We’re just days away from the NFL Draft yet things have never been as quiet as they are right now. Historically there has been at least one draft-related trade by now, but nothing has happened on any fronts which suggests we might be in for total chaos on Thursday.
That’s something that our friends over at Sports Illustrated leaned into, with MMQB’s Matt Verderame putting together an all-trades mock draft to spice things up.
The logic is simple: each team needed to make a trade that aligned with the Rich Hill trade value system that teams use to weigh picks. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have the No. 19 pick, which holds a value of 278 points; comparatively the No. 1 overall pick is worth 1,000.
In this deal the Bucs move back to No. 27 and swap first rounders with the Baltimore Ravens but end up getting a lot more than that in the end.
Buccaneers fleece Ravens in mock NFL Draft trade we hope comes true
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Receive
No. 27 pick
3rd Round Pick (No. 91)
4th Round Pick (No. 136)
Baltimore Ravens
Receive
No. 19 pick
Tampa Bay picks up two additional picks in this trade that might end up being as valuable as who they draft at No. 27 overall. Moving back in the draft means passing on Jihaad Campbell, or at the very least gambling that he’ll be on the board later in the first.
In his mock he’s gone by the time the Bucs get a chance to pick but that’s where Jason Licht leans on another name that has been increasingly linked to the team in recent weeks. Boston College edge rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku is the pick, and it’s a move that would help give a much needed boost to Tampa Bay’s pass rush.
The Bucs signed Haason Reddick to pair him with Calijah Kancey, and also brought back Anthony Nelson as a key piece of depth, but adding Ezeiruaku would potentially give the Bucs two young stars for the future. If he can live up to the hype and play on a level like we’ve seen Kancey capable of, all of a sudden the pass rush is a lot less of an issue for Todd Bowles.
Getting two additional Day 2 picks is potentially huge. We’ve seen Jason Licht cook in the past and giving him even more ammo to try and reload the roster with young talent could be just as big as landing Ezeiruaku at No. 27 overall.
Last year Licht added Chris Braswell, Jalen McMillan and Tykee Smith on Day 2, so if he’s allowed to get invovled with additional picks this year it could give the Bucs an even bigger edge than they already have in the NFC South.
All of this is hypothetical, though, as none of these trade have happened. But this is one that Bucs fans might want to try willing into existence given how beneficial it could end up being.
