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Bucs must overcome brutal draft legacy

Posted Mar 12, 2010 by Ira Kaufman

Updated Mar 12, 2010 at 11:44 AM

By IRA KAUFMAN
TAMPA—The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are trying to emerge from a lost decade when it comes to the NFL draft.

With 10 picks in the April draft, including five of the top 99 selections, the Bucs expect to land several impact players for a 3-13 franchise that is struggling to excite a jaded fan base. GM Mark Dominik and head coach Raheem Morris can’t afford to continue Tampa Bay’s recent legacy of misguided draft choices, stretching back at least a decade.

On defense, the Bucs haven’t drafted a Pro Bowl player since selecting CB Ronde Barber in 1997. G Davin Joseph, chosen in the first round in 2006, is the only offensive Pro Bowler Tampa Bay has drafted since Warrick Dunn was chosen in 1997.

That’s hardly an enviable portfolio and you can bet Dominik and his scouts are feeling immense pressure to nail the 2010 draft by adding at least three new starters with immediate impact. By skipping the first wave of free agency, the Bucs have ramped up the importance of this draft.

With jobs on the line, don’t expect Dominik to take many chances on draft weekend. He is likely to stick with players of high character who have a history of college productivity, rather than reach for the stars.

The Bucs will go in with a game plan and all eyes will be on Tampa Bay’s braintrust in six weeks. A dynamic draft weekend will accelerate this rebuilding process and help Dominik and Morris survive into Year 3.

Considering all the draft whiffs of the past decade in Tampa, the Bucs don’t have much to live up to. Dominik and Morris are almost on the clock and ownership is watching with keen interest.