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Tampa Bay Buccaneers Forum • 2012 NFL Mock Draft: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

2012-04-16T19:56:32-05:00

With 10 days to go until the 2012 NFL Draft, Kevin Hanson has updated his three-round mock draft.

Here are his picks for the Bucs:

1 (5). Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU: Prior to the start of free agency, cornerback was arguably the team's biggest need with Ronde Barber's potential retirement and Aqib Talib's legal issues. Since then, Barber, who will turn 37 in April, has announced he will return for another season and the Bucs have signed free-agent Eric Wright to a five-year deal. That said, the Bucs have to face
Drew Brees, Cam Newton and Matt Ryan (at least) six times per year so adding the best cornerback in this year's draft class makes sense. Not only does he have good size, athleticism and ball skills, Claiborne does not have the character concerns of some of the other top cornerbacks in this year's draft class.

2 (36). Doug Martin, RB, Boise State: If the Browns don't take Trent Richardson, there is a good chance that the Bucs will take him in the first round meaning this pick will be different. Of all running backs not named Trent, however, Boise State's Doug Martin is most complete back with good vision, power, size, receiving skills and speed.

3 (68). Mitchell Schwartz, OT, California: The Bucs could use an upgrade at right tackle and Schwartz has good size, decent athleticism and is a physical run blocker.

Thoughts?

Statistics: Posted by edsfootball — Mon Apr 16, 2012 7:56 pm

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Forum • Bucs, VJax agree to 5-year deal

2012-03-13T20:16:42-05:00

Early into the start of free agency, it seemed to be only a matter of time before free-agent receiver Vincent Jackson would become a Tampa Bay Buccaneer.

Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Bucs and Jackson have agreed to a five-year deal worth $55.55 million, of which $26 million is guaranteed. Jackson will earn $26 million over the first two years of the contract.

Jackson, the Chargers' second-round pick in 2009, tied his career high of nine touchdowns and finished with 60 receptions for 1,106 yards in 2011. While those numbers were close to Jackson's career highs, he was wildly inconsistent last year.

The majority of his production came in his four best games: 27 receptions for 586 yards and seven touchdowns. In other words, Jackson had only 33 receptions for 520 yards and two touchdowns in his other 12 games.

After a breakout sophomore season, Tampa Bay quarterback Josh Freeman had a junior slump. After a 25:6 touchdown-to-interception ratio in 2010, Freeman threw only 16 touchdowns but a whopping 22 interceptions (only Ryan Fitzpatrick threw more, 23).

Statistics: Posted by edsfootball — Tue Mar 13, 2012 8:16 pm

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Forum • Report: Manningham interested in going to Tampa Bay

2012-02-26T14:18:07-05:00

Wide receiver Mario Manningham is due to become a free agent and most expect him not to be back with the Giants.

Clark Judge of CBS Sports writes that a source says that Manningham "won't be back" and is expected to go to Tampa Bay, where he would be reunited with former Giants coach Mike Sullivan. Sullivan will become Tampa's offensive coordinator under new head coach Greg Schiano.

If he does end up in Tampa, it should be a positive for Manningham, who would know the system and should see an increase in targets over what he would have received if New York had brought him back.

Statistics: Posted by edsfootball — Sun Feb 26, 2012 2:18 pm

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Forum • Josh Freeman to be a game-time decision vs. Panthers

2011-12-03T20:23:43-05:00

The status of Tampa Bay quarterback Josh Freeman is in doubt for the team's matchup against the Panthers tomorrow.

"We'll take it right up to the moment of truth,'' [coach Raheem] Morris said of Freeman, per Ira Kaufman of the Tampa Tribune. "Josh Freeman went out and threw the ball around a little bit today, but he's still limited. Obviously, there was progress. He threw a little bit yesterday and a little more today."

Freeman is dealing with a sore shoulder and was limited in practice on Friday. Backup Josh Johnson took most of the first-team reps and today the team signed Rudy Carpenter from its practice squad.

Statistics: Posted by edsfootball — Sat Dec 03, 2011 8:23 pm