Tampa Bay with the 3rd Overall Selection

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2009 had an interesting year, to say the least. They started out by nearly making the playoffs in 2008, then fired their coach in Jon Gruden and Bruce Allen, the man in charge of the front office. They ushered in the Raheem Morris by moving up in the draft to select Josh Freeman, then fired the offensive coordinator before the season started. Hoping to have Freeman learn from the bench with a veteran leading the team on the field resulted in a 3 win season. All three wins were directed by Freeman, who was rushed onto the field but held his own under difficult circumstances.

Now if there is one team that is looking to reap the rewards of a draft heavy at the top and deep through the first 2 rounds, it is Tampa Bay. They own the 3rd overall selection, the 35th and and 42nd as well, the latter they picked up from Chicago in the deal for Gaines Adams. Adams, the fourth overall selection in 2007, was a bust in Tampa, then tragically passed away after the '09 season following the trade to Chicago.

Tampa Bay was last in rush defense in 2009. Needing a premier defensive tackle to stop the run. How about Ndamukong Suh or Gerald McCoy? If St. Louis selects Sam Bradford with the first pick, then either one of these tackles will be there waiting for them. If the Rams pull a surprise and don't go with Bradford, then both Suh and McCoy will most likely be gone. Alternatives. How about Eric Berry, the dynamic, game changing safety or Russell Okung, the top rated tackle to protect their franchise quarterback in Freeman. With either scenario, they look to improve immediately.

At #35, they should be able to find a quality wide receiver for Freeman to target and to compliment Kellen Winslow, Jr. Golden Tate, Demaryius Thomas, and Arrelious Benn might all be available. Seven picks later, if the Bucs are looking for more offensive weapons, perhaps Jahvid Best could be waiting for them. But one pick I believe they might look at is Brandon Spikes, the middle linebacker from Florida. Once seen as a first rounder, he has fallen out of favor due to slow 40 times at the Florida Pro Day, but he has the football instincts you need from your middle linebacker, and putting him behind Suh or McCoy would shore up the run defense immensely.

The 2010 season for Tampa Bay depends on the development of Freeman, but with their selections in the first 2 rounds, and 10 picks overall, Tampa Bay looks to be able to pick up a number of building blocks to put together a winner once again.