2, 2018

PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 02: Running back Saquon Barkley #26 of the Penn State Nittany Lions celebrates after making a 7-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter against the USC Trojans during the 2017 Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual at the Rose Bowl on January 2, 2017 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers worked to fix some defensive issues in free agency. Now with the draft looming they will look to plug the remaining holes.

Entering the 2017 season the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were a favorite to make the playoffs. Coming off their appearance on HBO’s Hard Knocks, some saw their potent offense as enough to propel them into the playoffs. The team disappointed. Quarterback Jameis Winston battle injury while the defense was almost historically bad at getting to the quarterback. The front office and head coach remain, with another year to prove this team is talented to play into January. A strong draft class will help them complete that objective.

This mock draft was done using Fanspeak’s On the Clock, a fun and informative tool for all NFL draft fans.

Round 1 – Pick 7

Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State

Tampa Bay is one of the few teams inside the top ten that will benefit from a run of quarterbacks at the top of the draft. They have their franchise quarterback in former number one pick Jameis Winston. With the seventh pick they have the chance to get one of the draft’s best non-quarterbacks. In this mock draft the choice was between Notre Dame guard Quinton Nelson and Penn State running back Saquon Barkley. Depending on who you talk to those two names appear atop the overall draft boards in terms of pure talent. The pick was Barkley but it was quite a debate and likely will come draft night.

In each of the last two drafts we saw running backs go inside the top ten. Last year was Christian McCaffrey and Leonard Fournette. The year prior was Ezekiel Elliott. Barkley could impact the Buccaneers like Fournette and Elliott did their respective teams. At Penn State he was the most electric player in the country. A do it all running back who made defenders look foolish whether he was getting a handoff, catching a pass or returning a kick.

Barkley could aid Winston by giving him a running back to shoulder the load. The vertical offense that Winston thrives in would see gains because of the threat of Barkley behind him. While Nelson would also help Winston, a running back as special as Barkley can impact the game far more than a guard.

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