Apr 26, 2013; New York, NY, USA; NFL former player Warren Sapp (left) announces the forty-third overall pick to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell (right) during the 2013 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports
Tomorrow night is when every fan’s hopes and dreams hit their highest point. The season is new and fresh; everyone is undefeated and has Super Bowl ambitions. The 2014 NFL Draft marks a new beginning for many players, but also for many of our favorite teams. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are looking to improve on their 4-12 performance in the 2013 campaign, and after making some splashy moves in free agency, the draft is an opportunity for the Bucs to round out their roster.
Below is a list of the Bucs 2014 picks:
What Tampa Bay will do with these picks remains to be seen. We’ve seen numerous mock drafts and analyses that have outlined who will go where, but in order for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to have a successful draft, they’ll need to address a few major needs:
Wide Receiver
The Bucs absolutely need to pick an impact wide-out to play opposite of Vincent Jackson. Timothy Wright, a tight end in a wide receiver’s body, was the second leading receiver on the team in 2013. The 3rd and 4th options are now gone, with Tiquan Underwood suiting up for the Carolina Panthers and Mike Williams shipped to Buffalo. Many fans will question who is going to play quarterback (McCown, Glennon, Manziel???!!!), but regardless of that answer, the Bucs need warm bodies to throw to, preferably with hands that can catch.
Offensive Guard
Can you name the starting offensive guards for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers? Neither can I (though I doubt most people could name the two starting guards for their favorite NFL team). The point being that Carl Nicks may not return from injury, creating a need on the offensive front. I’m not saying that the Bucs will use their first round pick on a guard, but don’t be surprised if the team snags a big body early on in the draft to create some holes ahead of Doug Martin.
Everything at this point remains speculation, but beginning tomorrow night, we’ll have better insight into where the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be headed in the 2014 season.
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