Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2011 NFL Draft Class

Round (Overall) Player, Position, School

1 (20) Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa

2 (51) Da'Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson

3 (84) Mason Foster, LB, Washington

4 (104) Luke Stocker, TE, Tennessee

5 (151) Ahmad Black, DB, Florida

6 (187) Allen Bradford, RB, USC

7 (222) Anthony Gaitor, DB, Florida International

7 (238) Daniel Hardy, TE, Idaho

College Free Agency Could Start Sunday

It's going to become an event Buccaneers fans look forward to every year.

Each year, around 250 college football players are drafted by the NFL.  Given there are around 110 Division I (not to mention Divisions II and III, plus other smaller college affiliations) schools with anywhere from 5-25 players completing their college careers each year, that's 250 picks from a potential pool of well over 25,000 players, or just about 1%.

The other 99% gets one last chance at the dream through college free agency (well, not the absolute last shot, but getting pretty far down the line).  This is when the 32 NFL teams can descend upon the remaining college talent pool and dig deep, look for long shots, or find a diamond in the rough.

Undrafted talent currently resides on the Tampa Bay roster in the persons of Kregg Lumpkin and Ryan Purvis (undrafted in 2009) as well as George Johnson, Derek Hardman, and LeGarrette Blount (all undrafted in 2010).

If the players can get the NFLPA Union back together in the next day or so the league can get the process of signing these players underway.

And Buccaneer fans will get a new glimpse of the future!

Tampa Bay Drafts Daniel Hardy, TE, Idaho

With their 8th and final pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers used their compensatory 7th round pick (#238 Overall) on tight end Daniel Hardy (6'4", 249lbs) from Idaho Univerity.

Hardy was Idaho's leading receiver with 32 catches for 545 yards in 2010 in spite of sitting out the final five games of the season due to a broken arm.  In 2009, Hardy had 39 catches for 691 yards. A former walk-on for the Vandals, the redshirt senior first broke into the receiving rotation as a sophomore and elevated to a 2nd Team All-WAC performer as well as a semifinalist for the 2010 John Mackey Award given to the top college player at the tight end position each year.

Hardy is a developmental player who can provide some immediate impact as a dedicated receiving tight end but will need to further develop his skills to become an every-game player in the NFL.  He could be a practice squad candidate, following a path similar to current Buccaneer tight end Ryan Purvis who spent time developing on the practice squad until reaching the regular roster last season.

<< 2011 Seventh Pick (#222 Overall)

Tampa Bay Drafts Anthony Gaitor, DB, Florida International

With their 7th pick (#222 overall) and first pick in the 7th round of the 2011 NFL Draft, the Buccaneers selected defensive back Anthony Gaitor (5'10", 177lbs) from Florida International University.

Gaitor was a four year starter for the Panthers, and is only the third player from FIU ever drafted by the NFL.  The three time All-Sun Belt Conference player had 52 tackles, 3 sacks, and 2 interceptions in 2010. He is regarded as an instinctive corner with good footwork and moves smoothly in coverage.  He is not the prototypical NFL corner as far as size but plays big.

Florida International played him tighter to the line of scrimmage in 2010, and that may be telling in the Buccaneers plans.  Since the arrival of the new leadership at One Buccaneer Place in 2009, Tampa Bay has been collecting long and lean corners.  Gaitor has shown toughness in the run game and is willing to put a facemask into the opposing running game.  So, at least today, with his size and toughness, Gaitor appears closer to the mold of safety currently on the Buccaneers roster.  Add in his experience at corner and Gaitor would be a strong candidate for early time in nickel and dime situations as well.

<< 2011 Sixth Pick (#187 Overall)

2011 Eighth Pick (#238 Overall) >>

Tampa Bay Drafts Allen Bradford, RB, Southern California

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers used their 6th round pick (#22 in the round, #187 overall) on running back Allen Bradford (5'11", 242lbs) from USC.

