NFL Draft Rumors: Buccaneers looking to trade up to poach potential Eagles target

According to Pewter Report’s Trevor Sikkema, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are looking at the possibility of trading back into the late part of the first round tonight to nab LSU running back Derrius Guice.

“PewterReport.com has learned from a reliable source that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers could have significant interest in trading back up into the first round if a specific player slides down the board. We’ve heard that the player they’re most interested in in such a scenario could be LSU’s running back Derrius Guice. The Bucs had Guice in for a private visit last month.”

If the report is true, the move could have a domino effect on how the Eagles choose to handle their first round pick. Guice has been linked to the Eagles as a potential draft target throughout the process, being mocked to the team by BGN’s own Michael Kist and NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock. There’s an expectation amongst fans and insiders that the Eagles, who are picking at 32 because they are the Super Bowl Champions, will trade out of the first round to restock the cupboard.

Based on the report, it’s fair to wonder if the Eagles would be interested in trading back and passing on Guice or if the Bucs would just leapfrog them altogether. For what it’s worth, the Bucs don’t have a third round pick this year, as they traded it away for defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul. With the Eagles looking to add mid-round picks, the chances of the two teams doing a deal seems slim. Many other mocks have the Eagles picking Georgia running back Sony Michel, but a report from late last night could push him further down the Eagles’ board.

While the Eagles will likely trade back, it seems unlikely they'd do so if there’s a player they really like, such as Guice. The consensus appears to be that if they stay put it will be a running back and if the Bucs are successful in trading back into the first round with Guice on the board the likelihood of the Eagles trading back would increase. Guice would be a perfect addition to an Eagles backfield that lost power runner LeGarrette Blount this past offseason.

We’re just under two hours away from the draft, and there will assuredly be more rumors. Make sure to stay tuned to BGN for the latest draft news!