The Tampa Bay Buccaneers underwent a total makeover in the offseason (front office and uniforms), firing general manager Mark Dominik and head coach Greg Schiano immediately following the team's 4-12 season. Lovie Smith was tabbed as the franchise's next head coach and Jason Licht as the new general manager, and together the two will usher in a new era of Buccaneers football.
The three biggest moves of the offseason consisted of signing defensive end Michael Johnson, releasing cornerback Darrelle Revis one year after the previous regime had traded for him, and signing Josh McCown to replace Mike Glennon as the starting quarterback. Wide receiver Mike Williams, who signed an extension last offseason, was traded to the Buffalo Bills for a sixth-round pick.
Running back Doug Martin, who suffered a season-ending shoulder injury six games into 2013, will be back, fully healthy and ready to reassert himself as one of the NFL's best players at his position. One under-the-radar name to remember in this offense is slot receiver Timothy Wright, an undrafted free agent from Rutgers in 2013 who had 54 catches for 571 yards and five touchdowns as a rookie in 2013.
The defense was pretty solid overall in 2013 and is led by two young cornerstone players in defensive tackle Gerald McCoy and weakside linebacker Lavonte David. In addition to Johnson, cornerback Alterraun Verner was signed away from the Tennessee Titans to replace Revis.
The Buccaneers enter the draft with a number of needs and a plethora of talented prospects available at the seventh overall selection. If the team is satisfied with the McCown-Glennon tandem at quarterback, Texas A&M wide receiver Mike Evans makes a lot of sense at this spot and would pair with Vincent Jackson to give Tampa Bay the league's biggest pair of starting wide receivers. If the team prefers a more explosive vertical threat to pair with Jackson instead, Louisiana State's Odell Beckham, Jr., could be an option. If the Buccaneers' new brass is looking for its signal-caller of the future and wants to select one early, Blake Bortles (Central Florida) and Teddy Bridgewater (Louisville) are on the board. Anthony Collins was signed to replace Donald Penn at left tackle, but there is still uncertainty at the right tackle position and Michigan's Taylor Lewan is there for the taking.
Or could the Bucs turn to Smith's specialty and fortify the defense with defensive tackle Aaron Donald? Or replace Revis with a first-round cornerback like Justin Gilbert or Darqueze Dennard? What about pass rusher Anthony Barr? As always, you get to make the call …* *
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