Javon Kinlaw, South Carolina Gamecocks. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have seven picks to work with in the upcoming 2020 NFL Draft. Here is their latest mock draft. Who should the Buccaneers take?
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers won free agency by making two outstanding moves. They were able to franchise tag superstar pass-rusher Shaquil Barrett. He’s poised to have another monster season on this Tampa Bay defense. The Patriots also upgraded at quarterback by letting Jameis Winston walk and signed Tom Brady away from the New England Patriots.
These two moves will help position the Buccaneers to finally end their decade-plus playoff drought. Tampa Bay should be good enough as is to nab one of the seven available playoff spots in the NFC next year. Whether that’s as the NFC South division winner or as one of the three Wild Card teams remains to be seen.
However, the Buccaneers still have some work to do to get better in the upcoming 2020 NFL Draft. Tampa Bay has primary needs at offensive tackle, running back and along the defensive line. Secondary needs include a wide receiver, quarterback and cornerback. Tertiary needs are an additional wide receiver, as well as at safety.
Since Tampa Bay has seven draft picks, they will not be able to address all eight of their draft needs as is. They will need to move back at some point to pick up that eighth pick. Overall, the Buccaneers are in terrific shape to get even better in the draft. Here is their latest 2020 NFL mock draft. Who do they end up taking this year?
First Round
14
Javon Kinlaw
DL South Carolina Gamecocks
Though the Buccaneers could hope one of the top-tier offensive tackles falls to them at No. 14, it’s hard to see any of that quartet making it all the way to Tampa Bay in the 2020 NFL Draft. Since you can never have enough good pass-rushers, the Buccaneers should go with Javon Kinlaw out of the University of South Carolina with their first-round selection.
Kinlaw has overcome a lot in his life. Growing up in extreme poverty and having to initially go the junior college route, Kinlaw emerged as one of the better players in South Carolina football in recent memory. At 6-foot-6 and 310 pounds, Kinlaw could be a matchup nightmare for opposing offensive lines. He’ll make the Buccaneers’ front-seven even more menacing.
During his three years in Columbia, Kinlaw had 82 tackles, 17 for a loss of yardage and 10 sacks of the quarterback. Even though the Gamecocks had a down season in 2019, Kinlaw was must-see television every time he took to the gridiron for South Carolina football last season. While he may be a tad raw coming out of the SEC, you simply cannot coach his size and strength.
Another reason the Buccaneers should look at drafting Kinlaw No. 14 overall is if they don’t then, the division rival Atlanta Falcons will take him and use him against him. Atlanta will likely take a pass-rusher with its No. 16 overall pick. By grabbing Kinlaw before the Dirty Birds do, Tampa Bay will end up firing the cannons every time he drags Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan to the ground.