It’s the dawning of a new era in Tampa. Jon Gruden, Monte Kiffin and Bruce Allen are all gone and the franchise is now in the hands of 37-year-old first-time General Manager Mark Dominik and 32-year-old first-time Head Coach Raheem Morris. The Bucs new regime officially signaled their arrival back in February when they purged the roster of a number of big name veterans who were all well past their prime, most notably Derrick Brooks, and while that may not have gone over well from a public relations standpoint it was ultimately the right move. However, despite possessing ample salary cap space the Buccaneers were relatively quiet on the free agent market so the 2009 NFL Draft represented Dominik and Morris’ first real chance to make a splash and bring in the types of players they hope to build their team around.
Every year certain players get linked to specific teams very early on in the process and there was already talk of the Bucs infatuation with Kansas St. QB Josh Freeman all the way back in January at the Senior Bowl. Where there is that much smoke there is usually some fire and that turned out to be the case as Tampa Bay traded up a couple of spots to land their man. Physically Freeman has everything you look for in a quarterback prospect, including prototypical size (6-53/4, 248) and a cannon arm, and he has been compared to everyone from JaMarcus Russell to Joe Flacco and even Ben Roethlisberger. As an added bonus Freeman played in a pro style offense during his three years with the Wildcats and with so many college programs now running a spread system that is becoming a rare and valuable trait. Jon Gruden loved to stockpile quarterbacks and as a result the Bucs still have a glut of signal callers on their roster but even though Luke McCown or Byron Leftwich will probably start the 2009 season under center Freeman should take over the reigns sooner rather than later. Freeman is far from a sure-thing and will require some development but Tampa Bay hasn’t had a top young quarterback since Trent Dilfer so it was a great move on their part to bring him into the fold.
With their next two picks the Bucs addressed a defensive line that was in need of help both inside and outside. In round three they selected Texas DT Roy Miller, who was a slight reach and was generally expected to go about a round later. Miller isn’t flashy and his physical tools are relatively average but he compensates with top-notch intangibles and is a good fit for new Defensive Coordinator Jim Bates’ scheme. It might be a stretch to project Miller as a long-term starter but he should at least provide some quality depth and could even push Ryan Sims. In round four Tampa Bay chose USC DE Kyle Moore, which was a move that made sense on a number of different levels. Considered to be more of a base end prospect, Moore has a large frame (6-5, 272) and is capable of holding his own against the run but even though he wasn’t overly productive as a pass rusher in college (7.0 career sacks) he did show more pass rush potential than expected at the Senior Bowl. Moore will have an opportunity to replace Kevin Carter on the left side opposite Gaines Adams and they may opt to play him on first and second downs then bring in Stylez White on third downs. Don’t be surprised if Moore plays a key role as a rookie and outperforms his draft slot. If the Bucs decide to essentially redshirt Josh Freeman as a rookie Miller and Moore will represent their best chance for an instant impact from this draft class.
After investing a number of premium draft picks on blockers in recent years the Bucs were set when it comes to starters on their offensive line but the depth situation was dicey so they brought Illinois OT Xavier Fulton into the fold in round five. A great athlete who spent the first couple years of his college career at defensive end, Fulton isn’t a finished product but he has a lot of upside and the Bucs can afford to be patient and bring him along slowly. Also, it’s important to keep in mind that Fulton was hindered throughout his senior season and the pre-Draft process by a shoulder injury that required surgery, which may have led to some misevaluations and caused him to drop further than he should have. As a rookie Fulton will provide depth at both tackle spots and serve as insurance in case Donald Penn bolts as a free agent next offseason.
Tampa Bay owned two selections in round seven and they used the first on Western Michigan CB E.J. Biggers. A “Workout Warrior” who was drafted based largely on the 4.34 forty time and 36-inch vertical he recorded at the Broncos Pro Day, Biggers needs to get bigger and bulk up his 6-0, 180 pound frame but he will have a very good chance to make the Bucs roster because they don’t have much depth at cornerback. With their final pick the Buccaneers may have gotten a steal in Oregon St. WR Sammie Stroughter, who should have gone a couple of rounds earlier. Technically Stroughter should have already been in the NFL but he redshirted in 2007 to deal with an injury and some personal issues. Stroughter isn’t the biggest (5-91/2) or fastest (4.53) guy around but he outperforms those measurables with the pads on, is physically and mentally tough, possesses top intangibles and is just a good football player. Look for Stroughter to make the roster as a backup / slot receiver and possibly even compete for the punt return job.
The Buccaneers made a total of six picks in the 2009 NFL Draft but ultimately their effort will be judged based on how Josh Freeman’s career turns out. If Freeman develops into the type of player most feel he is capable of becoming this draft will go down as a raging success for Tampa Bay. However, if Freeman is a bust it doesn’t look like the rest of their class has enough long-term impact potential to salvage the situation. Needless to say the Bucs have a lot riding on Freeman and it’s not an exaggeration to suggest that his selection will either mark a turning point for the franchise or set them back 3-5 years. One way or another the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and their fans will remember the 2009 NFL Draft for a very, very long time.
