NFL Draft: Buccaneers Stay In-State For Second-Round Cornerback

We know the Tampa Bay Buccaneers need a cornerback in the NFL Draft, and the best fit on Day 2 could be Miami (FL) prospect Tyrique Stevenson.

David Harrison | Apr 11, 2023

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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers scored big when they were able to re-sign cornerback Jamel Dean this offseason.

New Bucs safety Logan Neal is expected to come in and at least compete to be the starter beside Antoine Winfield Jr. this season, and many already have him penciled into that spot.

As well as Tampa Bay general manager Jason Licht has done maintained what looks to be a competitive roster this season, there's no doubt the team could still use some talent in the secondary.

If they go looking for it during the second day of the NFL Draft, they might just find the perfect fit in Miami (FL) cornerback Tyrique Stevenson says Pro Football Focus.

"The Bucs simply need to target valuable positions to kick off their reload," writes Michael Renner of PFF. "Stevenson has slot versatility dating back to his time at Georgia and is one of the best press cornerbacks in the class. That's precisely what Tampa Bay needs to replace Sean Murphy-Bunting."

It's not often we see someone who doesn't have their lens on the Buccaneers daily nail a projection like this, but Renner has.

He's about an inch shorter than Dean, but has longer arms and bigger hands than the Bucs' corner, giving him the dimension to be a Todd Bowles type of defender.

Targeting Stevenson in the second round opens the door for Tampa Bay to eye other positions of need in the first and third rounds as well.

An NFL Draft haul featuring Oklahoma offensive tackle Anton Harrison, Stevenson, and a player like Wisconsin linebacker Nick Herbig, NC State guard Chandler Zavala, or Tulane running back Tyjae Spears in the third round - early fourth in a trade back scenario - would put the Buccaneers on a fast-track back from the abyss many put them in after quarterback Tom Brady's retirement.

Find David Harrison on Twitter @DHarrison82

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Published Apr 11, 2023

DAVID HARRISON

David Harrison has been in sports media since 2015 using written, audio, and video media to cover athletes, coaches, and games. In addition to covering the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for BucsGameday and Locked On Bucs he also covers the Washington Commanders for Commander Country and Locked On Commanders and the Washington Wizards for Inside the Wizards. David also covers the NFL as a whole as one of the Friday hosts for Locked On NFL. He is a graduate of the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University and previously spent 20 years as an active member of the United States Army. Contact David via email at david.w.harrison82@gmail.com or on Twitter @DHarrison82.