Revisiting the Buccaneers’ last 10 first round selections
You think the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ have a little bit of buyer’s remorse when it comes to making selections in the first round of the NFL Draft? I mean, don’t all general managers have that when there’s a draft pick that just doesn’t end up panning out?
Well for the Buccaneers, they’ve seen some of their high round picks pan out and obviously have seen their fair share not meet expectations. As we edge closer to the league’s first ever virtual draft, we take a look back at Tampa Bay’s first round picks from 2010-2019.
2010, Gerald McCoy, DT: No one can say with a straight face that this pick didn’t end up panning out for Tampa Bay. Some will point out playoffs or lack there of for why his time with the Buccaneers was possibly his downfall. McCoy gave Tampa Bay a strong nine years on and off the field.
2011, Adrian Clayborn, DE: Now this former first round pick didn’t live up to expectations, as Clayborn ended up lasting four seasons in Tampa Bay before heading elsewhere. The former Iowa Hawkeye was supposed to team up with McCoy and form a tandem in Tampa Bay.
2012, Mark Barron, S: The hard hitting safety out of Alabama was supposed to bring some much needed help to the Buccaneers’ secondary. Though Barron has reinvented himself and is now a linebacker, he never quite panned out in Tampa Bay and was gone after a mere three seasons.
2013, N/A: Tampa Bay did not have a player selected in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft.
2014, Mike Evans, WR: Who could ever argue with this selection? The pick of Mike Evans has panned out and then some. The perennial 1,000-yard a season wideout has flourished no matter who’s throwing the ball. Josh McCown, Mike Glennon, Jameis Winston, Ryan Fitzpatrick, you get the picture.
2015, Jameis Winston, QB: We just are not sure what to make of this pick, but more because this one was not a bust. It just wasn’t a success story. Yes, Winston is the franchise’s all time passing leader and he made upwards of $45-million during his time in Tampa, but what many fans will remember of him is his uncanny ability to either fuel or nose dive the offense on any given Sunday afternoon.
2016, Vernon Hargreaves, CB: Tampa Bay seemed to give Hargreaves every opportunity to shine as the club’s No. 1 cornerback and he was never able to fit the bill. The former Gator has issues in the secondary, especially in man-to-man coverages under Todd Bowles, which led to his eventual release.
2017, OJ Howard, TE: At the time, this pick was geared to give Winston more targets as the Buccaneers were looking to take advantage of just missing out on the playoffs in 2016. Howard has been fine for Tampa Bay, but looking back this seems to be definitely picking best available over absolute need.
2018, Vita Vea, DT: The defensive tackle from Washington University has been a hit in his first two seasons in Tampa Bay. From clogging up run lanes to catching touchdowns, Vea has been everything the Buccaneers wanted and then some.
2019, Devin White, LB: After just one season in Tampa, White is already shaping up to be a great linebacker in the NFL. Teaming up with veteran LaVonte David, the two have formed one of the top line backing duos in the league.
