The new Pewter Report Roundtable debuts every Tuesday during the Buccaneers offseason and regular season. Every week, Pewter reporters tackle a different tough question. This week’s prompt: Who is your favorite Tampa Bay draft pick this year?
Scott Reynolds: “Believe it or not – it’s Bucky Irving.”
Bucks RB Bucky Irving – Photo courtesy of USA Today
The Pewter Report nails the best bets on two Bucks: the team’s first-round pick, offensive lineman Graham Burton from Duke, and third-round pick, defensive back Tykie Smith from Georgia. I made it.I suggested in the pre-draft that the Bucks trade up for Barton if necessary. SR’s Fab 5 column, and then another column. SR’s Fab 5 I listed Smith as one of my favorite players in the draft. So I’m excited that the team was able to get a win with both players. However, you may be surprised that I haven’t listed either player as a draft pick this year. Instead, I’m going to use Bucky Irving, a running back from the University of Oregon and the team’s fourth-round pick.
I grew up watching football in the 1980s and 1990s with an appreciation for great running backs. As a native of Northern Virginia, Redskins running back John Riggins was my first football hero, followed by the Nigerian nightmare, Chiefs running back Christian Okoye after I moved to Kansas City. I love big backs, I’m not going to lie…but Irving, even though he’s 5 feet tall and 9, 192 pounds, is the type of guy who breaks tackles and misses tackles, and he’s a big back. I run like this. After rewatching some game film after Tampa Bay selected Irving, I really started liking his game.
Pewter Report Alumni and Current Pro Football Focus draft analyst Trevor Sikkema called Irving one of his favorite players. Regarding participation in the 2024 NFL Draft pewter report podcast – even before the team selected him. It’s easy to see why. I expect Irving to play a bigger role than expected this season, not just as a receiver out of the backfield on third down. I think Rashard White and Irving can form an effective one-two punch in the Bucks’ backfield. Jason Richt’s kryptonite was picking running backs in the draft, and I really think he hit the mark with his last two selections, White and Irving.
Matt Matera: Jalen McMillan could take Tampa Bay’s passing game to new heights
Bucs WR Jalen McMillan – Photo courtesy of Washington
Jalen McMillan has a great chance to be the draft pick that takes the Bucs’ 2024 draft class from good to good or good to average. Many feel that McMillan could be a third-round robber. New wide receivers coach Brian McClendon said Monday that if it weren’t for his injury last year in Washington, McMillan probably wouldn’t be available for the team in the third round because he’s already off the roster. made a statement.
Offensive coordinator Liam Cohen is increasingly using three wide receivers and one tight end set, making the third receiver on the depth chart even more valuable, essentially making him a starter. McMillan could line up with Mike Evans or Chris Godwin, but his versatility will allow him to cross-train and play in X, Y, and Z positions on offense. Tampa Bay plans to have Godwin play in that slot this year, so McMillan will line up on the outside as a flanker. He didn’t play outside much in Washington, but he has the speed and ability to beat man coverage and do so.
Another reason why drafting McMillan was so important is that McMillan could be Godwin’s direct successor in the future. McMillan is in the final year of his contract and is not guaranteed to return next season. Drafting McMillan gives the Bucs the option to replace Godwin and continue to move the offense forward. Tampa Bay has players the team likes in Trey Palmer and Rakim Jarrett, but it’s McMillan who has the best chance to shine this season. He is the highest drafted receiver since the Bucs took Godwin in the third round in 2017, and they hope he has the same type of career long term.
Bailey Adams: “Graham Burton is a future Pro Bowler for the Bucs”
Bucks OL Graham Burton – Photo courtesy of Duke
Yes, I may or may not have borrowed the headline. Scott Reynolds’ Latest Pewter Pulse Video above us PewterReportTV YouTube Channel. Overall, I think the team should be pretty excited about the 2024 draft class. But my favorite of these players was Duke’s Graham Burton, Tampa Bay’s first-round pick, who kicked inside and provided a big boost to the inside of his team’s offensive line. He will give it to you. The interior of the offensive line has been in limbo since Ali Marpet retired earlier than expected in 2022 and Ryan Jensen suffered a career-ending knee injury.
The O-line is seriously missing two former Pro Bowlers, considering Jason Licht. Burton also features Marpet, Jensen, and a bit of Tristan Wirfs., it’s hard not to feel good about their newest first-round pick and what he will bring from day one. The morning after he was drafted, I appeared on Spectrum News 1 in Raleigh-Durham and called him a future Pro Bowler. I certainly believe Barton has that level of potential.
While there may still be some work to do long-term (i.e. at left guard if Barton does indeed go under center), it’s already clear to everyone that the former Duke star will be the centerpiece of this offense. There should be a line that will continue for many years to come. He’s very athletic, good at playing with fire, and also seems to have the perfect mentality to ideally fit into Tampa Bay’s line room. And given that I consider Marpet to be one of my favorite Bucks of all time, it’s hard to pick any of the other draft-eligible players as my favorite this year.
Josh Quaipo: Tykie Smith is another playmaker in Tampa Bay’s secondary
Bucs DB Tykee Smith – Photo courtesy of Georgia
Tykie Smith should be able to give the Bucks a playmaking option in the slot, something they have lacked for years. Even when All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield Jr. took the position in 2022, he only recorded one interception that season, and even with Todd Bowles back at safety this season, he’s not a turnover machine. did not become.
Smith, who helped lead Georgia to a national championship, could bring a more physical and explosive presence to Bowles’ blitz package. He had two sacks last year as a defensive back for the Bulldogs. Winfield is one of Bowles’ best chess pieces, so in addition to blitzing from the slot, Smith’s ability to create coverage, tackles, and takeaways makes him another chess piece type player for Tampa Bay’s secondary. is expected to become.
Smith also has legitimate ball skills, evidenced by his eight interceptions in college, including a team-high four picks last year at the University of Georgia, giving Tampa Bay’s defense the ability to create turnovers. It should improve it. And personally, I’m looking forward to Smith finally giving the team a player who understands wheel routes and post-wheel patterns. This was a play the team used well against Bowles’ defense last year, especially late in the game.
Adam Slivon: Tykie Smith will make an impact in the Bucks’ secondary – no matter where he lines up.
Bucs DB Tykee Smith – Photo courtesy of Georgia
Tykie Smith has many of the qualities that head coach Todd Bowles likes in a defensive back, and he comes in as a rookie and adds a lot of versatility and upside to the secondary. The team has two starting safeties in Antoine Winfield Jr. and Jordan Whitehead, but Smith will be given the chance to replace Christian Isien as the team’s starting nickelback and will need a defense. He has enough ball skills to make game-changing plays like this. For a while.
Smith gives off a Winfield vibe. His ability allows him to line up wherever he’s needed in the secondary, and he’s already cross-trained and has experience playing against tough competition at the safety spot and nickel in college. His well-rounded skill set as a solid tackler, ball hawk, and even blitzer will allow Bowles to be creative in using him. Smith’s high football IQ and ability to hustle around the ball means he will be utilized frequently in a variety of capacities, leading assistant GM John Spytek to compare his playing style to that of Mike Edwards. Reminds you to do.
Smith has a chance to become a defensive chess piece right away this season, and his skill set offers him a chance to carve out a long-term starting role with the Bucks.Oh, and his “Dawg Mind” It just helps him make the jump to the NFL.
