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2017 NFL draft: Bucs can't bet on Brent Grimes and Robert Ayers repeating 2016 success

 
Cornerback Brent Grimes celebrates after intercepting a Cam Newton pass during the Bucs' 17-16 win over the Panthers in last season's finale. He and safety Keith Tandy led the team with four interceptions each. [LOREN ELLIOTT | Times]
Cornerback Brent Grimes celebrates after intercepting a Cam Newton pass during the Bucs' 17-16 win over the Panthers in last season's finale. He and safety Keith Tandy led the team with four interceptions each. [LOREN ELLIOTT | Times]
Published April 27, 2017

Good morning, and happy NFL draft day!

No more mock draft critiquing and big board tweaking. At last, we're about to learn what the Buccaneers will do with their No. 19 overall pick. In today's Tampa Bay Times, columnist Tom Jones listed 19 things they could do, from drafting Dalvin Cook to taking a … kicker?

Tampa Bay's offense has been the focus of most of the predraft chatter, but the team's most pressing needs might be on defense, particularly at cornerback and along the defensive line, as Rick Stroud wrote Wednesday. While the Bucs allowed three fewer points per game in 2016 than they did in 2015, they allowed more explosive plays (passes of at least 16 yards, runs of at least 12 yards) than any team but the 49ers.

Cornerback Brent Grimes, a free-agent signing, was among the bright spots. He bounced back after a disappointing 2015 in Miami to lead the league in passes defended (24) and tie for the team lead in interceptions (four).

Tampa Bay can't count on another season like that, and here's why: Grimes' 2016 season was a first. No 33-year-old cornerback had ever started 16 games, deflected at least 20 passes and intercepted at least four passes. In fact, only three other players over 30 have done it — Tyrone Poole for the Patriots in 2003, Ronde Barber for the Bucs in 2005 and Charles Woodson for the Packers in 2006.

Say we lower 2017 expectations for Grimes to 12 starts and three interceptions. Only 12 cornerbacks have done that in their age 34 season, the last being Walt Harris for the 49ers in 2008.

Robert Ayers proved to be another worthwhile signing. The defensive end played in 12 games and recorded 6.5 sacks, which was tied with Gerald McCoy for the team lead.

Ayers turns 32 in September, and while that kind of production from a defensive end his age isn't unheard of, it's not common, either. Say he starts 10 games this season and records six sacks. Forty defensive ends have done that, and no one since Cameron Wake for the Dolphins and DeMarcus Ware for the Broncos in 2014.

What are the Bucs' options? Greg Auman broke down both positions recently and listed USC's Adoree' Jackson and Florida's Jalen Tabor as potential cornerback picks and Tennessee's Derek Barnett, Michigan's Taco Charlton and Kansas State's Jordan Willis as potential defensive end picks.

Contact Thomas Bassinger at tbassinger@tampabay.com. Follow @tometrics.