This pick was acquired from the Kansas City Chiefs as part of the Alex Magee trade executed during the 2010 NFL regular season.  Tampa Bay gave up a fifth round pick in this year's draft for Magee plus this selection in the 2011 NFL Draft.

Bradford finished the 2010 season with 794 yards and a 7.2 yards per carry average for the Trojans.  He also had 3 catches for 74 yards and one touchdown.  The senior was a bright spot on a program going through significant change last season.  A powerful, downhill runner between the tackles, he appears to be a strong candidate as a short yardage back.  On special teams as a junior, he recorded six tackles and forced one fumble.  To make the roster with the depth at running back, Bradford will have to show a willingness to play on 4th down first, then work his way into the regular rotation.  Bradford has been in a rotation situation at USC for most of his career which could be how his career begins with the Buccaneers.

<< 2011 Fifth Pick (#151 Overall)

2011 Seventh Pick (#222 Overall) >>

Tampa Bay Drafts Ahmad Black, SS, Florida

With the 20th pick in the fifth round, #151 overall, the Buccaneers selected Ahmad Black (5'10", 184lbs) from the University of Florida.

Safety was not a strong suit of the 2011 NFL Draft.  In fact, only five safeties total were drafted in 2011, three free safeties and two strong safeties.  Only one went before the fifth round (Rahim Moore, UCLA, to Denver).  The Buccaneers picked on of the three safeties chosen in the fifth round in Black.

Black is considered a reliable open-field tackler with good instincts.  He finished with 13 career interceptions for the Gators, tied for 4th most in school history.  He has started every game since his sophomore season, and was named a first team All-American by Rivals.com this past year.  The senior was also a First-Team All-SEC by both the ESPN/coaches panel and AP Writers of America.  He also played on kickoff and punt coverage teams, a highly regarded value by Tampa Bay General Manager Mark Dominik.

Black enters a Buccaneers secondary desperately searching for stability over the past two seasons.  To make the team as a rookie he will have to show his skills on special teams -- which he has plenty of.

<< 2011 Fourth Pick (#104 Overall)

2011 Sixth Pick (#187 Overall) >>

Tampa Bay Drafts Luke Stocker, TE, Tennessee

In the fourth round of the 2011 NFL Draft, General Manager Mark Dominik moved up from position #116  to #104 in a draft day trade with the Philadelphia Eagles.  Tampa moved up and surrendered their 2012 fourth round pick to select Luke Stocker (6'5",  258lbs) from the University of Tennessee.

Stocker, a redshirt senior, is considered a well-developed pass catcher with soft hands and great body control when fighting for the ball.  He is considered a bit of a project when asked to stay back in protection but shows good run-blocking skills.  He was the only Tennessee player to have at least one catch in every Volunteer game in 2010.  He caught 29 passes for 417 yards in 2010.  In 2009, he also caught 29 passes and gained 389 yards.  Stocker also started every game as a sophomore.

NFLDraftScout.com stated Stocker could be one of the few potential starters in a weak TE class in the 2011 NFL Draft.

<< 2011 Third Pick (#84 Overall)

2011 Fifth Pick (#116 Overall) >>

Tampa Bay Drafts Mason Foster, LB, Washington

With their third pick in the 2011 NFL Draft (#84 overall), the Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected Mason Foster, outside linebacker from the University of Washington.  Linebacker was on the want list after all (as previously discussed).

Foster is a true Senior (6'1", 245lbs).  First team All-Pac-10 and first team All-America by scout.com and rivals.com, Foster started all 13 games for the Huskies last season at outside linebacker.  He lead the Pac-10 and was second in the nation with 163 tackles last season (12.5 tackles per game).  In 2009, Foster started all 12 games as well, finishing 2nd on the team with 85 tackles plus three interceptions and six forced fumbles.  As a Sophomore in 2008, Foster again started all 12 games at outside linebacker and led the Pac-10 conference with 105 tackles, leading Washington with 12 tackles for loss.  As a freshman, Foster played in all 13 games, starting four.

