The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a much clearer picture of what to use their 2022 NFL Draft picks on as the new league year begins. After trading with the New England Patriots to acquire Shaq Mason as Ali Marpet’s replacement, the list of Bucs needs — like their number of draft picks — has shrunk.
This all comes, of course, as the league reels from Tom Brady’s return from retirement. Here is the Bucs’ current list of picks in the 2022 NFL Draft.
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2022 NFL Draft picks
- Round 1 | Pick 33 (from JAX)
Logan Hall, DE, Houston - Round 2 | Pick 57 (from BUF)
Luke Goedeke, G, Central Michigan - Round 3 | Pick 91
Rachaad White, RB, Arizona State - Round 4 | Pick 106 (from JAX)
Cade Otton, TE, Washington - Round 4 | Pick 133
Jake Camarda, P, Georgia - Round 5 | Pick 157 (from MIN via JAX)
Zyon McCollum, CB, Sam Houston State - Round 6Â | Pick 218 (from LAR)*
Ko Kieft, TE, Minnesota - Round 7 | Pick 248
Andre Anthony, EDGE, LSU
The Bucs sent a fifth-round pick (No. 170) to the Patriots in exchange for Mason. Previously, Tampa shipped a 2022 sixth-round selection (plus a 2023 seventh-round choice) to the New York Jets for DT Steve McClendon.
Tampa Bay is now left with six total draft picks ahead of April’s event. The Bucs will have one fewer need now as well after acquiring Mason.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2022 NFL Draft team needs
Entering the legal tampering period ahead of the new league year, the Bucs had a bevy of needs as a team. They needed an answer at quarterback. After Marpet’s surprise retirement, they needed a new guard. And yet, somehow, the Bucs resolved both of those needs before the league year had even begun.
Brady’s return spurned more interest in the team, as it did the past two seasons. It also moved the Bucs back into the fold as Super Bowl betting favorites. Of course, they’re not a complete team, and they still need to fix a few issues on their roster with their picks in the 2022 NFL Draft.
The Bucs still need to figure out a long-term solution at quarterback, but that’s fallen on the priority list. Now, they can focus on getting younger on the defensive line and showing up the back end of their secondary.
Here are their top five needs ahead of the 2022 NFL Draft:
- Defensive Tackle
- Cornerback
- Edge Defender
- Wide Receiver
- Quarterback
