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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LAWRENCE, KS – SEPTEMBER 02: Kansas Jayhawks defensive end Dorance Armstrong Jr. (2) prepares to rush in the first quarter of the season opener between the Southeast Missouri Redhawks and the Kansas Jayhawks on September 2nd, 2017 at Memorial Stadium in Lawrence, KS. (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

No picks in Round 3

Round 4 – Pick 102

Dorance Armstrong, EDGE, Kansas

Tampa Bay pulled off one of the surprise moves of the offseason in trading for New York Giants’ veteran defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul. While the name is enticing, he is an aging player who is more of a band-aid than a solution. Fellow NFC East cast off Vinny Curry will likely be the more productive of Tampa’s newly acquired ends. The Buccaneers still need to address a pass rush that finished second to last in the NFL in sacks.

Dorance Armstrong of Kansas is a mid-round pass rusher who has potential to impact the defense in a specialized role in his rookie season. Earlier in the year you could find his name closer to the top 50, speaking to his potential.

Armstrong is a special athlete on the edge. At 6-foot-4 and almost 250 pounds, he moves like a man much smaller. His long arms help him set the edge and get to the quarterback. There are concerns of his production dip in 2017. That is likely attributed to the fact that offenses were more prepared for Armstrong’s game after an extremely strong 2016 season.

Tampa Bay would be able to utilize Armstrong is long down and distance situations. He could use a year to add more play strength before becoming a full time starter. Tampa has fellow young pass rusher Noah Spence, but he has struggled with injuries since entering the league. Teaming with Pierre-Paul and Curry would give the Buccaneers a defensive edge to build around moving forward.

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