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Morris Claiborne Cornerback, LSU
Claiborne's name is showing up more than any other. NFL Network's Steve Mariucci, NFL.com's Steve Wyche and Sports Illustrated are just three of the notables saying the Bucs should have Claiborne at the top of their wish list.
It makes sense for two significant reasons.
One, shutdown cornerbacks — and that's exactly what Claiborne is — are hard to come by.
Two, the Bucs are shaky at cornerback. Ronde Barber turns 37 on April 7 and might retire. Aqib Talib's legal and other off-field issues make him a question mark.
Wyche calls Claiborne "a stud player and a must-get.'' Sports Illustrated writes, "Claiborne is the top shutdown corner in the draft.'' Mariucci said the Bucs need to "upgrade."
Why is Claiborne's name showing up so often under Tampa Bay's pick? Because he seems like the likely choice.
Dre' Kirkpatrick Cornerback, Alabama
One Bleacher Report mock draft has the Bucs going after Kirkpatrick, a star on the stingy defense of national champion Alabama. The reason Bleacher Report has Kirkpatrick instead of LSU's Morris Claiborne is the website has Claiborne going No. 3 overall to the Vikings.
No question, the Bucs do need a corner, and it would be hard to pass on Kirkpatrick if Claiborne is already gone. Some circles, in fact, rate Kirkpatrick higher because he is 2 inches taller than Claiborne.
But Kirkpatrick was arrested last week for pot possession. Maybe some don't consider that the worst transgression in the world, and it is his first brush with the law. Then again, this is a team that could ultimately get burned by drafting Aqib Talib, who had similar red flags coming out of college.
Justin Blackmon Receiver, Oklahoma State
Just one year ago, the Bucs seemed set at receiver with Mike Williams and Arrelious Benn. But Williams had an inconsistent 2011, and Benn was bogged down by a knee injury. That's why a couple of mock drafts are suggesting the Bucs could try once again for a receiver.
In Oklahoma State's pass-happy offense this past season, Blackmon caught 121 passes with 18 touchdowns. He had a monster performance in the Fiesta Bowl with eight catches, 186 yards and three touchdowns.
The only issue is Blackmon could be gone by the time the Bucs pick. (St. Louis might be interested in giving quarterback Sam Bradford a new weapon.) If Blackmon is gone and the Bucs are still looking for a receiver, they could go after South Carolina's Alshon Jeffery or Notre Dame's Michael Floyd. But both would be considered a reach at No. 5.
Trent Richardson Running back, Alabama
So what does ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper think? In his first mock draft, he has the Bucs getting the Heisman Trophy finalist. Several analysts agree.
The Bucs had the third-worst rushing attack in the NFL this season at 91.1 yards per game. And clearly, Richardson is the best running back available. But is he worth the No. 5 pick? Several mock drafts don't have Richardson going in the top 15. If the Bucs don't take him at five, he could slip into the late teens.
This isn't like the old days when teams used high picks to take running backs. With more teams going to a passing game and running backs seemingly not as durable, teams appear hesitant to use high picks on running backs. Only one running back (Mark Ingram, No. 28, Saints) went in the first round last year. Only three went in the first round in 2010 and 2009. The last time a running back went in the top five was 2008, Darren McFadden to the Raiders at No. 4.
Another reason the Bucs might shy away from Richardson is if they believe LeGarrette Blount remains a good option. True, maybe Blount isn't the next Jim Brown, but the Bucs might believe they have more pressing needs.
Jonathan Martin Offensive tackle, Stanford
There might not be a more boring pick in the draft than an offensive lineman. But there might not be a more valuable pick in the draft than an offensive lineman.
They aren't the type of picks that show up on highlight films. But it's the play of the offensive linemen that allows quarterbacks, running backs and receivers to make plays that end up on highlight films.
Bucs quarterback Josh Freeman was under pressure all season, particularly in the second half. If corner Morris Claiborne is gone, they are scared off of Dre' Kirkpatrick and don't believe running back Trent Richardson is worth the fifth pick, the Bucs could go the safe route and take an offensive lineman.
Southern Cal tackle Matt Kalil is rated as the best linemen in the draft, but a lot of mock drafts have him going third to the Vikings. That leaves Iowa tackle Riley Reiff, Stanford guard David DeCastro and Martin, above left, as the best available linemen. The Bucs probably couldn't go wrong with any of them. Tackles are usually harder to find than guards, so it comes down to Martin and Reiff. Flip a coin.
tom jones' two cents
The first round of the NFL draft is April 26, but it's never too early to start looking at mock drafts. Predicting what the Bucs will do with the fifth overall pick is a little tricky. For starters, they need help just about everywhere. With the exception of quarterback, defensive line and, well, kickers, the Bucs are liable to take a player at any position. Their direction could hinge on who the coach is. If the Bucs hire a defensive-minded coach, he might prefer to concentrate on defense. If it's an offensive guru, he might want to look for an offensive player. So here's a look at the players going to the Bucs in some mock drafts.
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