Here is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' 2024 NFL Draft Class
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2024 draft class is officially official and it's safe to say they filled a lot of the needs that were hanging around before the weekend began.The Bucs eventually finished the draft with seven total selections and boosted the center, EDGE, nickel, receiver, running back, guard and tight end positions.So let's not […]
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2024 draft class is officially official and it's safe to say they filled a lot of the needs that were hanging around before the weekend began.
The Bucs eventually finished the draft with seven total selections and boosted the center, EDGE, nickel, receiver, running back, guard and tight end positions.
So let's not waste any more time and check out the Bucs' final 2024 draft class.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Official 2024 NFL Draft Class
Round 1, No. 2 overall: OL Graham Barton, Duke Blue Devils
Barton is arguably the most versatile offensive lineman in the 2024 NFL Draft, but the overall thought was he'd play center at the NFL level.
Sure enough, Bucs GM Jason Licht confirmed Thursday night that the team sees him at center, as well as guard. The emphasis was placed on center, however.
"We had him [as a] center, but he can play guard," Licht told reporters. "He did a pretty damn good job playing tackle, too. So, there’s a lot of versatility there with him. We had him targeted. To be honest with you, the whole time we were crossing our fingers that he would make it to us and he did, so that’s good…
"… He went in there and really played lights out, we thought, ‘Center.’"
Barton represents an immediate upgrade over Robert Hainsey, which is big. His athleticism should make him a nice fit in Liam Coen's system and with Cody Mauch to his right and Tristan Wirfs and Luke Goedeke on the outside – Barton help make the Bucs offensive line one of the NFL's best units, in time.
Round 2, No. 57 overall: EDGE Chris Braswell, Alabama Crimson Tide
It's official: We have a major competition for the other starting EDGE spot opposite YaYa Diaby.
Braswell should be the odds-on favorite to win the job, too. One could certainly say the former Alabama product fell to the Bucs at 57, as he is an explosive athlete that finished his 2023 campaign with 8.0 sacks. Braswell also has speed to power – a trait that all successful EDGE rushers have.
Todd Bowles can find all kinds of ways with a player such as this and when zooming out and looking at the Bucs' defensive front as a whole, and how Bowles likes to incorporate his secondary players, the front seven should be a lot of fun to watch and dissect in 2024.
Round 3, No. 89 overall: CB Tykee Smith, Georgia Bulldogs
This could turn out to be one of the Bucs' most impactful picks of the draft. That's not taking anything away from the previous two guys, but Smith should be a Day 1 starter that immediately slides in a the slot position.
He has the size and tackling ability to hold up in run defense and he's an effective blitzer off the edge. Smith's coverage and ball skills are solid, as well. He could even slide back and play safety in certain packages.
Don't rule out Smith's kick return skills, either. Per The Athletic's Dane Brugler, Georgia head coach Kirby Smart described them as "elite".
Christian Izien is obviously in the mix, but he could also move to safety. At worst, the Bucs would have two versatile players manning the slot position, which isn't a bad spot to be in, at all.
Round 3, No. 92 overall (from DET): WR Jalen McMillan, Washington Huskies
The Bucs get a true slot guy in McMillan, which allows Chris Godwin to move outside on a more consistent basis. Still, even then, the duo forms a very solid rotation that Liam Coen will use to his advantage. Don’t forget Mike Evans’ ability to slide inside, either. The Bucs should have a very nice 3-4 man WR package, including Trey Palmer, in 2024.
He's long and fast, but it does remain to be seen just how McMillan handles the physicality on the inside – something that he's not really known for. Still, he's a guy that can make catches at all three levels and his speed is something defenses will have to account for.
Round 4, No. 125 overall: RB Bucky Irving, Oregon Ducks
The Irving pick is interesting and has a lot of potential, mainly because most of his production will depend on what the offensive line is doing in front of him.
That's because Irving isn't a great athlete, he isn't fast, and he isn't a powerful guy, by any means. What he does have, though, is patience, vision, good feet, and he can make guys miss in the open field.
It'll be interesting to see if Irving is used during the new kickoff methods we'll see in 2024. He has some of the useful traits needed to be an effective returner and had kickoff return experience in college.
Either way, Irving will compete with Sean Tucker and Patrick Laird for the RB3/4 spot during the offseason.
Round 6, No. 220 overall: G Elijah Klein, UTEP Miners
The Buccaneers add one last piece to the interior offensive line and it’s no surprise it’s another small school prospect.
Klein didn't test well, but he moves well, overall and he's get the fierce underdog mentality/spirit that Jason Licht loves in his big guys.
Round 7, No. 246 overall: TE Devin Culp, Washington Huskies
The second Huskies tight end drafted by the Bucs in three years, Culp joins former Washington teammate, Cade Otton, in Tampa Bay.
Culp is a blazer and he can make some pretty impressive catches, but his overall skill set and the most important traits -route running, hands, and blocking- needs work. If he can develop and improve his flaws, he'd be an excellent "move" tight end in the Bucs' system, but it's going to take some time to get him to that point.
Either way, it's a very low risk, very high reward pick and that's just fine at No. 246 overall.
- Round 1, No. 26 overall: OL Graham Barton, Duke Blue Devils
- Round 2, No. 57 overall: EDGE Chris Braswell, Alabama Crimson Tide
- Round 3, No. 89 overall: CB Tykee Smith, Georgia Bulldogs
- Round 3, No. 92 overall (from DET): WR Jalen McMillan, Washington Huskies
- Round 4, No. 125 overall: RB Bucky Irving, Oregon Ducks
- Round 6, No. 220 overall: G Elijah Klein, UTEP Miners
- Round 7, No. 246 overall: TE Devin Culp, Washington Huskies
The Bucs had a successful draft. They filled some key needs with good players, including an elite player in Barton in Round 1. He will be the centerpiece of this draft and can help make the Bucs offensive line an elite unit for the foreseeable future.
Chris Braswell has a ton of room to grow and can turn into one of the draft's most valuable picks in terms of where he was selected and Tykee Smith has a shot to be a Day 1 starter. Jalen McMillan has a clearly defined role, so it shouldn't be hard figuring out how to max out his efficiency as he adjust to NFL life.
Then, there's Irving, who is entering an environment in which he can succeed. Klein is your typical Jason Licht small school pick, so even though he was more likely to go undrafted – the trust in Licht is there. And lastly, Culp is the definition of a low-risk, high-reward pick, which is just fine at No. 246.
Overall, it was a very successful weekend and if the Bucs can get immediate, quality snaps out of the first three picks, then this team will be right in the mix for its fourth straight division title.