Foster has shown versatility during his college career, starting both inside and outside at linebacker at various times.  Physically, Foster compares favorably with current Buccaneers Barrett Rudd (6'2", 241lbs) and Quincy Black (6'2", 240lbs).

Like the prior two picks in the 2011 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Foster was a team captain.

<< 2011 Second Pick (#51 Overall)

2011 Fourth Pick (#116 Overall) >>

Tampa Bay Drafts Da'Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson

In what could be the biggest surprise in some time for the Buccaneers in the NFL Draft, former Top 10 Overall rated defensive end Da'Quan Bowers stayed on the board until the 51st pick overall, when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers made Bowers their second selection in the 2011 NFL Draft.

How did it happen?  Bowers had his knee surgically repaired (torn meniscus; diagram) just after his college football season ended last year.  The true junior was outstanding in his last season at Clemson University, becoming a finalist for the Lombardi Award, Bednarik Award, and Nagurski Award and was only one of two players selected for the Walter Camp National Player of the year.

Bowers broke Clemson records for number of sacks in a season and most consecutive games with a sack, records previously held by former Tampa Bay Buccaneer Gaines Adams.  Bowers and Adams were close friends -- Bowers cites Adams as a reason he attended Clemson and wore Adams' old number, 93.  Besides the loss of Adams in February 2010, Bowers also lost his father during Clemson's fall camp last season.

Bowers was a team captain last season.

(Background information condensed from NFLDraftScout.com information at CBSSports.com)

Notable Other Possibilities Were:
Brandon Harris, CB, Miami (Fla) - to Texas with pick #60

Mikel LeShoure, RB, Illinois - to Lions (from Seahawks) with pick #56

<< 2011 First Pick (#20 Overall)

2011 Third Pick (#84 Overall) >>

Is Linebacker On the Want List?

In the flurry of the 2010 regular season while Tampa Bay Buccaneer fans were starting to believe in the playoff run (around Week 9, remember?), there was a move attempted by the Buccaneers which failed.  It's  time to take a closer look at that transaction because it may determine what Tampa Bay is looking for in the 2011 NFL Draft.

Back in early November, the Buccaneers attempted a waiver claim of Shawn Merriman but lost out to the Buffalo Bills.  This is a big reveal of the thinking in the Buccaneer's front office.  Merriman would be an outside linebacker in the Buccaneers Tampa-2 system, where Quincy Black plays currently.

Clearly, the Buccaneers were looking for an upgrade at the outside linebacker position -- a player who can not only drop back in coverage, but also rush the quarterback when necessary.  The top prospect at the outside linebacker position is Von Miller (6'3", 246lbs, Texas A&M University) and he is a consensus Top 5 pick this Thursday.  However, the next two could be on the board when Tampa Bay picks at #20.

Akeem Ayers (6'3", 254lbs, UCLA) is a physical player with good gap discipline.  However, he may be more suited to a 4-linebacker defense. Ayers currently has an overall rating of #30 by NFLDraftScout.com.

The more intriguing pick could be Justin Houston (6'3", 270lbs, University of Georgia).  Houston played outside linebacker in the Bulldog's 3-linebacker defense, making him a good fit for the Buccaneers.  With big size and a big motor he resembles what Tampa Bay may have gotten had they landed Merriman (6'4", 265lbs).  Houston currently has an overall rating of #40 by NFLDraftScout.com.  Walterfootball.com currently has Houston being one of the players the Buccaneers may be targeting at #20 in the first round.

Targeting Houston may also provide the Buccaneers the opportunity to trade down 3-6 spots as he may not be coveted by the Chiefs, Colts, or Eagles who have other pressing needs, but the Saints have the 24th pick and Houston may fill a defensive end need for them because of his size.

