Tampa Bay Buccaneers: NFL Offseason Report Card

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2009 Draft Grade: B

Free Agent/Non Draft: B-

Total Grade:B-

Overall Needs:
•Defensive End
•Running Back
•Defensive Tackle
•Offensive Tackle
•Outside Linebacker
•Quarterback
•Wide Receiver

Draft Picks:
Rd / Sel# / Name / Pos. / School
1) 17 Josh Freeman QB Kansas State
3) 81 Roy Miller DT Texas
4) 117 Kyle Moore DE USC
5) 155 Xavier Fulton OT Illinois
7) 217 E.J. Biggers CB Western Michigan
7) 233 Sammie Stroughter WR Oregon State

Arrivals: Old Team
LB Angelo Crowell (FA) Buffalo
QB Byron Leftwich (FA) Pittsburgh
K Mike Nugent (FA) NY Jets
RB Derrick Ward (FA) NY Giants
TE Kellen Winslow (trade) Cleveland

Departures: New Team
LB Derrick Brooks (FA)
CB Phillip Buchanon (FA) Detroit
RB Omar Cuff (FA) New England
RB Warrick Dunn (FA)
CB Greg Fassitt (released)
WR Joey Galloway (FA) New England
QB Jeff Garcia (FA) Oakland
DT Jovan Haye (FA) Tennessee
WR Ike Hilliard (FA)
LB Cato June (FA) Houston
TE Alex Smith (trade) New England
WR Parris Warren (FA) New Orleans

Offseason Analysis:

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had six selections and reached for their first pick as they drafted Josh Freeman from Kansas State in the first round. Freeman is huge and has an even bigger arm, which means he’s not a typical Bucs quarterback. He is the first QB drafted by Tampa Bay in the first since 1994 (Trent Dilfer). He also may have to sit this year to develop.

In the third round, they selected Roy Miller, a solid run-stuffer who gained 25 pounds since the end of the season to get over 315. In the fourth, they selected Kyle Moore, a defensive end from USC, who has a long wingspan and can inside on passing downs. In the fifth, they chose Xavier Fulton, a former defensive end who has had some injury issues. They added depth in the seventh by taking corner E.J. Biggers, a 4.34 40 guy who will compete for time at the nickel spot. They also grabbed Sammie Stroughter, a very productive receiver at Oregon State, who is small and was mainly drafted for his return ability.

New head coach Raheem Morris (just 33) and general manager Mark Domanik (age 37) are trying to create their own identities. In free agency, the Bucs were relatively quiet, adding backups QB Byron Leftwich and RB Derrick Ward. Those former backups could be starters on a team that lacked firepower, and were hampered by injuries. They let go of veterans Derrick Brooks, Warrick Dunn, Joey Galloway and Jeff Garcia, all who came either before Jon Gruden or afterwards. They also traded for Pro Bowl-caliber TE Kellen Winslow. On defense, they brought in LB Angelo Crowell to play outside in the 4-3 and to replace Brooks. They also signed Mike Nugent to compete with kicker Matt Bryant for the starting job.

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