As a fan of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, I was eagerly anticipating the team’s selections in rounds four through seven of the NFL Draft. Now that the draft is over, it’s time to evaluate how well the Bucs did in those later rounds. Did they find any hidden gems? Did they address their remaining needs? In this article, we’ll take a look at the Buccaneers’ draft picks from rounds four through seven and give our grades on their overall performance.
The Buccaneers’ Picks in the 4th Round of the NFL Draft
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made two selections in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft. With the 129th overall pick, they selected Robert Hainsey, an offensive lineman from Notre Dame. With the 137th overall pick, they took Jaelon Darden, a wide receiver from North Texas.
Hainsey is a versatile lineman who played both tackle and guard positions during his time with the Fighting Irish. He possesses solid technique and footwork and has the potential to develop into a starting-caliber player. He could provide depth and competition for a Buccaneers offensive line that was one of the strengths of the team during their Super Bowl-winning campaign in 2020.
Darden was a prolific receiver at North Texas, with 1,190 yards and 19 touchdowns in just nine games in 2020. He has good hands, speed, and elusiveness, and could contribute as a slot receiver and kick returner for the Buccaneers. With Tampa Bay’s receiving corps already stacked with the likes of Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and Antonio Brown, Darden provides another dynamic weapon for Tom Brady and the passing attack.
Overall, the Buccaneers’ fourth-round picks were solid additions and could contribute to the team’s success in the upcoming season.
The Buccaneers’ Pick in the 5th Round of the NFL Draft
With the 176th overall pick in the fifth round, the Buccaneers selected K.J. Britt, a linebacker from Auburn. Britt was a team captain and leader for the Tigers and is known for his physicality and toughness on the field.
He has good instincts and the ability to read and react to plays quickly. He may not possess elite speed and athleticism, but his football IQ and intangibles make him a valuable addition to the Buccaneers’ linebacker corps.
Britt could contribute on special teams as well as in subpackages on defense, and his leadership qualities could make him a valuable asset in the locker room.
The Buccaneers’ Pick in the 6th Round of the NFL Draft
With the 217th overall pick in the sixth round, the Buccaneers selected Chris Wilcox, a cornerback from BYU. Wilcox has excellent size for the position at 6’2″ and possesses good athleticism and physicality.
He has experience playing both man and zone coverage and has shown the ability to make plays on the ball. He could provide depth and competition for the Buccaneers’ cornerback position, which features established starters in Carlton Davis and Sean Murphy-Bunting.
Wilcox’s size and athleticism also make him a potential contributor on special teams, where the Buccaneers lost some key players in free agency.
The Buccaneers’ Picks in the 7th Round of the NFL Draft
The Buccaneers made two selections in the seventh round of the 2021 NFL Draft. With the 251st overall pick, they selected Grant Stuard, a linebacker from Houston. With the 259th overall pick, they took Lawrence White, a safety from Iowa State.
Stuard is an undersized linebacker at just 5’11” and 225 pounds, but he makes up for it with his toughness and instincts. He was a team captain and leader for the Cougars and could contribute on special teams for the Buccaneers.
White is a versatile defensive back who played both safety and cornerback during his time with the Cyclones. He has good ball skills and the ability to play in both man and zone coverage. He could provide depth and competition for the Buccaneers’ safety position, which features established starters in Jordan Whitehead and Antoine Winfield Jr.
Overall, the Buccaneers’ picks in the seventh round were low-risk, high-reward selections who could provide depth and competition at key positions.
Final Grade for the Buccaneers’ Draft Class
Overall, the Buccaneers’ draft class was solid and addressed some key areas of need. The addition of Kyle Trask in the second round provides valuable depth at quarterback behind Tom Brady, while picks like Jaelon Darden and Chris Wilcox add more weapons for the passing attack and competition at cornerback.
The standout pick of the class, however, is Joe Tryon in the first round. Tryon has the potential to develop into a dominant edge rusher in the NFL and could form a formidable duo with Shaquil Barrett.
While there were no flashy picks in the later rounds, the Buccaneers added solid depth and value with selections like Robert Hainsey, K.J. Britt, Grant Stuard, and Lawrence White.
Overall, the Buccaneers’ draft class deserves a grade of B+. They addressed their needs while also adding valuable depth and competition at key positions. Time will tell how much of an impact these picks will make, but the Buccaneers have set themselves up for success in the upcoming season and beyond.
