The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have certainly had an offseason to remember. First, legendary quarterback Tom Brady announced his intention to retire, then backtracked, saying he was planning on returning for another season. Shortly after that, head coach Bruce Arians stepped away from coaching for a front office role with the team, handing the keys to the franchise over to former defensive coordinator Todd Bowles.
From a personnel standpoint, it's been a relatively quiet offseason for Tampa Bay. They lost guard Ali Marpet to retirement but have a large portion of their championship core returning for 2022, including wideout Chris Godwin, corner Carlton Davis III, center Ryan Jensen, and running back Leonard Fournette while bringing in newcomers, such as veteran defensive back Logan Ryan and receiver Russell Gage.
Still, some needs remained ahead of the NFL Draft, which general manager Jason Licht set out to address. Originally slated to select in the first round with pick no. 27, the Buccaneers opted to trade back to the second round, obtaining two extra picks- one in the fourth and another in the sixth. Tampa Bay brought in a potential defensive stud in Logan Hall and promising offensive players in Luke Goedeke and Rachaad White.
But how did they really do? That's what we'll assess here. That said, here are grades for every pick made by the Buccaneers in the NFL Draft.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2022 NFL Draft Grades
Round 2, Pick 33- DT Logan Hall (Houston)
Grade: A
The Buccaneers may have traded out of the first round, but they got themselves a day-one caliber player in Houston's Logan Hall. Hall combines size- 6-6 and 278 pounds- with athleticism, two traits that helped him take home first team all-AAC honors in 2021 while tallying 13 tackles for loss and six sacks in 12 games played. With Ndamukong Suh unlikely to return, the Buccaneers needed to address the defensive line. Address it they did, as Hall has the ability to set the edge as an end on run downs and rush the passer from the inside on passing downs. He'll play a heavy amount of snaps in his rookie year.
Round 2, Pick 57- OG Luke Goedeke (Central Michigan)
Grade: B+
With Marpet retired, the Buccaneers needed a left guard and they got themselves a good one in Goedeke. The 6-5, 303-pound Goedeke has the versatility to play tackle. Originally a tight end, Goedeke has the athleticism and quick feet to make a difference as a blocker at the pro level. While his inexperience might be an issue in the early going, it appears that he'll have the chance to win the starting left guard spot in a competition with the likes of Aaron Stinnie and Nick Leverett.
Round 3, Pick 91- RB Rachaad White (Arizona State)
Grade: A-
Ronald Jones II is no longer in town, which means that the depth chart behind Fournette is lacking proven runners. White might be a rookie, but he proved he could handle an every-down role for the Sun Devils this past season, as he totaled 1,006 rushing yards on 182 carries with 15 scores on the ground, a number that led the Pac-12. Perhaps even more intriguing is White's ability as a pass-catcher, as he hauled in 43 passes for 456 yards. Tampa Bay got themselves a legitimate three-down back in the third round. While, it's unlikely he eats in Fournette's carry totals a ton in year one, there's certainly potential for him to step into the Jones role immediately.
Round 4, Pick 106- TE Cade Otton (Washington)
Grade: C+
Cade Otton was a solid contributor at Washington, having totaled 1,026 yards and nine touchdowns across four seasons. He's promising as a blocker and pass-catcher and could find himself on the field often if Rob Gronkowski ops not to return to the Bucs in 2022.
Round 4, Pick 133- P Jake Camarda (Georgia)
Grade: B
The selection of Georgia's Jake Camarda in the fourth round means that the Buccaneers are likely moving on from Bradley Pinion, who was due to be paid $2.9 million in 2022. Camarda averaged 45.8 yards over 187 career college punts, so he has an experienced leg entering the NFL. The former Bulldog should be a steady specialist in Tampa.
Round 5, Pick 157- CB Zyon McCollum (Sam Houston State)
Grade: B+
McCollum played against FCS competition, but don't let that fool you into thinking this wasn't an upside pick. The 6-2, 200-pound corner ran a 4.33 40-yard dash and totaled 13 interceptions in five seasons with Sam Houston State. One of the deepest corner rooms in the league just got even deeper.
Round 6, Pick 218- TE Ko Kieft (Minnesota)
Grade: B
One of the highest graded tight ends in the nation, Kieft was an adept blocker for Minnesota in 2021. He doesn't offer a whole lot as a receiver, though that will suit the Buccaneers just fine, especially if Gronkowski ultimately does return.
Round 7, Pick 248- DE/LB Andre Anthony (LSU)
Grade: B-
A knee injury cut Anthony's 2021 season short for the Tigers, though he had cracked the starting lineup and tallied 3.5 sacks through three games. The 25-year-old could be a valuable contributor as a rotational pass rusher.
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