***Official 2024 Draft Thread!!***

[Phantom]

Connor Rogers of NBC Sports: EDGE Laiatu Latu, UCLA

The EDGE position has been a popular pick among sports analysts for the Buccaneers, as NBC Sports’ Connor Rodger stated that UCLA’s EDGE Laiatu Latu would become an “instant impact player” in Tampa.

“Latu has the talent of a top-20 player, but his medical retirement at Washington before restarting his career at UCLA could lead to a minor slide. There aren’t a lot of college pass-rushers with the variety of moves and counters that he possesses, giving the Bucs an instant impact player,” he wrote.

Eric Froton of NBC Sports: EDGE Bralen Trice, Washington

NBC Sports’ Eric Froton is predicting that the Bucs will bolster their defense by adding Trice to the roster, allowing him to play alongside Joe Tryon-Shoyinka.

Froton wrote, “Truly one of the most feared and productive college pass rushers over the last two seasons, Trice led the nation with 150 total pressures while being awarded 91st percentile PFF rush grades in each campaign. A full-sized EDGE who is billed at 6-4, 274 pounds, Trice doesn’t move with the fluidity of the elite edge rushers, but he is plenty strong enough to set the edge, has vice grips for hands and a diverse array of moves to draw from on the rush. This pick would pair Trice with another Washington EDGE player, Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, and give the Bucs’ pass rush a shot in the arm.”


Kyle Dvorchak of NBC Sports: G Jackson Powers-Johnson, Oregon

Kyle Dvorchak said as of the beginning of April, Pro Football Focus has all of the Bucs’ options for guard and center ranked in the boom third of their respective positions. So, with his first-round draft pick prediction, the NBC sports writer said the Bucs have the “perfect opportunity” to take Oregon’s Powers-Johnson and have him help protect Mayfield.

“The draft gives Tampa Bay the perfect opportunity to correct that by taking Powers-Johnson. The Oregon alum can play anywhere along the interior and will help the Bucs protect their now-franchise quarterback Baker Mayfield,” he said.

Adam Rank of NFL.com: EDGE Chop Robinson, Penn State

Adam Rank settled on Penn State’s Chop Robinson over wide receiver Xavier Worthy after reflecting on Bucs’ WR Trey Palmer’s rookie season. Rank said Palmer showed enough during last season to continue playing the burner role, and with Shaq Barrett gone, the Bucs need someone who can rush the quarterback, in this case, Chop Robinson.

Keith Sanchez of The Draft Network: WR Xavier Worthy, Texas

With the Buccaneers locking up quarterback Baker Mayfield for three years, Sanchez said Tampa Bay needs to focus on their speed, and that’s where Worthy comes in.


“I think they continue to add offensive pieces around him. Xavier Worthy put his speed on display at the NFL Combine but it’s also all over his film. Worthy should give the Buccaneers another dynamic receiving option and make this offense dangerous,” Sanchez wrote.

Brad Spielberger of PFF: CB Nate Wiggins, Clemson

After trading veteran cornerback Carlton Davis III to the Detroit Lions in the offseason, Spielberger said the Bucs should draft Clemon’s Nate Wiggins to fill the void opposite of Jamel Dean.

“Wiggins would immediately step in as a long, smooth athlete at cornerback. We’ll hear about Wiggins’ slender frame in the pre-draft process — he weighed in at 173 pounds at the NFL scouting combine — but he battled well with Florida State wide receivers Keon Coleman and Johnny Wilson, who are both big, physical players,” he said.

Luke Easterling of Sports Illustrated: (Trade with Chiefs, pick 32) OT Graham Barton, Duke

In an interesting turn of events, Luke Easterling with Sports Illustrated predicted that the Buccaneers will trade with the Kansas City Chiefs and fall back six spots to No. 32 and land Duke’s offensive lineman Graham Barton.


“After moving back six spots and adding another third-round pick, the Bucs are still able to land a player they likely would have taken at their original spot. Barton can play all five positions up front, and with Tampa Bay needing upgrades at both center and left guard, he’d be an ideal pick who could try his hand at either spot and start from Day 1,” he wrote.

Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz of USA Today: EDGE Chop Robinson, Penn State

Middlehurst-Schwartz is hopping on the defensive train as he predicts the Bucs will add Penn State’s Chop Robinson to their roster come Thursday.

“Pairing YaYa Diaby with Robinson could provide massive dividends if the two electric athletes can fine-tune their techniques,” he said.

Sam Farmer of Los Angeles Times: WR Keon Coleman, Florida State

Despite the Buccaneers retaining veteran and star wide receiver Mike Evans, Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times said Florida State’s Keon Coleman “could be the next Mike Evans.”


