Friday, 5 a.m.
Evidently, the Tampa Bay Rays plan to outscore the world next season.
With glaring defensive problems, and with a draft board filled with potential help, the Tampa Bay Bucs picked … another offensive receiver in the first round of the draft on Thursday night.
The Bucs selected Ohio State wide out Emeka Egbuka with their 19th pick,
Nothing againt Egbuka, who had two 1,000-yard seasons with the Buckeyes. But receiver is one of the Bucs’ deepest position with Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Jalen McMillian. True, Egbuka’s youth will help, but no, he can’t play cornerback, too.
It isn’t as if some suspects wernt there when the Bucs picked. Cornerbacks Will Johnson and Jahdae Barron were on the board. So were edge rushes Mike Greene, Donovan Ezeiruaku and James Pierce. So was linebacker Jihaad Campbell. So were safeties Nick Emmanwori and Malaki Starks.
The Bolts prefered Egbuka to all of them. Again, his credentials are solid. He caught 81 balls for 1,011 yards.
But judging from the holes on the Bucs’ roster, it’s hard to get over this. Inside linebacker is a need. The secondary was awful last year. The pass rush was insufficient.
And the team picked a receiver?
Of course, it is silly to grade a draft pick on draft night. But the need for defensive help seemed overwhelming. And Egbuka seems like a luxury pick.
Perhaps this will be Jason Licht’s true test. If he’s right, the Bucs could contend again. If he’s wrong, and the defense doesn’t improve, this will be the moment critics point to.
Was Egbuka a catch?
Or do an opportunity slip though the Bucs’ fingers?