The saddest NFL news of the past week was the Raiders’ hiring of draft analyst Mike Mayock to be their general manager .Good for Mayock; bad for sportswriters like me who seek out his insight and expertise on college prospects.With Mayock gone and the Buccaneers deep into their search for a new coach, I’m feeling my way through the dark on the college game more than ever before. So let’s dispel the notion that I’m any kind of expert on this April’s draft or Monday’s national championship game between Alabama and Clemson. The extent of my knowledge is basically that Dabo Saban is a darn good football coach.There are a handful of players I’m eager to learn about, though, especially from a Bucs perspective. Here are the names I’ll be keeping tabs on:The Bucs defensive tackle is due $13 million next season, but none of that is guaranteed. Though McCoy’s still a productive player — his 38 pressures were second most on the defense — Tampa Bay might feel his salary exceeds his value to the team and could put him on the trade block or outright release him. If it does, there are a couple of defensive tackles who might be suitable replacements. One of them is Alabama’s Quinnen Williams (No. 92).Chances are Williams will be gone by the time the Bucs pick at No. 5 and could even go first overall to the Cardinals. It’s doubtful he slips past the Raiders at No. 4. Oakland sorely missed Khalil Mack this season, generating pressure only once out of every five pass plays — by far the league’s lowest rate.One thing I’ve noticed from watching cutups of Williams is how quick he is off the snap. Sound familiar? He can get in the backfield in a hurry, as evidenced by his eight sacks and 18 tackles for loss this season.As has been the case since forever — give or take a few years — the Bucs will be in the market for pass-rush help. Yes, Jason Pierre-Paul (12.5 sacks) and Carl Nassib (6.5 sacks) turned in solid seasons, but Tampa Bay still managed to generate pressure on just a quarter of pass plays. Only Oakland’s pass rush was worse.Ohio State’s Nick Bosa won’t fall to the Bucs, but Clemson’s Clelin Ferrell (No. 99) likely will. Over the past two seasons, he has been consistently disruptive, recording a total of 21 sacks and 36.5 tackles for loss.Alabama’s Damien Harris (No. 34) will be one of the top running back prospects in the draft, but it’s hard to see the Bucs, with Peyton Barber and Ronald Jones in the fold, investing an early pick in him, even if he were to slip to the second round. They need an experienced pass-catching back who is elusive in space, and Harris doesn’t fit that profile. No matter what Dirk Koetter wanted you to believe this season, the Bucs need help at tackle. On the left side, Donovan Smith allowed 50 pressures, fourth most. Alabama’s Jonah Williams (No. 73) allowed 10 pressures, though he wasn’t facing NFL-level competition every week.My way-too-early read on the Bucs’ 2019 season is that we’ll be asking the same questions that we’re asking today and that the quarterback situation won’t be any more settled. Jameis Winston isn’t bad, but he’ll be eligible for free agency after next season. Can he live up to a lucrative contract extension?If Tampa Bay subjects us to early-season clunkers like it did in Chicago and Cincinnati, prepare for an onslaught of “Tank for Tua” takes. And it will be justified. Alabama’s Tagovailoa (No. 13) commanded the nation’s most efficient pass offense this season, according to Football Outsiders’ S&P+ ratings , and bolstered his case for being the top overall pick in the 2020 draft. He was fifth in completion percentage (69.5), 12th in pass yards (3,671), second in yards per attempt (11.4) and third in pass touchdowns (41). Statistics in this report are from Football Outsiders, Pro Football Focus and Sports Reference. Contact Thomas Bassinger at tbassinger@tampabay.com . Follow @tometrics.