PR Roundtable: Draft Crushes The Bucs Should Select

For this weekend’s Pewter Report Roundtable, the crew tackles another tough question. This week’s prompt: who is each staff member’s 2022 NFL Draft Crush they’d love to see the Bucs select next week?

Scott Reynolds: I’m Crushing On Burks – Receiver And Boar Hunter

I get it. Wide receiver is not nearly a pressing need like defensive tackle and tight end are for the Bucs. Tampa Bay just re-signed Chris Godwin to a three-year extension that averages $20 million per season. And the Bucs just added receiver Russell Gage on a three-year deal worth $10 million per year. But the Bucs offense is receiver-driven and really needs four starting-caliber receivers. When Antonio Brown went AWOL and Godwin, Breshad Perriman and Cyril Grayson, Jr. were out with injuries, the Bucs didn’t have enough firepower to beat the Rams in the playoffs. Mike Evans had a great game against Jalen Ramsey, but he alone wasn’t enough.

Arkansas WR Treylon Burks – Photo by: USA Today

So give me Arkansas wide receiver Treylon Burks, my draft crush, in red and pewter, please. Trade up for him if you have to, Jason Licht. This 6-foot-3, 225-pound receiver is special. He plays faster than his 4.55 speed and had a school-record six 100-yard games last year for the Razorbacks where he caught 66 passes for 1,104 yards (16.7 avg.) and 11 touchdowns. His best game was versus Alabama when he had eight receptions for 179 yards and two TDs in a narrow, 42-35 loss.

Burks played mostly in the slot, but has the frame and ability to play outside in the NFL. I like the fact that he can be a slot receiver too, just in case Godwin’s rehab stalls and he’s somehow not ready for Week 1. When his fifth-year option comes due in 2026, Evans will be 33 years old. I’m not pushing Evans into retirement any time soon. But should he decide to call it quits at that point, Tampa Bay would already have his replacement onboard in Burks. Plus, the man hunts boars in Arkansas – with a knife! GIVE ME TREYLON BURKS!

Matt Matera: If Mafe Is Still Around In The 2nd, Draft Him

Drafting an edge rusher isn’t at the top of the priority list for the Bucs. That doesn’t mean they should avoid drafting one if they get good value. While you have Shaq Barrett, Joe Tryon-Shoyinka and Anthony Nelson in place, Mafe would make for great depth as a fourth edge, with all due respect to Cam Gill. With Nelson on the last year of his deal, you’re potentially grooming a future starter.

Minnesota DE Boye Mafe – Photo by: USA Today

Mafe is the best pass rusher that I think can still be available for the Bucs in the second round. Mafe also has some history living outside of the States, going to boarding school in his parent’s home country of Nigeria for eighth grade. He’s got great athleticism off the edge and solid bend. Mafe will always keep at it on a play even if it’s not going directly towards him. 

He still has a lot to learn in terms of pass rushing skill and overall instincts for the game. With that said, Mafe had an awesome showing at the Senior Bowl, standing out at practice and then kicking it to another level in the game. He led the way with a multi-sack outing. Getting better each year at Minnesota, Mafe finished with 34 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, seven sacks and a forced fumble in his senior year.

Jon Ledyard: Still Love Zion Johnson’s Fit In Tampa Bay

I’ve watched a lot of players during my 2022 NFL Draft preparation. But, despite months of tape study and data cumulation, there are few players I would be happier about in Tampa Bay than Boston College’s Zion Johnson. The former Golden Eagle checks all the physical and athletic boxes for the position. He also stood out during the pre-draft process for his outstanding play at the Senior Bowl.

Boston College G Zion Johnson – Photo by: USA Today

But what most intrigues me with Johnson is the tape. He’s a dominant run blocker, capable of bodying on a double team or reaching more athletic linemen in a zone scheme. Johnson is tough as nails and thrives as a finisher. He stays mostly penalty free due to outstanding smarts and technical skill too. And in pass protection, Johnson’s biggest struggle is just handling twists. One-on-one, he handles power and quickness with equal aplomb. Adding Johnson to a starting group of Donovan Smith, Ryan Jensen, Shaq Mason and Tristan Wirfs would be terrifying for opponents.

Of course, I’d love Johnson to Tampa Bay in a vacuum. I recognize that on an offensive line that already has four premier starters, a valuable asset shouldn’t need to be used on the fifth spot. A pass-rushing defensive tackle, playmaking wide receiver or talented cornerback probably lead to more wins in the long haul. But Johnson has one of my few first round grades in the class. To land a talent like that at No. 27 would make for a brilliant offensive lineup in Tampa Bay.

J.C. Allen: All In On Houston DT Logan Hall To Bucs

You guys already know how I feel about Cole Strange. But with a “perceived need” at defensive tackle, Logan Hall fits the bill. Hall offers tremendous flexibility, able to align outside at 5-tech in the Bucs base defense. He can also kick inside to 3-tech on obvious passing downs and create pressure that way. He’s a strong run defender with a wicked first step. Hall also has a strong bull rush and demonstrates great speed-to-power ability.

Houston DT Logan Hall – Photo by: USA Today

Hall finished his college career with 50 total tackles, 20.5 for loss and eight sacks. Six-and-a-half of those sacks came his final season. At the Combine he ran a 4.88 40-yard dash and posted a 1.68 10-yard split. Impressive numbers for a player his size. Hall also posted the best shuttle score and tied for the best three-cone time among defensive linemen.

With Ndamukong Suh most likely returning, Hall will be able to work in the rotation keeping guys fresh as he gets acclimated to the NFL. He adds a much-needed boost of youth to an aging line that has only Vita Vea locked up past this season. While he might not ever be a dominant player like Suh, Hall could be a perfect replacement for Will Gholston who is on a one-year deal. I don’t love it as much at 27, but if the Bucs can trade back into the early second, Hall would be a great addition to the defensive front.

Josh Queipo: Give Me Zyon. Not That One. The OTHER One.

Logan Ryan, Jamel Dean, Sean Murphy-Bunting, Mike Edwards, Keanu Neal. That is a long list of pending free agents in the Bucs secondary. That fact, coupled with injuries Tampa Bay suffered through last year in the defensive backfield, it makes sense that DB would be high on their draft needs.

I am more partial to helping fill out the corner side of things. And one corner that stands out to me is Sam Houston State’s Zyon McCollum. The 6-2, 199-pound McCollum combines rare speed and athleticism with his ideal frame to create the building blocks for a prototypical Bucs corner. His measurables are literally ELITE, running a 4.33 40-yard dash, sub 4 second 3-cone, and almost 40-inch vertical, and 11-foot broad jump.

McCollum isn’t just a testing warrior though. In games he showed he can track and trail at a high-level, trusting his athleticism to make plays on the ball. It shows in his production, with 13 interceptions and 54 pass breakups!! He shows real understanding of his position and the receiver opposing him. He plays with good instincts and uses fantastic footwork to pattern-match and stay in phase. Additionally, and important to Bucs fans, the man can tackle!

Finally, McCollum’s resume shows good work in special teams, where he can come in and contribute immediately as he transitions to an NFL defense.  If he is on the board at pick 60, I will desperately be calling for Tampa Bay to select him, because he won’t be there at 91.

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