TAMPA, Fla. -- The 2022 NFL draft is in the books, with every Tampa Bay Buccaneers' draft pick analyzed here.
The event was held on the Las Vegas strip in the area adjacent to Caesars Forum two years after it was initially scheduled. The 2020 draft was turned into a virtual event because of COVID-19.
Here's a pick-by-pick look at how each player Tampa Bay has selected will fit.
Analysis of every NFL pick | Updated depth charts
Round 2, No. 33 overall: Logan Hall, DE, Houston
My take: The Bucs traded out of the first round -- from No. 27 -- passing on the chance to draft defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt and College Football Playoff National Championship Defensive MVP safety Lewis Cine in favor of gaining picks Nos. 33, 106 and 180 from the Jacksonville Jaguars. They also passed on a blistering wide receiver who ran a 4.36 at the NFL combine in Tampa native Christian Watson, who was selected at 34.
The Bucs wanted to get younger and quicker with their interior pass rush, and they needed a replacement for Ndamukong Suh, although coach Todd Bowles said Hall’s presence does not impact Suh -- who could still re-sign. Hall notched 7.5 sacks and a forced fumble in 23 career starts in college. While most talent evaluators have regarded Hall as a defensive end because he has an unusual body type at 6-foot-6 and 283 pounds, Bowles sees him as a three-technique, and believes he can add some bulk to his frame.
When Hall has lined up on the outside, he won only by beating tackles on the inside. He has developed a particularly strong swim move, along with a bull rush, and a rip move, which he doesn’t use nearly as often. His arm length (32 3/4 inches) is a concern, and he'll need more pass-rush moves to win on the outside if he gets moved around.
Round 2, No. 57 overall: Luke Goedeke, OT, Central Michigan
My take: The Bucs traded up three spots from No. 60, giving up their sixth-round pick (No. 180) to make the selection. Goedeke was previously a defensive lineman in high school and was a tight end at DIII Wisconsin Stevens-Point before moving to offensive line at Central Michigan, where he started 24 games at right tackle in 2019 and 2021. He missed all of 2020 because of a torn ACL. He also suffered a hamstring injury at the Senior Bowl that limited him at the NFL combine. He projects as a guard because of his short arms (32 inches), which is a position of need because of Ali Marpet’s retirement (they were able to fill the void left by losing Alex Cappa in free agency by trading for Shaq Mason).
Round 3, No. 91 overall: Rachaad White, RB, Arizona State
My take: White led the Sun Devils in both rushing and receiving yards and was second on the team in receptions, which is exactly what the Bucs were looking for to complement lead rusher Leonard Fournette -- we know how much quarterback Tom Brady loves getting his running backs involved in the passing game. He also averaged 5.5 yards per carry. He can run a little too upright, which affects his leverage, but they've needed a home-run hitter who can tap into a second gear in the open field, and White did run a 4.48 40-yard dash at the NFL combine.
What’s next: The Bucs traded away their sixth-round pick to grab Goedeke but still have picks Nos. 106, 133, 248 and 261 on Day 3. They've addressed key needs at defensive tackle, guard and running back, but they really need to land a tight end, not only to account for the uncertainty with Rob Gronkowski but also the loss of O.J. Howard. Daniel Bellinger out of San Diego State, Cade Otton out of Washington, Isaiah Likely out of Coastal Carolina and Austin Allen out of Nebraska are Day 3 options.
Round 4, No. 106 overall: Cade Otton, TE, Washington
My take: The final need for the Bucs was addressed here, and Brady threw the most passing attempts to tight ends in the league last season. Otton is still recovering from ankle surgery he underwent in November, which kept him from participating in the NFL combine, but the 6-5, 247-pound tight end said Saturday, “I’ll definitely be ready for training camp.” He had just five touchdowns in three seasons with just one coming last year against Arkansas State, but that was on just three targets thrown to the end zone.
Round 4, No. 133 overall: Jake Camarda, P, Georgia
My take: While drafting a punter may seem like a head scratcher when there's depth to be had elsewhere, this is a cost-saving move, allowing the Bucs to part ways with veteran punter Bradley Pinion, who is set to count $2.9 million against the salary cap in the last year of his contract. The SEC Special Teams Player of the Year in 2020, Camarda was considered one of the best specialist prospects in this year's draft class and added kickoff duties to his arsenal in 2020. He averaged 45.78 yards per punt in 53 career games at Georgia, averaging 46.7 yards en route to a national championship last season.
Round 5, No. 157 overall: Zyon McCollum, CB, Sam Houston State
My take: The Bucs traded a fourth-round draft pick to the Jaguars in 2023 to acquire picks No. 157 and 235, grabbing McCollum, one of the most gifted athletes in this draft. At 6-2 and 199 pounds, he clocked a 4.33 40-yard dash time at the NFL combine, posted a 39.50-inch vertical and recorded the fastest three-cone drill for a cornerback in combine history. His arms aren’t as long as desired for a player his size, and his tackling technique needs improvement, but he has ball skills that the Bucs have lacked in their secondary at times. He played mostly press coverage in college, although he needs to improve his physicality there. He had 13 interceptions and 54 pass breakups in 56 career games with 52 starts. This is great value in the fifth round that fills one of the last remaining needs.
Round 6, No. 218: Ko Kieft, TE, Minnesota
My take: The Bucs traded picks No. 235 and 261 to the Los Angeles Rams to move into the No. 218 spot to select Kieft, who is purely a blocking tight end. Given the uncertainty of Gronkowski, the need to replace Howard and the fact that Cam Brate is not much of a blocker, Kieft fills a role, considered by some as one of the best pure blocking tight ends in the draft. He clocked a 4.59 40-yard dash at his Minnesota pro day –- a modest time but adequate for someone who will have limited route-running responsibility. He’s 6-4 and 230 pounds and proudly proclaimed Saturday, “Any kind of run blocking, pass pro -- I’m your man. I’ll get down and dirty with the worst of ‘em. So that’s my role. That’s what I love to do. But when I am given the opportunity to run routes, catch the football, I’m proficient and can help the team in that way.”
Round 7, No. 248 overall: Andre Anthony, EDGE, LSU
My take: Anthony suffered a season-ending torn ACL three games into the 2021 season, having recorded 3.5 sacks and 4.0 tackles for a loss. He had a team-leading 5.5 sacks the season before. Despite the injury, he was able to run his 40-yard dash at LSU's pro day, a mere seven months later, clocking a 4.63. In terms of getting to the quarterback, he can do a little bit of everything -- bull rush, push-pull, he can use speed and he can spin. With Jason Pierre-Paul still unsigned and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka expected to move into a starting role, the Bucs needed more depth in that spot.