Not much was expected from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2023. After Tom Brady retired from the NFL, the Buccaneers had the longest odds at winning the NFC South a year ago. No one must have told them. Not only did Tampa Bay win the division, they beat the reigning NFC champions the Philadelphia Eagles once getting in.
The Buccaneers had the chance to improve their playoff team of a year ago with the 2024 NFL Draft. Tampa Bay went into the event with clear needs and spent the weekend addressing them.
Buccaneers draft Graham Barton
Improving their offensive line was the utmost priority for the Buccaneers this offseason, especially on the interior. Tampa could not find a capable replacement at center for Ryan Jensen after injuries derailed his career.
It was a big reason why the Bucs ranked 22nd in the NFL in pass block win rate and dead last in run block win rate according to ESPN. They had to get better up front and did so after selecting Duke's Graham Barton.
Barton played just about everywhere up front for the Blue Devils. He started his collegiate career as a center in 2020 but shifted to left tackle in 2021. He didn't allow a single QB hit as Duke's left tackle in 2023 and also posted a pass block grade of 88.7 according to Pro Football Focus. Barton can do it all and do it well.
Barton is excellent in the pass game but he will be a godsend for Tampa Bay's ground attack as well. Not only were they last in the league in run block win rate, but they also ranked 27th in EPA per rush. Their yards-per-carry average as a team wasn't very efficient. At 3.4 yards, Tampa was lapped by every team in the NFL in that department.
Luckily for them, Barton posted a run block grade of 86.9 in 2022. He will give Tampa and star running back Rachaad White a massive boost. Both the need and value was there for the Bucs. Taking Barton where they did was simply a home run.
Drafting Chris Braswell
Adding to their pass rush was another need for the Bucs after Shaq Barrett moved on from Tampa to the Miami Dolphins. Even with him, the Bucs were around league average (17th) in pass rush win rate. Yaya Diaby and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka are the only primary pass rushers who registered at least five sacks a year ago for Tampa.
That's why they took Alabama's Chris Braswell in the second round. Dallas Turner got the majority of headlines for Alabama's defensive front over the last couple years, but Braswell put up some solid numbers for the Tide in that time too. He has been pretty consistent getting to the quarterback in that span.
With Barrett gone, Braswell should immediately find some playing time for the Bucs as a situational pass rusher. He has big shoes to fill, but his game should be able handle those expectations.
Drafting Jalen McMillan
Had it not been for a nagging injury, Jalen McMillan could very well have seen himself get drafted much earlier than where he wound up going (92nd overall). McMillan was outstanding in 2022 with the Washington Huskies, putting up 79 receptions for 1,098 yards and nine touchdowns. For comparison's sake, Rome Odunze, his teammate and the ninth overall pick, hauled in 75 balls for 1,145 yards and seven scores.
Those two are different players. Odunze did a large portion of his work outside, while McMillan shined in the slot. But he could man that area of the field for Tampa sooner than later. Chris Godwin, Tampa's primary slot receiver at the moment, is entering the last year of his contract.
Injuries derailed McMillan's 2023 season and likely played a role in him sliding in the draft. But McMillan has plenty of skills. He could make a lot of teams look foolish for passing over him.
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