First Round (13th overall pick): Desmond Trufant - Cornerback, Washington
Tampa Bay REALLY needs help at corner, among other positions. Trufant is a highly talented and physical corner that excels in press coverage. He’s also good against the run, which is a big plus for the Buccaneers’ defensive scheme.
Second Round (11th): Jarvis Jones - OLB/DE, Georgia
While the Buccaneers defense was stout against the run last season, they were horrendous against the pass, especially putting pressure on the quarterback. To make matters worse, Da’Quan Bowers is almost certainly headed for prison and will miss AT LEAST the 2013 season.
Jones is a first-round value in the middle of the second and will be able to bring a fierce pass-rushing presence to Tampa Bay. He can play down as a defensive end or rushing upright around the edge as an outside linebacker. As long as he’s on the field, he will make an impact for the Bucs next season.
Third Round (11th): Jordan Reed - Tight End, Florida
Yes, Tampa Bay has a ton of tight ends on the roster already. But none of them is as talented of a pass catcher as Reed. Reed fits the bill of the new receiver-like tight end that seems to be all the rage in the NFL. He will definitely be a game-changing weapon for Josh Freeman to go along with Vincent Jackson and Doug Martin.
Fourth Round (15th): Jon Bostic - Inside Linebacker, Florida
None of the Buccaneers’ inside linebackers finished with a positive grade from Pro Football Focus in 2012, and only one (Mason Foster) was ranked in the top 50. Bostic is a talented pass rusher, good against the run and can hold his own in coverage across the middle. Being able to add a potential day-one starter in the fourth round is great value here for Tampa Bay.
Fourth Round (29th): Chris Faulk - Offensive Tackle, LSU
Tampa Bay’s offensive line was one of the best run blocking groups in the league last year, and they did decently against the pass rush. That said, they could definitely use depth at right tackle as well as guard. Faulk has the ability to fill that role from the get go, and could develop into a starter a few years down the road.
Fifth Round (14th): Joe Krueger - Defensive End, Utah
Like I already stated above, the Buccaneers need pass-rushing help along the defensive line. If the team decides to use Jarvis Jones as a linebacker, Krueger could end up seeing significant playing time in place of Bowers. If they line Jones up mostly at end, Krueger will be able to rotate in along the line and eventually develop into a Pro Bowl-caliber defensive end.
Sixth Round (13th): Khaled Holmes - Center, USC
According to Pro Football Focus, Ted Larsen and Jeremy Zuttah graded out at just barely above and below zero and were ranked 23rd and 24th respectively. Tampa could use an upgrade, or at least a solid backup with the potential to be a starter in the future. Holmes can provide just that.
Sixth Round (28th): Landry Jones - Quarterback, Oklahoma
Freeman is in a contract year and it’s not yet known if he’ll be in Tampa Bay after 2013. With their last pick in the draft, the Buccaneers should grab a project quarterback that won’t be counted on to do anything in 2013 but could be turned to as a serviceable starter in 2014. Jones has a laundry list of problems, but there is still a ton of potential here. If he’s given a full year to develop and not worry about playing time, Jones could come in and be a decent starter in 2014 if the Buccaneers need him.