Saturday, 4 a.m.
Sometimes, you have to roll the dice.
Sometimes, when yoiu are stuck in the back end of the draft, when most of the can’t-miss prospects have been claimed, yoiu have to squint and see the possibilities.
And so it was that Jason Licht looked at a linebacker who started two games for Alabama and imagined a pass-rusher. He more he looked at Georgia’s secondary, the
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more he saw the possibililties with Tykee Smith. He looked at the pre-injured Jalen McMillan, a thousand-yard guy, and thought he could add to a talented receiver group.
Welcome outside linebacker Chris Braswell to town.
And safety Smith.
And receiver Jalen McMillan.
The Bucs bet on the physical traits of the three athletes Friday night. They thought Braswell had enough production to ignore his starts. They thought Smith couod grow into a nice player. They thought McMillilan could appoach the production of his junior year.
Oh, all of the players have something to prove. Braswell started only two games in his career for the Tide. However, he played enough to have eight sacks this year. But, really, what does it matter that Braswell didn’t play the first snap against, say, Vanderbilt? The deal with him is whether he can help you forget about Shaq Barrett.
Smith is a tough player who should fit in well as nickel back for the Bucs.
And McMillan is intriguing. As a junior, he was a dominant redeemer. His production fell as a senior — he missed four games with an injury. But he has the capability to make the Bucs a more dangerous team.
Of course, that’s only true if the Bucs’ vision is clear. And we’ll see.
The Bucs could still use a running back, maybe a tight end, in today’s third round of the draft.