Farmer wrote, “Coleman could be the next Mike Evans for the Buccaneers, and they would happily grab someone like that.”

Greg Auman of Fox Sports: C Jackson Powers-Johnson, Oregon

Fox Sports’ Greg Auman predicted that the Bucs’ first-round pick will most likely be a player who will fill the gap that veteran Ryan Jensen left open. Robert Hainsey filled in as a two-year starter, but he was the league’s No. 32 center last year, so it’s a position that will need an “important upgrade.”

“Powers-Johnson is an intriguing prospect, winning the Rimington Trophy as the nation’s top center in his first year as a full-time starter. He’s only 21 and has bounced around on the line, but he’d be taken as a center,” Auman said.


He added that another option for the Bucs would be Duke’s Grahan Barton, but he “hasn’t played center since his freshman year of college.”

Ryan Wilson of CBS Sports: OT Graham Barton, Duke

Like Luke Easterling of Sports Illustrated, CBS Sports’ Ryan Wilson agreed that the Bucs should look to Graham Barton for their first-round pick.

“The team has moved on from Matt Feiler and Aaron Stinnie, and while they’ve signed Ben Bredeson and Sua Opeta, Graham Barton has Day 1-starter potential. He played left tackle at Duke, but his NFL future will be inside,” he said.

Chris Trapasso of CBS Sports: EDGE Laiatu Latu, UCLA

Despite Laiatu Latu having injury history, a lot of sports analysts have the Buccaneers selecting the UCLA EDGE in the first round of the draft. Trapasso stated that if drafted, Latu would “instantly boost Tampa Bay’s pass rush.”

Trapasso said, “Laiatu Latu is older and has some injury history, but on the field, he’s a nasty pass-rush move specialist who’d instantly boost Tampa Bay’s pass rush.”

Josh Edwards of CBS Sports: EDGE Chop Robinson, Penn State

Adding another EDGE to the list, Edwards said that Robinson would make a great asset to the Buccaneers since the team parted ways key defenders in the offseason, including Shaq Barrett, Carlton Davis III and Devin White.

Edwards said the Bucs can add to the unit with the selection of Robinson.

Kyle Stackpole of CBS Sports: EDGE Chop Robinson, Penn State

Starting to see a common denominator with the CBS Sports analysts, as Stackpole also chose Penn State’s Chop Robinson to fill the gap that Shaq Barrett left following his departure in the offseason.

“The explosive Chop Robinson replaces Shaq Barrett in Tampa Bay,” Stackpole said.

Tom Fornelli of CBS Sports: CB Cooper DeJean, Iowa

CBS Sports’ Fornelli is mixing things up with his mock draft prediction. The sports analyst predicted the Bucs would select the Iowa Hawkeyes cornerback Cooper DeJean.

The move also makes sense given that the team is without veteran CB Carlton Davis III, who was traded to the Detroit Lions in exchange for a third-round draft pick.

Pete Prisco of CBS Sports: OT Graham Barton, Duke

Ending the mock draft round-up with another familiar face on this list — Duke’s Graham Barton. CBS Sports’ Peter Prisco said the center position was a problem for the Bucs, so Barton “would work.”

“He played tackle in college, but he would move inside. He could also compete at left guard, where they have issues,” Prisco wrote.

[Bootz]

@Phantom way too long, man.

[Grahamburn]

Trade back to 32 and still get Barton for the win.

[kaimaru]

First time I have seen Latu listed as the best edge in the draft. Maybe others are dropping him due to his neck fusion? The Ringer has Latu as their #7 overall on their board.

AIATU LATU EDGE RUSHER UCLA
SHADES OF JEAN-CLAUDE VAN DAMME
EXPLOSIVE PASS RUSH TECHNICIAN with extraordinary hand-fighting skills and a tenacious demeanor.

Pass-Rush Talent
Instinctual Playmaking
Relentless Motor
Got That Dog in Him

SCOUTING REPORT BY DANNY KELLY
Latu plays as if he’s spent the last month training blindfolded in Bloodsport. The UCLA star has a rugged frame and rushes the passer with excellent first-step burst and elite hand-fighting skills. He uncoils out of his stance and slaps, chops, and swats away opponents’ hands with a full array of clubs in his bag as a rusher. He uses swim moves, cross chops, side scissors, hump moves, push-pull moves, a bounding Euro-step move, a bull rush, and an effective spin move, among others—and that well-developed repertoire has helped him displace opponents’ momentum and lead the country in pass-rush win rate (40.7 percent) in true pass set situations last year, per PFF. Latu gets after the passer with ferocious intensity and a nonstop motor, showcasing turbo acceleration and good bend when turning the corner. He’s a flexible athlete who can dip his shoulder, plant his foot, and flatten to the quarterback.

