For What It's Worth

[BucShot]

Story by Roy Cummings

	Quote:
	The Bucs have their first victory of the year. It came here at NFL Scouting Combine during a coin flip between the Jaguars and Bears. Jacksonville and Chicago both went 7-9 last year and because they had identical strengths of schedule but did not play head to head their draft position was determined by a coin flip. The Jaguars won the flip, which gave them the opportunity to pick 10th in the first round. Chicago will pick 11th in the first round, but coin flip rules call for those teams to swap draft positions in subsequent rounds. That means the Bears will have the 10th pick in the second round, but that pick belongs to the Bucs, because Chicago traded it to Tampa Bay for DE Gaines Adams last October. The Bucs now have the third, 35th and 42nd overall picks in the draft.

I'm still expecting the Bucs to duck and dodge this draft like the plague but with that aside something else comes to mind with this draft.

Those top picks (first, 2nd, 3rd overall etc) command huge contracts but the strength (and needs) in this draft are clearly on the defensive side of the ball. Shu and McCoy top the draft boards but is DT a position teams are willing to spend that kinda' money on? I'm guessing not and this is probably going to shake up this year's draft order.

This might become something interesting to watch as the draft nears. 10 to 12 million a year is what those picks will probably cost. That's QB & RB money, not DT money. Interesting scenario ain't it..??

[revtbj]

Think they might trade the #3 for a couple of lower picks?

[leeman]

Good deal for the Bucs.

I love second round picks. I think they are the best picks for value in terms of talent vs. cost.

[BucShot]

I wouldn't be surprised to see the Bucs involved in a trade for the #3, especially if one of the top 2 spots starts the train rolling. I don't know where their comfort zone is anymore but it's become obvious that this team is no longer the Glazer's focus.

This could work in the team's favor in spite of the Glazer's intentions. I agree with Leeman, there's great talent and huge value in the later rounds so I'm actually hoping they trade down.

This draft wasn't a good fit for the Bucs from the beginning. If there is a run on DTs, they wouldn't get their pick of choice and if logic prevailed and that player was there, they'd end up paying way to much for him at the #3 spot. They're caught between a rock and a hard place in this draft and they'd be wise to move down.

[revtbj]

But how low to go? You still need some quality players to fill some holes. If they don't plan on hitting the free agent market, the only way is through the draft. However with the choice of letting Antonio Bryant go do you think we trade down and get a Dez Bryant later in the first? There could also be a few pretty good DT later in the first or early second round. Jones from Syracuse, Odrik from Penn State, or Williams from Tennessee. Will be an interesting time indeed for the Bucs.

[BucShot]

There's no guarantees with any top tier pick but taking a DT that high doesn't make sense to me. Maybe a once in a lifetime DE, offensive playmaker yeah, franchise QB definitely but DT..??

Miss on that one and it'll probably cost you your job. I would hold off on the DT pick within the top 3 but feel much better about it at 6 through 10. The Bucs are probably wanting to trade down anyway and they really don't need a 10 million dollar DT, so trade away IMO...

[SLOBGOBLIN]

whatever happens we are extremely weak at WR now for sure
& I hope we stay put at #3,this team,has alot of holes imho

[revtbj]

A list of DT's taken in the first round since 2000. Left out last years rookie class as they still have to get used to the NFL. As you can see other than a few, most are not difference makers. So BS may be right about DT's.

2000 Draft:
Corey Simon, Florida State, Philadelphia Eagles #6
Chris Hovan, Boston College, Minnesota Vikings #25

2001 Draft:
Gerard Warren, Florida, Cleveland Browns #3
Richard Seymour, Georgia, New England Patriots #6
Damione Lewis, Miami (Fla.), St. Louis Rams #12
Marcus Stroud, Georgia, Jacksonville Jaguars #13
Ryan Pickett, Ohio State, St. Louis Rams #29

2002 Draft:
Ryan Sims, North Carolina, Kansas City Chiefs #6
John Henderson, Tennessee, Jacksonville Jaguars #9
Wendell Bryant, Wisconsin, Arizona Cardinals #12
Albert Haynesworth, Tennessee, Tennessee Titans #15

2003 Draft:
Dewayne Robertson, Kentucky, New York Jets #4
Johnathan Sullivan, Georgia, New Orleans Saints #6
Jimmy Kennedy, Penn State, St. Louis Rams #12
William Joseph, Miami (Fla.), New York Giants #25

2004 Draft:
Tommie Harris, Oklahoma, Chicago Bears #14
Marcus Tubbs, Texas, Seattle Seahawks #23

2005 Draft:
Travis Johnson, Florida State, Houston Texans #16
Mike Patterson, USC, Philadelphia Eagles #31

2006 Draft:
Haloti Ngata, Oregon, Baltimore Ravens #12
Brodrick Bunkley, Florida State, Philadelphia Eagles #14
John McCargo, North Carolina State, Buffalo Bills #26

2007 Draft:
Amobi Okoye, Louisville, Houston Texans #10
Justin Harrell, Tennessee, Green Bay Packers #16

2008 Draft:
Glenn Dorsey, Louisiana State, Kansas City Chiefs #5
Sedrick Ellis, USC, New Orleans Saints #7