2007 DRAFT NEEDS:

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

presented by

by PFT Editor Mike Florio, with Matt Miller of NewEraScouting.com

Flush with cap room for the first time in the Jon Gruden era, the Bucs have addressed plenty of needs through an aggressive approach to free agency.  At last count, eight new players have been added by Tampa from other teams: Patrick Chukwurah, Jeff Garcia, B.J. Askew, Kevin Carter, Lance Legree, Kenny Smith, Sammy Davis, and Cato June.

Primarily, the Bucs need to obtain via the draft impact players on offense -- and folks to block for them.  And it's no secret that the Bucs would love to land receiver Calvin Johnson with the No. 4 overall pick.  Unfortunately, however, it doesn't look like Johnson will last that long.  The other guy the Bucs could use in round one, left tackle Joe Thomas, might be long gone, too.

If Johnson and Thomas aren't available, the best move for the Bucs might be to dangle the pick to someone who covets quarterback JaMarcus Russell or quarterback Brady Quinn or running back Adrian Peterson.  Sliding back to the second half of the top ten would allow Tampa to pick up some extra selections, and to snag someone like linebacker Patrick Willis, who could be the perfect replacement for Shelton Quarles as the middle linebacker in the Tampa 2 defense.

If Thomas isn't the pick in round one, the Bucs need to look for a tackle elsewhere in the draft for help on the offensive line.  Though Luke Petitgout has been signed, it's important in the NFC South to have capable guys on both ends of the line, since Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers typically lines up over the right tackle.

The right tackle position also takes on even more importance if the starting quarterback is the left-handed Chris Simms.

Ideally, 2006 left tackle Anthony Davis would be moved to guard, Petitgout would play left tackle or right tackle, and a draft pick would challenge Jeremy Trueblood for the other starting tackle position.

At defensive tackle, the Bucs need some depth in the wake of the trade of Booger McFarland.  The Bucs could use the last pick in the second round, which they received from the Colts for McFarland, to address this need.  Since the Tampa 2 defense relies on having a strong set of lineman who can shed blockers and get to the quarterback and/or ball carrier, it's important that the team have plenty of guys who can get the job done at this position.

At defensive end, the loss of Dewayne White can't be completely offset by the arrival of veteran Kevin Carter, even though on a dollar-for-dollar basis Carter is likely a better value.  Still, it makes sense for the Bucs to consider adding bodies here, especially with Simeon Rice entering the final year of his contract.

At safety, Jermaine Phillips has never filled John Lynch's shoes, even though Phillips has shown periodic flashes of brilliance.  Will Allen and Kalvin Pearson are okay at free safety, but an upgrade is necessary in either or both of these key areas in the Tampa 2.

Cornerback is also an area of concern, both now and in the future.  Phillip Buchanon was a surprise mid-season pickup, but he's not an ideal fit for the Tampa 2.  Also, Ronde Barber isn't getting any younger.  If Daymeion Hughes slides to the bottom of round two, the Bucs might pounce.