Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
On the clock: Indianapolis Colts, Pick: 7.48 |
| Pick | Overall | Choice | Notes | |
| 1.08 | 8 | Dee Milliner, CB from Alabama | We felt pretty good about our options at 13, but when we saw Milliner slip past Cleveland at 6, our staff started discussing the possibility of moving up for him. It’s no secret that CB is one of our biggest needs, and being able to grab the best one in the class is something we’re really happy about. Milliner brings everything to the table that our defense needs in a corner; he’s capable of locking down in man coverage, isn’t shy about sticking his head in against the run, and has the swagger that you look for in a top cover man. There are definitely areas where we feel he can improve, and we’re looking forward to working with his natural athletic ability and developing him into the best player he can be. We had originally discussed moving up to 9 with the Jets, but were rebuffed. The deal we executed with Buffalo was actually more in our favor than the deal we had offered the Jets, so we’re definitely happy with the outcome. | |
| 2.12 | 43 | Margus Hunt, DE from Southern Methodist | We had made efforts to move up for Sly Williams, but didn't end up with an offer we were comfortable with. We were also confident that if we weren't able to move down from this pick, we'd be able to grab the next man on our board. We love Margus for many different reasons. We have durability concerns with both of our starting DEs, so he gives us great depth there as a swing end. He also has the size and versatility to move inside on passing downs and get after the quarterback. We are looking for players who eat, sleep, and breath football. Margus is relatively new to the sport, but his fire, dedication, and passion for the game are unmatched. We're thrilled to bring him on board. | |
| 3.11 | 73 | Travis Kelce, TE from Cincinnati | Kelce has been our target at this pick from the beginning. We got a little nervous when we saw Ertz and Escobar both go ahead of us in the 3rd, hoping it wouldn't cause a team to move ahead of us for our guy. Kelce may not have the elite play-making ability of Eifert, but we believe him to be the most balanced TE prospect in this draft. Kelce is effective and powerful as a run-blocker (he was used frequently as the lead blocking on inside trap & counter plays at Cincinnati), and has the size, hands and athleticism to create mismatches in coverage. We expect Travis to start immediately and provide a vital security blanket for Josh Freeman. | |
| 4.29 | 126 | Mike Glennon, QB from North Carolina State | We still have a couple of need areas that are more pressing, but we simply couldn't pass up the value of getting Glennon at this point. It's no secret that this year is make-or-break for Josh Freeman, and getting Glennon in the 4th gives us a low-risk insurance policy for the future in case Freeman can't prove himself worthy of a long-term extension. We feel that Glennon's skill set fits well with our offense, and we hope his presence will light a healthy fire under Josh. | |
| 5.14 | 147 | Akeem Spence, DT from Illinois | We would have taken Akeem in the 4th had Glennon not still been on the board, so we're very happy to get him at this pick. We feel like we've been able to match needs to value throughout this entire draft, and this pick is another example of that. While he's not quite a finished product yet, Akeem provides the build and disruptive run-defending skills that we're seeking at the UT position. He'll be worked into the rotation early and often and be given every opportunity to overachieve and earn a starting spot. | |
| 6.28 | 196 | Johnny Adams, CB from Michigan State | We wanted to add more young depth to our defensive backfield, and we like what Johnny brings to the table. His strong suit is defending the run, but we'll need him to bulk up a bit. He was a solid leader in East Lansing, and he'll have an opportunity to challenge for playing time in our dime sets. |
| Pick | |
|---|---|
| 4.29 | NFL: from Patriots for CB Aquib Talib on 2012-11-01 |
| 6.28 | NFL: from Eagles for WR Arrelious Benn |
| 1.08 | #MockSix: from Bills for pick(s): 1.13,4.15,6.13 |
