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O-Linemen High On Bucs Draft Wish List

Posted Mar 18, 2010 by Roy Cummings

Updated Mar 18, 2010 at 10:56 AM

  By ROY CUMMINGS
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TAMPA – The acquisition of safety Sean Jones this week has Bucs fans everywhere wondering how the signing will impact their decision making on draft day.

There’s no easy answer to that, of curse, but one thing is for sure. If they so choose, the Bucs can now wait until the middle or later rounds of a draft that is waist-deep in defensive backs to add a young safety.

That will open up the opportunity to fill other areas of need sooner, and one of the areas of need the Bucs are definitely looking to fill in the early going on draft weekend is along the offensive line.

With Arron Sears future uncertain and Jeremy Zuttah’s play at the position uninspiring, the Bucs have a rather large hole at left guard. They could also stand to add a tackle to push Jeremy Trueblood a little bit.

The Bucs feel pretty good about left tackle Donald Penn but with Penn likely headed for unrestricted free agency next year, the Bucs may not hesitate to add someone who can eventually replace him either.

The bottom line here is that the Bucs are seriously considering using one of their second-round picks on either a starting caliber-guard or a starting caliber tackle.

That may not be the sexiest of moves, but those are areas of need and this is a draft that will allow the Bucs to accommodate those needs because it is top-heavy in terms of tackles and deep in terms of guard talent.

This draft is so deep in several other areas as well – particularly on defense – that the Bucs may even be able to wait until the third or fourth round to add the guard they’re believed to be looking for.

Some mock drafts, for instance, have the likes Alabama’s Mike Johnson – a natural left guard – still available early in the fourth round so the Bucs could wait it out.

Either way, defensive linemen, defensive backs and wide receivers are not the only positions of need at the top of the Bucs wish list. This team is looking for some quality upgrades along the offensive line as well, and they’re not likely to walk away from the draft without them.