Ranking dead last in pass defense in 2012, the Bucs had to get better in the secondary in this draft. Tampa turned their first two selections into a pair of starting cornerback, flipping their first rounder for Darelle Revis and selecting Johnathan Banks with a second-round pick. They made an interesting move in the third round by picking up Mike Glennon creating a small QB controversy. Tampa added three defensive linemen and a running back to finish up their draft. For the most part this draft was a fantasy bore, but the Bucs did address their biggest need in about the best way possible.
Fantasy Impact
The media can try and talk up the possibility of Mike Glennon beating out Josh Freeman, but its not going to happen. Yes, Glennon has the big arm that NFL scouts love, but he has proven to struggle under pressure and it will take him time to develop into an NFL starter. Dynasty players should keep an eye on Glennon’s progress and he’s worth a late round draft pick this season. If Freeman is as inconsistent down the stretch as he was in 2012, this could be his last time breaking camp as the Bucs starter.
Mike James may be able to find some work as a change of pace for the Muscle Hampster, but don’t expect him to put up fantasy number’s worthy of being on your roster.
Tampa got better on defense with two new starting corners who can create turnovers. The trio of rookie defensive Linemen add solid depth to a good unit and we expect a slight increase in their sack totals. The Buccaneers’ defense will be useful in fantasy this season as a matchups play, but they remain far off from being a top fantasy scoring unit.
Draft Results
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 43 | Johnthan Banks | CB | Mississippi St. |
| 3 | 73 | Mike Glennon | QB | NC State |
| 4 | 100 | Akeem Spence | DT | Illinois |
| 4 | 126 | William Gholston | DE | Michigan St. |
| 5 | 147 | Steven Means | DE | Buffalo |
| 6 | 189 | Mike James | RB | Miami (FL) |