Now that the Bucs 2024 season is over, it’s to start waiting for the longer term and what subsequent yr’s workforce will appear to be. As Tampa Bay seems to be to construct out the subsequent iteration of its roster, it might accomplish that with loads of younger constructing blocks all through the roster.
The work they did within the 2024 NFL Draft is a big a part of that, as they extracted worth on what seem like 4 promising plus-starters in middle Graham Barton, defensive again Tykee Smith, huge receiver Jalen McMillan, and naturally, operating again Bucky Irving. To not point out, exterior linebacker Chris Braswell and tight finish Devin Culp confirmed flashes on the sphere, and offensive lineman Elijah Klein labored behind the scenes to enhance and doubtlessly issue within the equation as quickly as subsequent yr.
Bucs followers ought to be very enthusiastic about this group of younger expertise and what every of them will accomplish over the subsequent few seasons.
Graham Barton Led The Bucs’ Draft Class And Held His Personal
Bucs C Graham Barton and QB Baker Mayfield – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
Let’s begin with the person who led the Bucs’ 2024 draft class – first-round decide Graham Barton.
After a “wild ride” of a rookie season, Barton began 16 video games and held down the beginning middle spot as a rookie, which isn’t any straightforward job. As anticipated, he went by way of his share of ups and downs however flashed sufficient potential to be optimistic about his ceiling. At his peak, Barton ought to be among the many prime facilities within the league if he can construct on his first yr and show comparable development that proper sort out Luke Goedeke and proper guard Cody Mauch have in every of the previous two years.
Barton entered the 2024 NFL Draft as one of many prime inside offensive linemen, and evaluating him to how they fared, it’s protected to say he was one of many higher ones. Figuring out who may have the higher profession after only one yr is futile, however he displayed sufficient flashes to show worthy of being a first-round decide.
Week after week, there was “that” clip the place in case you didn’t know if he wasn’t carrying purple and pewter, you would possibly mistake Tampa Bay’s No. 62 for Jason Kelce, who additionally wore that quantity and simply capped off a Corridor of Fame profession with the Eagles.
Towards the Giants this season, Barton completely manhandled none apart from Giants Professional Bowl defensive sort out Dexter Lawrence on one rep.
I identified Kelce above, and the way Barton can climb and showcase his athleticism is harking back to what the seven-time Professional Bowler typically did in Philadelphia.
Third-Spherical Picks Tykee Smith And Jalen McMillan Had been Nice Finds
Bucs HC Todd Bowles and DB Tykee Smith – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
After hitting on their first-round decide, the Bucs made two good picks on Day 2 of the 2024 NFL Draft in Tykee Smith and Jalen McMillan. Whereas Smith battled damage and missed 4 video games this previous season, he was a much-needed playmaker for Tampa Bay’s secondary.
He’s a bodily tackler who makes essentially the most of his 5-foot-10, 202-pound body, and pairs that with a knack for the soccer, forcing three fumbles and recording two interceptions in his rookie yr.
Smith has proven sufficient already to suppose that he can grow to be one of many higher nickelbacks within the league at his peak. He reads and acknowledges routes nicely, a product of his excessive soccer acumen going again to his last yr with the Georgia Bulldogs when he was requested to play everywhere in the discipline.
He graded out seventh amongst all rookie cornerbacks and twenty fifth among the many 117 cornerbacks Professional Soccer Focus graded. solely nickelbacks although, the one rookies who fared higher enjoying primarily within the slot have been Andru Phillips of the Giants and Cooper DeJean of the Eagles. Smith was not far behind and supplied surplus worth relative to being chosen 89th general.
McMillan began the yr off gradual, however by the tip, one may put him among the many higher huge receivers from his draft class. Marvin Harrison Jr. (fourth general), Malik Nabers (sixth general), Brian Thomas Jr. (twenty third general), and Ladd McConkey (thirty fourth general) have been little doubt the very best of the bunch, however he in contrast favorably to the opposite ten huge receivers drafted forward of him.
Sure, that’s proper, McMillan was the fifteenth wideout off the board however has a robust case for being within the prime half, particularly with the best way he completed the season with a historic run at discovering the tip zone.
McMillan’s 5 straight video games with a receiving landing is the second-longest streak by a rookie in NFL historical past, trailing solely Randy Moss (7). https://t.co/7mCTCJ0Hbc
Bucs WR Jalen McMillan – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
In comparison with his two former Washington Huskies teammates every chosen over 50 spots forward of him, he greater than held his personal.
