It’s crazy how quickly things can change for a team. Losing the best quarterback of all time, along with a number of key pieces, will do that. What will the Tampa Bay Buccaneers do to retool in the 2022 NFL Draft? The Buccaneers want to remain title contenders, so this 7-Round 2022 NFL Mock Draft tries to add talent to help them accomplish that.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2022 7-Round Mock Draft
Free agents play a big role in the Bucs’ offseason, but they can address some of their needs in this draft. PFN Analyst Ian Cummings put together a 7-Round 2022 NFL Mock Draft for all teams, and here’s how the Bucs fared.
Round 1, Pick 27: Perrion Winfrey, DT, Oklahoma
Most of the attention currently goes to Georgia’s duo of Jordan Davis and Devonte Wyatt, but Perrion Winfrey should be uttered in the same breath as them. An absolute bull in the trenches, Winfrey shined during the Senior Bowl. He put his power on full display and made some fellow NFL prospects look like they didn’t belong.
Now imagine him next to Vita Vea as the 3-technique for the Bucs. You’re essentially asking teams to pick their poison at that point. He showed good explosiveness at the Combine and measured 35 1/4″ arms which will help him keep interior blockers (who typically have shorter arms) away from him.
Round 2, Pick 60: Carson Strong, QB, Nevada
With Tom Brady retired, it’s time to move on. Even if he did come back, it doesn’t hurt to look towards the future. Regardless of their former QB’s status, seeing Carson Strong fall to 60 would be ideal. In this 2022 NFL Mock Draft, the Buccaneers are fortunate to see that happen.
Strong hasn’t received the love that other quarterbacks in the class have, but he’s right there with them in terms of talent. PFN Lead NFL Analyst Dalton Miller discussed the fit of Strong with Tampa Bay earlier this year, but the Bucs would love it even more if he fell to the second round.
Round 3, Pick 91: Martin Emerson, CB, Mississippi State
Corner Carlton Davis and safety Jordan Whitehead are at the top of the free agent priority list for the Bucs. Even if they can sign both, adding a young corner would be smart. Martin Emerson brings great size to the Tampa Bay defense at 6’2″, 200 pounds. That size will help him a ton at the next level.
Round 4, Pick 133: Justin Shaffer, G, Georgia
Even after trading for Shaq Mason, if the Tampa Bay Buccaneers aren’t able to re-sign Ryan Jensen, they might take a different approach than this mock draft. Taking an interior offensive lineman is a high priority, but it moves pretty quickly to the top of the list if Jensen goes elsewhere.
Still, drafting Justin Shaffer at this point remains possible even if they change up their first three picks. Most fans know his teammate, Jamaree Salyer, but Shaffer provides a similar frame. He also brings a similar mindset to blocking. A violent striker, Shaffer can at times take a man out of the play with one punch. That’s an attitude any fan base can embrace.
Round 7, Pick 248: Keaontay Ingram, RB, USC
At one point, analysts tabbed Keaontay Ingram as one of the top running backs who could turn pro in the 2021 class. A year and a transfer to a new school later, Ingram has fallen. Nevertheless, he still brings a lot of potential value to the Bucs’ offense. While Leonard Fournette’s return is up in the air due to free agency, adding a back in the seventh round who can play all three downs is great value.
Round 7, Pick 261: Kolby Harvell-Peel, S, Oklahoma State
Again, regardless of the free agent signings, adding young players to the secondary would be smart. Kolby Harvell-Peel was a big piece of an Oklahoma State defense that took tremendous strides over the last couple of seasons. He was tabbed as a potential starting strong safety for last year’s draft, and there are plenty of reasons to believe he can get back to that level.