TAMPA, Fla. -- The 2020 NFL draft is now less than a week away, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ biggest priorities revolve around what they can do to help quarterback Tom
Brady. The Bucs need a Day 1 starter at right tackle to protect him and a
sure-handed, pass-catching running back to open things up with the screen game.
After that, they really need a third wide receiver to fill the void left by
Breshad Perriman (36 catches, 645 yards, 6 TDs in 2019), who signed with the New
York Jets in free agency. If the Bucs can address those key areas, they will
walk away from the draft in good shape. Offensive tackle The Bucs did not sign a
true replacement for starting right tackle Demar Dotson in free agency. They did
sign Joe Haeg -- who has started 35 games in four Tom
Brady seasons, with 23 of those games at tackle -- but ideally, Haeg is more
of a depth signing. They need a player who not only can step into the right
tackle role but also serve as a potential alternative to left deal with Donovan
Smith, who offers been durable (he has missed just one game in five seasons) but
also has been inconsistent. The general consensus among talent evaluators
leaguewide is that there are four top-tier tackles in the draft -- Alabama’s
Jedrick Wills, Iowa’s Tristan Wirfs, Georgia’s Andrew Thomas and Louisville’s
Mekhi Becton -- and after that, there’s a drop-off. There’s also a feeling that
all four of them could be gone by the time the Bucs select at No. 14. Sources
have told ESPN that the Bucs have explored trading up in this draft, and there
could be a run on tackles. But will a willing trade partner emerge, such as the
Arizona Cardinals at No. 8, the Jacksonville Jaguars at No. 9 or the Cleveland
Browns at No. 10? Or do the Bucs just stay put and hope one of the four falls to The
2020 NFL draft them at No. 14?