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Tampa Bay Buccaneers full 2020 mock draft

By Brad Berreman

FOXBOROUGH, MA - DECEMBER 29: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots throws the ball during a game against the Miami Dolphins at Gillette Stadium on December 29, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MA - DECEMBER 29: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots throws the ball during a game against the Miami Dolphins at Gillette Stadium on December 29, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /
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Tristan Wirfs #74 of the Iowa Hawkeyes in action in the game against the Northwestern Wildcats at Ryan Field on October 26, 2019 in Evanston, Illinois. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
Tristan Wirfs #74 of the Iowa Hawkeyes in action in the game against the Northwestern Wildcats at Ryan Field on October 26, 2019 in Evanston, Illinois. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /

As the Tampa Bay Buccaneers look to add pieces for a win-now run with Tom Brady, who should they take in the 2020 NFL Draft?

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers won the Tom Brady sweepstakes, and as they look to end the second-longest current playoff drought in the NFL they are all the way in to a win-now window.

The Buccaneers have mostly kept their own guys in free agency, franchise tagging Shaquil Barrett and re-signing Jason Pierre-Paul and Ndamukong Suh. Wide receiver Breshad Perriman is a notable departure, and as is Jameis Winston with Brady coming in to replace him under center.

But as they continue to add pieces to what they hope will be a roster primed for a Super Bowl run with Brady at quarterback, Tampa Bay has plenty of needs to address. Offensive tackle and running back are the top needs, with cornerback, safety, defensive line and wide receiver also in line for some reinforcements.

The Buccaneers will enter the draft with seven picks, barring a trade between now and then to add or subtract from that total. But they can go with the proverbial best player available throughout, filling needs right along without issue.

So who will the Tampa Bay Buccaneers take in the draft this year?

First Round

878. . Offensive Tackle. Hawkeyes . Tristan Wirfs. 14. player

Demar Dotson is a free agent, so the Buccaneers have a void to fill at right tackle. Joe Haeg has been signed in free agency, but he has only started six games over the past two seasons and his greatest value may be versatility.

Wirfs could be a top-10 pick after strong showing at the NFL Combine, but if he happens to fall as teams drafting that high look elsewhere plenty of teams would be happy to take him. He seems to fit as a right tackle right away and perhaps long-term, but he did start three games on the left side last season as he was named Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year. Kirk Ferentz has sent a solid pipeline of offensive lineman to the NFL, and Wirfs is next in line.

Even with deeper data showing the unit was not quite that bad, upgrading Brady’s pass protection after allowing 47 sacks last year is a clear priority for the Buccaneers. If there’s an opportunity in the middle of the first round to get one of the best offensive tackles in this year’s draft class, and a plug-and-play starter for that matter, jumping on it is too easy for Tampa Bay.

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