Recapping All 32 NFL Draft Classes from 2017

​Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Needs Entering Draft: RB, IOL, OT, DT
Positions Drafted: RB, WR, TE, DT, ILB, S

Value is king, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers knew that when tight end O.J. Howard fell into their clutches in the first round. Cameron Brate does well enough, but the Bucs have acquired the offensive personnel to let them run basically any package under the sun effectively thanks to receiver/blocker Howard. After letting a few safeties walk in free agency, they also nabbed free safety Josh Evans to seal up the top of the defense. Stevie Tu’ikolovatu will help plug the middle of the defensive line, but he’s a seventh-round pick; they needed to do better than that. Finally Jeremy McNichols was the kind of three-down potential running back they needed to bring in to solidify their backfield.

Wide receiver Chris Godwin was another value in the third round, but while the player was a good pick, the position wasn’t super necessary with the talent around him. Inside linebacker Kendell Beckwith was a huge reach for a player that will be a two-down strong-side linebacker at best -- he’s a good player, but not good enough to justify this pick with two Pro Bowlers at linebacker and other needs out there. The Buccaneers completely avoided solving the offensive line.