REPORT: Bucs Had Lower Grade On DT

During a crazy 2022 NFL Draft, the Bucs decided to trade out of the first round on Thursday night. Tampa Bay added picks 33 (2nd), 106 (4th) and 180 (6th), as Jacksonville moved up to No. 27. One of the players that was heavily linked to the Bucs at No. 27 was Georgie DT Devonte Wyatt. But GM Jason Licht passed on adding Wyatt to trade down instead.

According to former Bucs staff writer and current editor at The Draft Network, Carmen Vitali, Wyatt had a second round grade from the team. The Packers selected Wyatt with the 28th pick, one spot behind where the Bucs originally selected. Pewter Report’s Jon Ledyard had that scenario playing out in his recent mock draft.

The Georgia defensive lineman had an outstanding pre-draft process, crushing the Senior Bowl and the NFL Scouting Combine. Wyatt impressed during interviews with the media as well, but questions have lingered about past off-field issues. The redshirt senior is also already 24 years old, and didn’t break out until the 2021 season. Even then, Wyatt had just seven takles for loss and 2.5 sacks. He’s very talented and was No. 12 on Ledyard’s big board. But the peripheral red flags had him further down the Bucs board.

In recent days, reports had filtered in that Wyatt could fall out of the first round. That didn’t happen, but concern about his profile extended beyond the Bucs. Now Tampa Bay will turn its’ attention to the first pick of the second round. Among the players expected to be considered are Houston DT Logan Hall, Colorado State TE Trey McBride, Washington CB Kyler Gordon, Clemson CB Andrew Booth, Oklahoma DT Perrion Winfrey or Georgia LB Nakobe Dean. Pewter Report had Hall as the Bucs first round pick in the final Pewter Report Mock Draft.

The post REPORT: Bucs Had Lower Grade On DT appeared first on Pewter Report.