Perfect Picks 2023: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

By Joshua Edwards

With the NFL Draft approaching we will be looking at each team and evaluating where they need to improve. In this particular series we will run a seven round mock using the Pro Football Network Mock Draft Simulator and find the ‘Perfect Picks’ for each franchise.

We will highlight four players that could help each team. This will feature picks 1 and 2, a mid round gem and a late round sleeper. 

Round 1 - Dalton Kincaid (Tight End, Utah)

There’s a Tom Brady sized hole to replace for Tampa Bay, but at 19, they will struggle to do so. Assuming no trades up, and assuming the premier four quarterback prospects (Young, Stroud, Richardson and Levis) are already gone, look for the Bucs to address another need with their first rounder: tight end.

Dalton Kincaid’s journey to top tight end prospect in this year’s draft is atypical to say the least. A high school basketball player with just one season’s worth of football experience before joining San Diego State. After one season with the Aztecs, Kincaid transferred to Utah, one of the premier tight end development schools, and never looked back. In 2022 he had 70 catches for 890 yards and 8 touchdowns, and showed a promising blend of ball skills, body control and toughness. 

Kincaid projects as a true possession tight end, and at 6’4” has the height. His inline blocking leaves some to be desired but it is not for want of trying – Kincaid fights hard and is competitive, but is a little on the lighter side which limits his effectiveness there. Overall, though, he is an exceptional prospect and would give the Bucs a weapon in the passing game all over the field. 

Round 2 - Will McDonald IV (Edge Rusher, Iowa State)

The Bucs have lacked in the pass rush department. Last season Vita Vea led the team with just 6.5 sacks, with Devin White and Anthony Nelson notching 5.5 a piece from the LB spot. Todd Bowles could use some genuine edge talent to generate more pressures and compliment Vea et al, and it could come in the form of Will McDonald IV out of Iowa State.

McDonald is lightning quick off the snap and has plenty of college experience, having started over 50 games. He’s a prototypical speed rusher with good hand to hand skills at the apex of the rush and a smooth transition. He is less adept at run stopping, and is on the lighter side at 239lbs, but there is adequate scope to add weight. Some have him going lower than this but if used correctly I think McDonald could really compliment Tampa’s strengths on defense with his speed.

Mid Round Gem - Andrew Vorhees (Offensive Guard, USC)

The Bucs could do with some versatility on their offensive line, and Trojan Andrew Vorhees fits the bill in the 5th round. Vorhees has played snaps at all five positions across the front, and would give Tampa a real mauler in the run game wherever he lines up. A tone setter in terms of his competitiveness and willingness to get physical, Vorhees is strong as hell.

He is a bit taller (6’6”) than the average guard, which has caused him some problems in anchoring and leverage when playing inside. He will need to improve some lateral movement to counter speed rushes inside and ensure his pad level is low enough, but he projects as a starting left guard, and Tampa would be doing very well to get him this late in the draft.

Late Round Sleeper - Jalen Graham (Linebacker, Purdue)

Lavonte David re-signed, so the need at ILB is less pressing than it could have been. That said, he is getting on, and I think Jalen Graham out of Purdue might be a nice addition as a true sleeper pick to bolster the linebacker corps for Todd Bowles. 

Graham has burst and plays bigger than his size, hitting hard and coming downhill quickly when the opportunity presents itself. As a pass rusher he has potential, too, but certainly isn’t a three-down rusher. A bit of a tweener, he probably needs to add to his frame if he wants to be as effective a tackler and hitter at the next level, but I’m convinced there’s at least a rotational backer in there, if utilised correctly.

Draft In Full:

Round 1 – Dalton Kincaid (Tight End, Utah)

Round 2 – Will McDonald IV (Edge, Iowa State)

Round 3 – Hendon Hooker (Quarterback, Tennessee)

Round 5 – Andrew Vorhees (Offensive Guard, USC)

Round 5 – Roschon Johnson (Running Back, Texas)

Round 6 – Jalen Graham (Linebacker, Purdue)

Round 6 – Jay Ward (Safety, LSU)

Round 6 – YaYa Diaby (Edge, Louisville)

Round 7 – Tommy DeVito (Quarterback, Illinois)

JOSHUA EDWARDS

NFC EAST & COLLEGE FOOTBALL ANALYST

JOSH IS AN NFC EAST SPECIALIST AND LONG SUFFERING COMMANDERS FAN BASED IN LONDON. CHECK OUT HIS ARTICLES HERE AND FOLLOW HIM @JOSHWA_1990 ON TWITTER FOR SOME WRY CYNICISM