With the twentieth pick in the 2011 BGN Mock Draft, NJEagle selects...
Adrian Clayborn - DE, Iowa
Last season, the Tampa Bucs' (for the majority of the season) starters at DE combined for 7.5 sacks. The team overall had only 26 sacks, which tied them for second-worst in the league. There were a few reasons for this: starters Stylez White and Tim Crowder would be rotational players on most teams and defensive tackles Brian Price and Gerald McCoy (3rd overall pick) suffered midseason injuries, so the team did not have much to offer as far as depth goes. 3rd year DE Michael Bennett out of Texas A&M is not much to be excited about and young Chiefs castaway Alex Magee is developing but is not really starter material.
Lombardi Award finalist and consensus All-American, Iowa's Adrian Clayborn is someone that the Bucs can benefit from throughout their D-line. Clayborn is coming off of a down-year due to some nagging injuries (Clayborn suffers from Erb's Palsy that affects the nerves surrounding his right shoulder) but has 19 career sacks and a forced fumble on his resume. While 19 sacks are not mind-blowing over 4 years, it should be noted that 11 of them came in his Junior year.
More after the jump...
Clayborn's disease and regression last season has made him drop from his projections prior to this year (last offseason a lot of scouts and analysts considered him to be a top ten pick). However, he ran 4.76 which is in the top times among the top D-line talent in the draft. He is 6'2'' and 280 pounds and has motor that is non-stop. Raheem Morris has established that he understands the defensive line is important and with an aging corner in Ronde Barber (while he may play well for his age) and linebackers Barrett Ruud and Geno Hayes being extremely average and possible free agents, Clayborn could help the line that can take the pressure of the back seven.
While I believe DE is the biggest need for the Bucs, they do have a few other needs as well...
CB- As previously mentioned, Ronde Barber is good but he is two-years from retirement and would be better served as a nickel corner at this point in his career. Aqib Talib cannot cover both sides and for a team with a secondary specialist as their coach, the depth at corner is a tad weak. And while it is a need, with Prince Amukamara and Patrick Peterson long gone and Jimmy Smith already reached for in this draft, Brandon Harris and Aaron Williams are the next best prospects and both would be considered reaches at this spot. Had Smith been here, he probably would have been back-up pick for me.
FS- Free Safety concerns me because of Tanard Jackson coming off a long-served suspension for his extra-curriculars (legal issues) and possibly being a free agent after the lock-out. The team also needs depth so it wouldn't be crazy to take a guy early to be insurance for Jackson and pair him with Sean Jones (what a waste for us, did okay for them). Rahim Moore is easily the best safety in a very weak class so I don't see him going in the first round but he may be available with their pick in the second round, if not there is always local dude Ahmad Black of Florida but he is more of a strong safety.
OLB- As mentioned before two of the three linebackers are free agents, if Clayborn had been picked prior, I would have taken Akeem Ayers. I know he is more of hybrid DE/3-4 LB but I think he could be what the Eagles wanted Chris Gocong to be. Also in a Tampa 2, the OLBs have to cover and rush and Ayers would be the replacement to Derrick Brooks in that aspect.
OT- With Derek Sherrod still around, OT could be something to look at as Jeremy Trueblood has not been spectacular at right tackle.
Clayborn is the pick because of his value at 20 and his fit for the system. Brandon Harris and Aaron Williams aren't top 20 picks and Ayers is possibly out of position.
Next on the clock will be DannyO with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Previous Picks: 1 - Nick Fairley 2 - Patrick Peterson 3 - Blaine Gabbert 4 - Cam Newton 5 - Von Miller 6 - Marcell Dareus 7 - Prince Amukamara 8 - A.J. Green 9 - Da'Quan Bowers 10 - Corey Liuget 11 - Robert Quinn 12 - Julio Jones 13 - Tyron Smith 14 - Jimmy Smith 15 - Mark Ingram 16 - Cameron Jordan 17 - Ryan Kerrigan 18 - Anthony Castonzo 19 - Mike Pouncey