Buccaneers 2017 Draft Recap (Rounds 1-3)

JerseyBorn

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2017 NFL Draft Recap

The Bucs went into this year's draft with 7 picks all at 31st in the round. After getting quite a bit of depth and a few starters in free agency Tampa Bay still had some needs to fill. Let's go over those picks.

1st Round - DE Derek Barnett, Tennessee
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By the time pick number 31 came around the Bucs preferred options at cornerback were all off the board so the front office went with Derek Barnett. Barnet was ranked the 10th best prospect coming into the draft but managed to fall all the way down to 31 where the Bucs happily took him. Tampa Bay franchise tagged William Gholston and they still have Robert Ayers Jr. as well as last year's 2nd round pick Noah Spence but they couldn't pass up on Barnett. I would expect Barnett to start at one of the defensive end spots and don't be surprised if Robert Ayers Jr. ends up on the trade block.

2nd Round - WR Dede Westbrook, Oklahoma

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Wide receiver was a position that the Bucs wanted to re-tool this offseason. They went into the offseason with only Mike Evans, Vincent Jackson and kick returner Kenny Bell on the roster at the position. The front office felt like with two big red zone targets like Evans and Jackson they needed to add some speed. Dede Westbrook does just that. Westbrook ran a 4.39 and will be using speed combined with his ability to get open to secure the slot receiver spot in Tampa and will be another weapon on the offensive side of the ball for Winston to work with. The Bucs are hoping his explosiveness will result in a more threatening passing game than they had last season.

3rd Round - CB Marquez White, Florida State

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By all accounts heading into the draft, the Bucs were looking for a corner in the first round but decided to go a different way when Barnett was still available. However they should be happy with Marquez White in the 3rd round. White is a guy who's used to flying under the radar. Before Jalen Ramsey was with the Jaguars he was the corner starting opposite of White and Ramsey was the guy everyone talked about despite White only being targeted on 7% of throws that season which made him one of the most respected corners in the country. Now still in Florida with the Bucs he will be competing for the number 2 corner spot alongside last year's first round pick Vernon Hargreaves III. White will need to prove he has the speed and the coverage skills needed to lock down top NFL receivers and he will have plenty of opportunities to prove so.
 
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