Heading into the 2022 NFL draft next week, the needs for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are obvious, on both sides of the ball.
On defense, they need a disruptive interior lineman who can get after the quarterback. On offense, they could still use a starting-caliber left guard, as well as some tight end help.
But teams don’t always spend their top pick on their biggest position of need, especially those picking late in the first round, where the board could deplete those spots, while letting value elsewhere tumble down the board.
That being the case, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Bucs’ philosophy at No. 27 overall ends up being “most dynamic weapon available,” whether on offense or defense. And the way this class is stacking up, it’s a solid bet that player might come on the back end of the defense.
Would the Bucs really spend a first-round pick on a safety?
After all, they just signed a pair of veterans in free agency, Logan Ryan and Keanu Neal, to alleviate the loss of Jordan Whitehead. They have one of the league’s best young playmakers in Antoine Winfield Jr., and another ballhawk in Mike Edwards.
Look beneath the surface, and you’ll find enough evidence to point in that direction.
Yes, Ryan and Neal were ideal additions for the Tampa Bay secondary that lacked veteran presence last season, which should help with the communication issues that led to many of their struggles. Ryan and Neal are also both hybrid defenders to a certain degree, with Ryan able to play in the slot, and Neal with experience at linebacker. Neither could be considered a pure safety in Tampa Bay’s plans. They’re also both on one-year deals, giving the Bucs nothing in terms of future insurance at the position.
As for Edwards, he’s on the final year of his rookie deal, leaving Winfield as the only one of those four who happens to be under contract beyond the 2022 season.
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