Buccaneers 2024 NFL Draft Grades: Rounds 1-3

The picks have been made, now let’s grade them

With day two of the NFL draft in the books, we figured it would be a good time to look back at what the Buccaneers were able to accomplish over the first three rounds. They were able to fill a lot of needs that they had.

The positions were right, but were the players that were selected? Let’s dive right into some grades for Tampa Bay’s four selections.

1st Round, 26th Overall, Graham Barton, Center, Duke

The Bucs needed to address the interior offensive line at some point in this draft and the earlier the better. Well the Bucs absolutely lucked out with arguably the best interior offensive lineman in the draft falling right into their laps in Graham Barton. Despite playing left tackle in college, the Bucs made it clear that they view Barton as a center who can kick over to guard if need be.

Being able to land a player with 10+ year start potential at center at 26th overall is a great get for the Bucs. There were many mocks that did not even have Barton available when the Bucs were going to pick. The fact that they were able to land him while also being able to avoid trading up so they could keep all of their assets is a massive win by the front office.

Grade: A

2nd Round, 57th Overall, Chris Braswell, EDGE, Alabama

Along with the interior offensive line the Bucs also needed a pass rusher and depending on who you asked this offseason, some would have told you it was the top need for the team. After no pass rushers fell to them in the first, they decided to address it in the second with Chris Braswell.

Braswell is far from a finished product, but he did have a really nice final season at Alabama with eight sacks. He is extremely athletic which is something the Bucs value. He may not be a starter right away, but he could take the Yaya Diaby path of being a guy who gets more and more playing time as the year goes on and gets better and better.

Grade: B

3rd Round, 89th Overall, Tykee Smith, Safety, Georgia

The Buccaneers address their secondary with their first of two third rounders and nab Tykee Smith out of Georgia. On the surface, drafting a player that is listed as a safety doesn’t make much sense for Tampa Bay, but that listing is pretty much all that is when it comes to Smith. He profiles as a slot corner in the NFL and a darn good one at that.

Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images

With the Bucs having Jamel Dean and Zyon McCollum to play on the outside, they didn’t have a concrete answer on who would play in the nickel role. The team signed veterans Tavierre Thomas and Bryce Hall for depth, but in an ideal world Tykee Smith takes the reins of the job and doesn’t look back.

Grade: B-

Third Round, 92nd Overall, Jalen McMillan, Wide Receiver, Washington

Tampa Bay selecting a receiver fairly early this week always made a lot of sense. At some point, it almost became a matter of who and not if. They chose Washington’s Jalen McMillan to be that guy and it makes a lot of sense when thinking long term.

McMillan will be able to contribute this year, but his real value could come beyond 2024. Mike Evans isn’t getting any younger and Chris Godwin is entering the final year of his contract. McMillan could step up as the WR2 on this team sooner rather than later if Godwin walks in free agency after this season. Now McMillan did mostly play in the slot at Washington but he has the size to be able to play on the outside so it will be interesting to see how the Bucs manage his playing time and how they use him.

Teams should always have an eye on the future while acknowledging the present and that is exactly what Tampa Bay did here.

Grade: B+

The work is not done for the Bucs as they still do have a few more picks for day three. We will see who else they add to strengthen the football team.