Buccaneers 2024 NFL Draft Grades: Rounds 4-7

The Bucs draft is complete, now let’s grade it

With the 2024 NFL draft officially in the rear view mirror, it is time to take a look at and grade the Buccaneers day three selections. They did not have many picks on the day, just three, but the positions they addressed made a lot of sense.

Round 4, 125th Overall, Bucky Irving, RB Oregon

Tampa Bay decided to use their first pick of the day on a running back who figures to have a role for the 2024 Buccaneers. At just 5’9, 192 pounds, it is incredible how often Irving breaks a tackle or makes a man miss. He is not the most athletic back and he does lack high end speed but that isn’t a major requirement to be a successful back.

One of the reasons Irving fell was that he didn’t test great at the combine, but the Bucs are getting a guy who can help take the load off of Rachaad White and maybe keep his legs a bit more fresh as the team gets later into the season. Tampa Bay needed a compliment to Rachaad White and there were many names available, but the Bucs land on Irving. It isn’t a bad pick, but I personally had some backs a bit higher on my board.

Grade: B-

Round 6, 220th Overall, Elijiah Klein, G, UTEP

The Bucs double up on interior offensive lineman in this draft with the selection of Klein. I will be completely honest here, I had not heard of his name at all in the pre draft process. I look at a lot of prospects to prepare for the event but I don’t dig this deep. However, just because he wasn’t on my radar doesn’t mean he’s a bad player. As a matter of fact, after doing a bit of working and seeing what some have said, this may actually be one of the better value picks in Tampa Bay’s class.

Klein is a bowling ball. Big body who is going to move people all over the football field. He is exactly the type of lineman Jason Licht loves to draft so it is no wonder Tampa took a shot on him in the sixth. There are people smarter than I that study offensive line and they seem to be big fans, even a few days before the draft.

Even being a sixth round pick, Klein may be able to come in and compete immediately for the left guard job. Day three is all about taking chances on guys and from the looks of it, the Bucs may have found a good one to grab.

Grade: B+

Round 7, 246th Overall, Devin Culp, TE, Washington

The Bucs use their final selection on a tight end and go back to the Washington pipeline for it. Despite not having much production as a receiver in college, Culp is built essentially like a big wide receiver and plays similarly as well. The Bucs tight end room does not feature a true receiving tight end so it makes sense to add one here.

Cade Otton has become a solid player for Tampa, but he is in the mold of a receiving and blocking threat. Behind him are guys in Payne Durham and Ko Kieft not really known for their receiving ability. At the end of the day it is a seventh round pick but addressing the tight end position was an underrated storyline for the Bucs this offseason.

Grade: C+

Another draft is in the books. The Bucs added many talented players who should help the cause in the upcoming season. How would you grade Jason Licht’s draft? Let us know in the comment section below!