If this is the position the Buccaneers are looking to fill there should be good opportunities in the first round.    If the draft goes a different direction, by the time the Buccaneers pick in the second round (#51 overall), as few as four outside linebackers could be off the board, allowing an opportunity for a value pick.

Again, the Buccaneers can stay put in round one this year and still get good value with their pick.  It's another indicator the rebuilding process is over in Tampa Bay.

First Mock 7 Round Buccaneer Draft

Using the CBSSports.com prospects rankings (by NFLDraftScout.com), I took a shot at what a seven round draft may look like.  The assumption made is prior picks will result in all players ranked above the Tampa Bay overall pick number are no longer on the board.  That is, for Pick #20, assume all players rated 1 to 19 are already picked.  This draft is based on the player rankings as of April 17th, 2011.


Round 1 (Overall #20)
Based on the assumptions, the Buccaneers would arrive here with six defensive ends already off the board. Adrian Clayborn, the Buccaneers darling across most mock drafts, is still on the board.  But there are others worth looking at -- Mike Pouncey (6'5", 303lbs, University of Florida), the #1 offensive guard in the draft, is still available.  As is Gabe Carimi (6'7", 214lbs, University of Wisconsin), the #1 left (not overall) offensive tackle the the 2011 NFL draft.  As previously discussed, Jimmy Smith (cornerback) and Mike LeShoure (running back) are on the board with compelling reasons to select them.  Right tackle Nate Solder (6'8", 319lbs, University of Colorado) is also on the board.  And although quarterbacks Jack Locker (Washington) and Christian Ponder (Florida State) are available, it's probably the only position the Buccaneers would strictly avoid this early in the draft.
The Pick:  Mike Pouncy, OG, University of Florida
The Reason:  Best Player Available.  Also, if last year didn't show you how important offensive line depth is, you were just not paying attention.


Round 2 (Overall #51)
Only three more defensive ends have come off the board since the last pick so value there is improving, but still we're one and a half rounds in and nine defensive ends are gone.  Christian Ballard (6'4", 283lbs, University of Iowa) is the highest rated defensive end available.  There are several offensive linemen at the top of the board as far as value, but having taken one in the first round the Buccaneers would probably look elsewhere.  One compelling possibility is Davon House (6'1", 200lbs, New Mexico State University), a cornerback who matches the tall, lanky frame the Buccaneers have looked for recently.  Also, speedster DeMarco Murray (6'0", 213lbs, University of Oklahoma), who ran a sub-4.4 forty yard dash at the combine, is still on the board.  Interestingly enough, not one defensive safety would have been taken by this point -- and none of them rate high enough to make them of value with this pick, making safety by far the weakest position in the 2011 NFL Draft.
The Pick:  Christian Ballard, DE, University of Iowa
The Reason:  The value is there, plus Ballard brings good speed to the position and can play both inside and out on the defensive line.


Round 3 (Overall #84)
The value pick here swings to linebacker, with the top two being Chris Carter (6'1", 248lbs, Fresno State) at outside linebacker and Greg Jones (6'0", 242, Michigan State).  There is value at wide receiver, but, like quarterback, the Buccaneers added plenty of youth and talent there in the Class of 2009 and Class of 2010, so here it would be a pass.
The Pick:  Chris Carter, OLB, Fresno State
The Reason:  Great value, and Carter is bigger and faster than Jones based on combine results.


Round 4 (Overall #116)
Safety Robert Sands (6'4", 217lbs, West Virginia) is the #4 rated safety and an interesting consideration considering the flux Tampa Bay has experienced at the position the past two years.  Curtis Marsh (6'1", 197lbs, Utah State) fits the mold at corner.  But I think the Buccaneers will duplicate positional picks again in this draft.
The Pick:  Pierre Allen, DE, University of Nebraska
The Reason:  Allen, at 6'4" and 273lbs, plays on the left (opposite side from Ballard), giving the Buccaneers two young bookends.


