Team-by-Team Draft Recap: Tampa Bay Bucs
The Buccaneers entered the 2014 NFL Draft with a legitimate need at quarterback, running back, wide receiver and tight end, which made them one of the most interesting teams to watch for dynasty owners during the draft. After they addressed all but the signal caller, it’s safe to say that general manager Jason Licht and head coach Lovie Smith didn’t disappoint dynasty owners. In fact, if you were to draft the four position players Tampa Bay selected in a four round rookie draft, it would be considered pretty successful. Let’s take a look at each one of them.
Mike Evans, WR
It’s truly hard to believe Evans played only one season of prep football and was actually better basketball player while at Ball High School in Galveston, Texas. In fact, he averaged 18.3 points, 8.4 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game on the hardwood as a senior for the Tors. For anybody who watched him dominate SEC competition while at Texas A&M over the last two seasons, it’s easy to see that his basketball skills transferred smoothly to the gridiron.
[am4show have=’p2;p3;p4;p5;p6;’ guest_error=’sub_message’ user_error=’sub_message’ ]
The most impressive part about Evans’ game is how physical he is. He’s a prototypical receiver at 6’5”, and 230 pounds who always uses his size to his advantage. When the ball is in the air, Evans is as imposing as any player at the college level, always using his large frame to “box out” defenders and get into the best position possible to make the catch. He’s also incredibly effective at high pointing the ball, using his basketball skills to time his 37-inch vertical perfectly and attack the football.
Another example of Evans’ physicality is evident at the line of scrimmage. He’s incredibly smooth when defenders get their hands on him and it’s almost criminal how easily he’s able to get off of press coverage. Once he gets the ball in his hands, he’s very difficult to get on the ground – always muscling for extra yardage.
Some have suggested concerns about Evans’ speed (he ran a 4.53 second 40-yard dash at the combine) and the limited amount of routes he was asked to run while at Texas A&M. Personally, I think those fears come from people looking too hard for something to nitpick about. He’s only 21 years old and will continue to develop over the next few years and although he’ll never be confused for a blazer, he’s got good enough speed to succeed as a possession receiver at the next level.
Overall, Evans is a physical freak with great size and excellent hands. He’ll do a majority of his damage for the Buccaneers on crossing routes, fade patterns and on back-shoulder throws, which he excelled at with Johnny Manziel in college. He’ll be depended on immediately as a red zone threat for Josh McCown and should be a regular target of his.
While I love Evans’ skills and think any dynasty owner whose lucky enough to draft him should be thrilled, I’m not willing to take him over Sammy Watkins. He’s the obvious second pick in rookie drafts, should contribute as a WR3 as a rookie and has very real WR1 upside.
If Evans’ size wasn’t impressive enough for you, how does 6’5”, 265 pounds sound? That’s what Seferian-Jenkins checked in at while preparing for the draft.
ASJ is an impressive athlete for his size. He’s a matchup nightmare who can dominate linebackers with his speed and overpower defensive backs with his size. While at Washington, he hauled in 146 receptions for 1,840 yards and 21 touchdowns – all of which are school records. He also won the 2013 Mackey award (which is awarded to the nation’s best tight end) in his final year on campus after catching 36 passes for 450 yards and eight touchdowns.
As with any prospect, Seferian-Jenkins has some flaws to his game. He’ll have to improve as a blocker to be on the field full-time at the next level. Some have also questioned his commitment to the weight room and to perfecting his craft, but that should get ironed out during his first professional training camp with Lovie Smith. There are also many who have concerns as to whether Seferian-Jenkins will be a problem off the field (he was arrested for DUI last year) but from what I’ve read, his digressions look like teenage mistakes more than a teenager on the path towards bigger infractions.
From a dynasty owner’s perspective, ASJ is one of the most interesting prospects in this class of rookies. He possesses a rare combination of size and speed, has very good hands and route running skills and landed in an ideal spot to make an impact as early as his rookie year.
Seferian-Jenkins should be considered the second best tight end prospect in this class behind Eric Ebron. He’s a bit of a boom or bust prospect but has the upside of a TE1 and potential to crack the top-five at his position if he dedicates himself to his craft and stays out of trouble off the field. He’s a lock to be selected in the mid-second round of most rookie drafts although he could be pushed into the end of the first round in tight end premium or two tight end leagues.
With one of the top young running backs in the league already on their roster in the form of Doug Martin, most wouldn’t consider tailback to be a top-three need for the Bucs, but they used the fifth pick in the third round on Sims nonetheless.
Sims isn’t a three down running back and won’t be counted on in short yardage or at the goal line, but should have a role in the Buccaneers’ backfield. Although he was known in college while at both Houston and West Virginia for his prowess catching the ball out of the backfield, he’s also a shifty, quick runner with great vision. Most expect him to contribute only as a third down back and that may be the case for him as a rookie, but he has the potential to become a 12-16 carry runner at the next level due to his size, speed, elusiveness and effectiveness in the passing game.
Many have made the comparison of Sims to Bears running back Matt Forte, which is fortunate considering Lovie Smith coached Forte, but I don’t quite see Forte’s chops between the tackles when I watch Sims. As a runner, Sims reminds me more of former Vikings tailback Robert Smith, who had a very good career in Minnesota but took a few years to develop into a featured back.
Currently, Sims is being drafted in the third round or rookie drafts, which is exactly where he belongs. Although I believe he has what it takes to handle a majority of the workload, he didn’t land in a place where that will happen anytime soon so any dynasty owner that takes him will most likely have to be patient with him and accept his role as a change-of-pace back and pass catcher for the Bucs at least for a couple seasons. With a third round pick in rookie drafts however, you could do much worse.
Robert Herron, WR
Even with Evans in the fold, Herron landed in a prime situation to get playing time early in his career when he was drafted by Tampa Bay in the sixth round of the draft. After Evans and Vincent Jackson on the depth chart, the Buccaneers are a bit thin at the position with the likes of Louis Murphy, Chris Owusu and Tommy Streeter as the only other notable receivers on the roster.
Before the draft, I’d never seen Herron play. He wasn’t on my radar until he was selected by the Bucs, which is when I jotted his name down. A few days later, I typed his name into Youtube and watched some highlights.
From what I saw, Herron looks like a speedster with a quick release off the line of scrimmage and good hands. Most likely, offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford sees him as a vertical threat that can take the top off the defense and open things up underneath.
While I don’t have a lot of confidence in Herron to become anything more than a role player at the next level, we should all recognize he has the opportunity for playing time in what should be an improving offense as early as this year. He has no place being drafted in the first three rounds of any rookie draft but dynasty owners with drafts that last four or five rounds should keep tabs on Herron. He makes for a good lottery ticket that late in the process.
Follow me on Twitter: @dmeylor22
[/am4show]
- League Tycoon: Dynasty Salary Cap Fantasy Football - December 15, 2023
- Final Dynasty Rookie Report Card: Wide Receivers, Part Two - March 22, 2023
- 2023 NFL Scouting Combine: Offensive Player Dynasty Review - March 10, 2023