Latu primarily lines up outside but does see some snaps inside rushing against guards, who consistently struggle to deal with his quickness, burst, and handwork. He also has some experience spot dropping in space. Against the run, Latu does a good job establishing leverage and stacking his opponent, using his strong, powerful hands to shed blockers. He’s a supreme hustler and never gives up on a play.

Latu lacks elite length for the edge rusher position and may lack the bulk to consistently play inside. There are times when he gets too high at the snap and is pushed off the ball against the run. His medicals will be the biggest question in his evaluation, though, and teams will have to dig into a neck injury that caused him to temporarily retire from football in 2021.

WHY HE COULD RISE
Latu is a remarkably slippery pass rusher who consistently beats blocks with savvy hand-fighting techniques; he’s one of the most consistently disruptive defenders in the country.

WHY HE COULD FALL
Some teams may give him a medical red flag because of his history with a neck injury.

https://nfldraft.theringer.com/?positio ... 1713228152

[Phantom]

Few of them here are fans of Latu.

[Phantom]

Patriots director of scouting Eliot Wolf said that the team is “open for business” to trade the No. 3 pick in next week’s draft, but would be comfortable staying put and selecting a quarterback from what he called a “unique” class.

Story via @MikeReiss:

JJ McCarthy or Daniels

[Doctor]

Few of them here are fans of Latu.

I love Latu. Have him as my #1 edge in this class.

[mdb1958]

Few of them here are fans of Latu.

I love Latu. Have him as my #1 edge in this class.

Verse and Latu are probably top 20 - you can proudly follow him on the team he plays for I guess

[mdb1958]

Don't know if a list this big has been posted.


https://www.nflmockdraftdatabase.com/big-boards/2024

[Grahamburn]

Latu could drop because of those medicals. Then factor in all the WRs and QBs that could potentially go before him as well. Lot of teams in the 20’s also have similar o-line needs.

I think we can just let it fall.

It’s a deep draft and a good one for us.

[mdb1958]

Latu could drop because of those medicals. Then factor in all the WRs and QBs that could potentially go before him as well. Lot of teams in the 20’s also have similar o-line needs.

I think we can just let it fall.

It’s a deep draft and a good one for us.

So you are saying our team doctor should ignore all the other team doctors?

[Bootz]

Latu could drop because of those medicals. Then factor in all the WRs and QBs that could potentially go before him as well. Lot of teams in the 20’s also have similar o-line needs.

I think we can just let it fall.

It’s a deep draft and a good one for us.

So you are saying our team doctor should ignore all the other team doctors?

Exactly. Make it make sense. Neck injuries are nothing to dismiss. Kept him out of football for 2 years and he essentially retired. Let Peyton Manning be an example: You're working with borrowed time.

[Grahamburn]

So you are saying our team doctor should ignore all the other team doctors?

Exactly. Make it make sense. Neck injuries are nothing to dismiss. Kept him out of football for 2 years and he essentially retired. Let Peyton Manning be an example: You're working with borrowed time.

I ask you both: Where was it said that we should ignore it?

[acmillis]

So you are saying our team doctor should ignore all the other team doctors?

Exactly. Make it make sense. Neck injuries are nothing to dismiss. Kept him out of football for 2 years and he essentially retired. Let Peyton Manning be an example: You're working with borrowed time.

The Peyton Manning that came back after neck surgery and had one of the best seasons in QBing history, that Peyton Manning?

[Bootz]

Exactly. Make it make sense. Neck injuries are nothing to dismiss. Kept him out of football for 2 years and he essentially retired. Let Peyton Manning be an example: You're working with borrowed time.

The Peyton Manning that came back after neck surgery and had one of the best seasons in QBing history, that Peyton Manning?

Yes and played a total of 3 more competent years.

Would you draft a prospect with a 1st round pick if you knew you'd get at most 3 good years?

[mdb1958]

Exactly. Make it make sense. Neck injuries are nothing to dismiss. Kept him out of football for 2 years and he essentially retired. Let Peyton Manning be an example: You're working with borrowed time.

I ask you both: Where was it said that we should ignore it?

Ignore them (team doctors) and I was pointing out what could make our draft - not great.

[Cheb]

Latu's medical assessment would worry me if his neck got injuried this past year, but that isn't the case. The dude played two years at UCLA after getting injured at Washington and had no issues medically during that time.

Latu is the most technically advanced edge rusher in this draft class. The way he stacks and flows his moves together while always being in motion, with counters upon counters upon counters in his bag. Offensive lineman hate guys like that.

You know who he reminds me of when I watch him rush the passer? Quinnen Williams. Different positions, but stylistically similar.