Rome Odunze (ninth general by the Bears): 17 video games, 101 targets, 54 receptions, 734 receiving yards, three touchdowns
Ja’Lynn Polk (thirty seventh general by the Patriots): 15 video games, 33 targets, 12 receptions, 87 receiving yards, two touchdowns
Jalen McMillan (92nd general by the Bucs): 13 video games, 58 targets, 37 receptions, 461 receiving yards, eight touchdowns
Like Smith, McMillan supplied surplus worth and one may argue he can be a Prime 50 decide in hindsight.
Bucs Received Their Bucks Price With Bucky Irving
Graham Barton, Tykee Smith, and Jalen McMillan have proven each indication of being nice draft picks by Bucs basic supervisor Jason Licht, assistant G.M. John Spytek and the entrance workplace. On Day 3 of the 2024 NFL Draft although, Licht pulled off an absolute heist after choosing Bucky Irving with the a hundred and twenty fifth general decide.
Irving was nothing in need of sensational throughout his rookie yr and among the finest non-quarterback offensive rookies within the NFL. There isn’t any denying he was among the finest operating backs, both.
Bucky Irving in his rookie season
⭐ 90.8 PFF Grade (4th amongst RBs)⭐ 1,597 complete yards⭐ 38 explosive performs⭐ 82 missed tackles pressured
Not unhealthy for a 4th spherical decide 💪 pic.twitter.com/V40miup9Pj
Bucs RB Bucky Irving – Picture by: USA At the moment
Tampa Bay has now secured its operating again of the longer term, and he was an enormous purpose why the run recreation lastly acquired off the bottom after ending the earlier two seasons useless final. Irving was the spark plug of the offense, electrifying the unit and followers alike together with his large runs which have shortly made him a fan favourite.
There isn’t any argument that he was the very best rookie again of his class, main the best way with 207 carries, 1,122 speeding yards, and eight touchdowns. He was additionally an environment friendly receiver out of the backfield, hauling in 47 receptions for 392 receiving yards.
The groups that picked Jonathon Brooks, Trey Benson, Blake Corum, MarShawn Lloyd, and Jaylen Wright forward of Irving in all probability want they might have taken the previous Oregon Duck as an alternative – and he would have gone a lot earlier.
What About The Relaxation Of The Bucs’ Picks?
Bucs OLB Chris Braswell – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
That brings us to the ultimate three Bucs’ draft picks not mentioned but – exterior linebacker Chris Braswell, guard Elijah Klein, and tight finish Devin Culp. Every of them may nonetheless issue into the workforce’s plans within the coming years as they proceed to develop.
They might not be thought-about “hits” but, but it surely’s means too early to name any of them “busts.” Gamers don’t at all times develop at a linear price, they usually nonetheless possess loads of untapped potential that may be harnessed.
Beginning with Braswell, he failed to interrupt out through the second half of his rookie yr like exterior linebacker Yaya Diaby did the yr earlier than. He completed with simply 18 complete tackles, eight quarterback hits, and 1.5 sacks enjoying in all 17 video games as a backup. His enjoying time decreased down the stretch, however there have been nonetheless flashes of the bodily drive Tampa Bay noticed after they took him 57th general.
Klein was the workforce’s sixth-round decide, and with the additions of middle Graham Barton and left guard Ben Bredeson in free company together with left sort out Tristan Wirfs, proper guard Cody Mauch, and proper sort out Luke Goedeke holding down the opposite three beginning spots, he was not anticipated to play. This allowed him to spend a yr creating in offensive coordinator Liam Coen and offensive line coach Kevin Carberry’s system. That ought to profit the stout 6-foot-4, 319-pound offensive lineman going ahead.
Bucs TE Devin Culp – Picture by: USA At the moment
Whereas he performed primarily at proper guard throughout his faculty days at UTEP, he appeared at proper sort out through the preseason and in addition acquired follow reps in at middle and left guard. There might not have been a spot for him earlier than, however with Bredeson, swing sort out Justin Skule, and middle Robert Hainsey every a free agent, he might carve out a job as quickly as subsequent yr as a high quality depth piece and even because the beginning left guard.
Culp was inactive a lot of the yr earlier than – like Jalen McMillan – he completed the yr off on a excessive be aware. He made his first NFL catch in Week 17 when he had three receptions for 52 receiving yards. He adopted that up with a two-catch, 36-yard efficiency within the regular-season finale over the Saints.
Culp stretched the sphere on the tight finish place, with a short pattern measurement of 17.6 yards per reception far-off higher than Cade Otton (10.2) or Payne Durham (10.5). With a full offseason to proceed making strides, he may see the sphere extra and supply quarterback Baker Mayfield with one other deadly goal.
Take a look at my accompanying video beneath on the Bucs’ stellar 2024 draft class on our PewterReportTV YouTube channel.
