TAMPA, Fla. -- Now that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a quality edge rusher they've coveted (Jason Pierre-Paul), their priorities have shifted for April's NFL draft. Here's a look at those priorities and how the Bucs can address them:
1. Explore trading down
The Bucs, who hold the No. 7 pick, don't need a starting quarterback, but teams like the Buffalo Bills (No. 12 pick) and Arizona Cardinals (No. 15) do. Say the Cardinals really like Wyoming quarterback Josh Allen, who's still on the board after No. 5. That could happen if the New York Giants decide to fill the void left by Pierre-Paul by selecting NC State's Bradley Chubb at No. 2, and the Denver Broncos pass on a quarterback at No. 5. The Cardinals could give their 15th overall pick to the Bucs, plus the 15th pick in the second round and a sixth-round pick in 2019. The Bucs don't have a third-round round pick because of the trade for Pierre-Paul, and a deal like this could allow them to address three key needs -- cornerback, safety and running back -- in the first two rounds.
2. Draft a cornerback
If the Bucs stay put at No. 7, they're in position to get arguably the top cornerback in the draft. But they could move down, let a quarterback-need team move in and still get one of the top players at the position. Last year's top cornerback, Ohio State's Marshon Lattimore, didn't come off the board until No. 11. Southern California's Adoree Jackson, the second cornerback taken, didn't go to the Tennessee Titans until No. 18. In 2016 though, the Jacksonville Jaguars made Florida State's Jalen Ramsey the fifth-overall pick. It's all about understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each draft.
Ohio State's Denzel Ward, who clocked a 4.32 at the NFL combine, has generated a lot of buzz. He had 24 pass breakups and two interceptions during the past two years. His frame is a concern though -- sometimes he loses battles against bigger receivers. Louisville's Jaire Alexander, who ran a 4.38 at the combine but also gets knocked for his frame, is 12 pounds heavier than Ward and might be the better prospect on tape. He had an ACC-leading five interceptions in 2016, including two against Clemson. According to Pro Football Focus, he allowed a 17.7 passer rating when targeted during the 2017 regular season, the best of any cornerback in college football. Ward allowed a 59.2 passer rating when targeted in 2017, surrendering 27 catches on 50 targets, according to PFF.
3. Nab some safety help
Former general manager Mark Dominik caught some flak for selecting Mark Barron with the seventh-overall pick in the 2012 draft because No. 7 was deemed "too high for a safety." Last year the New York Jets took Jamal Adams at No. 6, but that was an exception and not the norm. In 2015, the first safety didn't come off the board until No. 30 (Damarious Randall), after four cornerbacks were selected.
Alabama's Minkah Fitzpatrick wasn't mentioned with the cornerbacks because it's generally believed that free safety is his best NFL position (although some believe he's capable of playing strong safety), but the Bucs already have a free safety -- last year's second-round pick Justin Evans. A player like FSU's Derwin James would be a better fit to pair with Evans because he can drop down into the box against the run and has coverage skills, versatility the Bucs covet. According to Pro Football Focus, James allowed a catch rate of 44.7 percent in college, the best of any of this year's safety prospects. He only missed 15 of his 160 career tackle attempts, too. A player you'll hear him often compared to is Kansas City Chiefs safety Eric Berry.
4. Address running back
If the Bucs traded down and recouped a third-round pick or a second-round pick as proposed in the trade-down scenario above, they could be looking at a number of running backs in what's regarded as another very talented, deep class. LSU's Derrius Guice averaged 5.3 yards per carry in 2017, with 1,251 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns. Auburn's Kerryon Johnson averaged 4.9 yards per carry, with 1,391 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns in 2017, tacking on 194 receiving yards and two touchdown catches in 2017. Georgia's Sony Michel averaged 7.9 yards per carry in 2017 and has three-down potential to pair with what Peyton Barber does on first and second down. San Diego State's Rashaad Penny had a whopping 2,383 yards from scrimmage last season, the most of any player in college football, and averaged 7.48 yards per rushing attempt in four seasons. Oregon's Royce Freeman had 4,912 all-purpose yards during the past three seasons, along with 1,772 yards after first contact, both second in the Power 5. His 4,256 rushing yards are the most of any player in college football since 2015.