[Backside]

I've really narrowed it down to one of these iOL or an EDGE rusher. The only wild card that would have me deviating from that plan is DeJean who I would be thrilled with.

[acmillis]

The Peyton Manning that came back after neck surgery and had one of the best seasons in QBing history, that Peyton Manning?

Yes and played a total of 3 more competent years.

Would you draft a prospect with a 1st round pick if you knew you'd get at most 3 good years?

The better, and more appropriate question would be, "Would you draft a 36 year old rookie?" Peyton had three more good years AFTER AGE 36. If he would have had the surgery/injury issue 10 years prior, do you really think it would have made him fall off a cliff when he hit 30? He fell off a cliff because he turned 40, not because it was 3 years after his injury.

[Bootz]

Yes and played a total of 3 more competent years.

Would you draft a prospect with a 1st round pick if you knew you'd get at most 3 good years?

The better, and more appropriate question would be, "Would you draft a 36 year old rookie?" Peyton had three more good years AFTER AGE 36. If he would have had the surgery/injury issue 10 years prior, do you really think it would have made him fall off a cliff when he hit 30? He fell off a cliff because he turned 40, not because it was 3 years after his injury.

As expected you dodged the question. To answer yours though, it's quite possible he would've neve returned in other instances. See Quincy Black. See Ryan Shazir. See the numerous players who were never right again after neck injuries.

Now if you can prove that him falling off a cliff had zero to do with his long term prognosis after he returned from his neck injury, by all means, tell us how Peyton himself was a liar when he said he basically couldn't feel his fingers following his 2011 surgery and the one he had a couple of years later.

[acmillis]

The better, and more appropriate question would be, "Would you draft a 36 year old rookie?" Peyton had three more good years AFTER AGE 36. If he would have had the surgery/injury issue 10 years prior, do you really think it would have made him fall off a cliff when he hit 30? He fell off a cliff because he turned 40, not because it was 3 years after his injury.

As expected you dodged the question. To answer yours though, it's quite possible he would've neve returned in other instances. See Quincy Black. See Ryan Shazir. See the numerous players who were never right again after neck injuries.

Now if you can prove that him falling off a cliff had zero to do with his long term prognosis after he returned from his neck injury, by all means, tell us how Peyton himself was a liar when he said he basically couldn't feel his fingers following his 2011 surgery and the one he had a couple of years later.

You're right, I guess we'll have to speak in hypotheticals and bring in other examples of players with neck injuries because there isn't three years of statistical data for Manning after he had the surgery to prove he could still function at an MVP level....

You bring up other players who ere never great to begin with and then say, it's possible he would have never returned...but he did, so whatever point you're trying to make is irrelevant because Manning came back from that injury/surgery and was even better than he already was for three years.

[mdb1958]

Time to temper my expectations after looking at Chad Reuters 7 round mock on NFL.com.

Just wow.

[Phantom]

So the draft is only 5 days away, and most of you (including me) seem to be in agreement that Caleb Williams will be chosen first overall, right? It seems uncertain who will be selected for the next top 2-4 picks, right?

[Snake]

Media is saying QBs 1-4

[mdb1958]

Media is saying QBs 1-4

It's just me but where we pick is more important.

[Doctor]

Media is saying QBs 1-4

Watch they all combine for 0 rings.

[Doctor]

Latu could drop because of those medicals. Then factor in all the WRs and QBs that could potentially go before him as well. Lot of teams in the 20’s also have similar o-line needs.

I think we can just let it fall.

It’s a deep draft and a good one for us.

So you are saying our team doctor should ignore all the other team doctors?

Happens all the time.

[Grahamburn]

So you are saying our team doctor should ignore all the other team doctors?

Happens all the time.

The risk tolerance just increases the deeper you go. Pretty simple.

[Phantom]

Media is saying QBs 1-4

So you believe everything the media tells you? Got it

[Snake]

Media is saying QBs 1-4

So you believe everything the media tells you? Got it

Of course not.

The media is praying that happens lol

[Phantom]

Happy draft week!

[Phantom]

Uh oh

Jayden Daniels thought his visit with the Washington Commanders would be just for him, not all the other top quarterbacks.
As a result, Daniels and his camp are "unhappy" with Washington.

Via NFL insider Adam Schefter.

[Snake]

What a baby

[Grahamburn]

Well played, Washington. Weed out the me first outraged whiners.

[Bootz]

Well played, Washington. Weed out the me first outraged whiners.

If it leads to him going to a better place, well played by him. Word is he wants to go to Minnesota or Las Vegas anyway. I think I would too.

And if Washington drafts him anyway, which they probably will, then their "weed out" process was a joke to begin with.