:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69076222/1231080601.0.jpg)
Tom Brady won the first year of his separation from Bill Belichick as he left for Florida and gave the Tampa Bay Buccaneers a Super Bowl title. Part of Brady’s greatness has been being motivated to lead his team to more success even after reaching such great heights, so there is still more work to do to improve this roster.
One of the few issues with the Buccaneers last season came in running the ball, which they struggled to do as one of the worst rushing offenses in the NFL. That could be an area Tampa Bay decides to improve during this year’s draft.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2021 Draft Picks
Round 1: No. 32, DE Joe Tryon
Round 2: No. 64, QB Kyle Trask
Round 3: No. 95, T Robert Hainsey
Round 4: No. 129, WR Jaelon Darden
Round 5: No. 176, LB KJ Britt
Round 7: No. 251, CB Chris Wilcox; No. 259, LB Grant Stuard
Team needs
Offense: Running back
The Buccaneers do not necessarily have a high number of needs heading into this NFL Draft, but adding a dynamic running back might make sense. While Playoff Lenny was a fun story, this was still a team that rushed for just 4.1 yards per carry last season, which ranked No. 25 in the NFL. He was outplayed by Ronald Jones for much of the season, and neither are big-time playmakers and don’t do a whole lot as receiving threats.
Defense: Defensive tackle
Tampa Bay’s defensive line was about as good as it gets in the NFL last season, and the Buccaneers are bringing back Ndamukong Suh and Vita Vea on the interior defensive line. While defensive tackle is a big strength for this team, Suh just signed a one-year deal to stay, and Vea has a team option in 2022 before becoming a free agent in 2023 where he should have a ton of suiters willing to pay him. Interior defensive line is not a huge need this year, but getting in on a talented defensive tackle to learn from an incredible unit could be a good move for this defense in the long run.
Dream first pick
RB Travis Etienne - Clemson
When he was with the New England Patriots, Brady threw to his running backs often, and that wasn’t the case all that much in his first season in Tampa Bay. If the Buccaneers want a playmaking running back who is fantastic in the receiving game, Travis Etienne checks all the boxes to make a sizeable upgrade at the position the second he steps on the field for training camp.