Round 5 (Overall #151)
Looking back at the projected needs for the 2011 draft, it would be great to find a tight end or a defensive back as a value pick at this point in the draft.  GM Mark Dominik and crew have proven again and again they can get good value from later round picks.  Hopefully, this year brings more of the same. There is value at this position in the offensive backfield and wide receiver positions (both which the Buccaneers can calmly pass on).  One interesting possibility is Zach Hurd (6'7", 316lbs, University of Connecticut), who fits the mold but would overload the youth on the offensive line.
The Pick:  Deunta Williams, FS, University of North Carolina 
The Reason:  Williams (6'2", 205lbs) is as fast as players ranked higher, but physically smaller.  Also, Sean Jones can only be awesome for so much longer.


Round 6 (Overall #187)
At this point, we're looking for players who can make a difference on fourth down and find the field a year or so down the line.
The Pick:  Mike Mohamed, ILB, California
The Reason:  At 6'3" and 239lbs, Mohamed has good size and showed good speed (sub 4.6 at the combine), and linebackers can contribute on special teams.


Round 7 (Overall #222)
The Pick:  Markus White, DE, Florida State
The Reason:  White is 6'4" and 266lbs, both of which are reasonable for an NFL defensive end.


Round 7 (Overall #238)
The Pick:  Lee Smith, TE, Marshall
The Reason: Tampa Bay is very, very old at tight end and Smith (6'6", 266lbs) would get a couple years to develop.




I picked heavy on defense, particularly up front.  Nothing wrong with a draft like that! 

Curveball at #20: Running Back

The upcoming draft is well known to be deep at defensive end.  Those who only give Tampa Bay's Draft "needs" an occasional glance may rubber stamp a defensive end pick at #20 in the first round of this year's 2011 NFL draft.  We already know the difference between a fantasy evaluation and a reality evaluation of the Buccaneer's need at defensive end.

What those "glancers" are overlooking is, by some accounts, possibly seven defensive ends could already be gone by the time the Buccaneers make their first selection.

This means the Buccaneers have a chance to be a "surprise" pick this year.  And there is good reason for that surprise to be a running back.

It's not much of a stretch, either.  Cadillac Williams and Earnest Graham have more gas in the tank but are getting up there in terms of mileage.  Legarrette Blount ran for more yards than any other rookie in 2010, but he was signed to a practice squad contract, meaning Blount will probably be on the free agent market this offseason once the players and owners kiss and make up.  Other youth at the position includes the intriguing Kareem Huggins (sidelined by a knee injury last season) and Kregg Lumpkin, another one of General Manager Mark Dominik's practice squad steals committed in 2010.  The last of the six running backs listed on the Buccaneers current roster is Rendrick Taylor, who is possibly a fullback.

Most draft boards have either one or zero running backs getting drafted in the first round in 2011.  The top of the list of available running backs is Mark Ingram from the University of Alabama.  Ingram was the 2009 Heisman Trophy winner.  An early-entry college junior, Ingram has nonetheless scored more rushing touchdowns than anyone in the history of Alabama football.  He is listed at 5'9", 215 pounds.   If Ingram falls to the twentieth pick, which I think is very unlikely, the Buccaneers would have a very serious value pick staring them in the face.

The other interesting possibility for Tampa Bay should Ingram be gone is Mikel Leshoure out of the University of Illinois and also an early-entry Junior.  Leshoure is bigger than Ingram at 6'0" and 227 pounds.  His 40-yard dash time at the NFL combine was also better than Ingrams.  Generally, he is considered a second round pick, projected to go anywhere from around 35 to 55.  If the Buccaneers are interested in one of the two best running backs this year, they will probably not be able to wait until the second round, which makes Leshoure an interesting consideration if Ingram is off the board.

The strong work by the Buccaneers' front office and scouts have put them in a strong position to get a high quality player in the first round without having to position hunt.  Running back might be just the right spot.