3 best moves by the Buccaneers in the 2024 NFL Draft

Barton is excellent in the pass game but he will be a godsend for Tampa Bay’s ground attack as well. Not only were they last in the league in run block win rate, but they also ranked 27th in EPA per rush. Their yards-per-carry average as a team wasn’t very efficient. At 3.4 yards, Tampa was lapped by every team in the NFL in that department.

Luckily for them, Barton posted a run block grade of 86.9 in 2022. He will give Tampa and star running back Rachaad White a massive boost. Both the need and value was there for the Bucs. Taking Barton where they did was simply a home run.

Drafting Chris Braswell

Adding to their pass rush was another need for the Bucs after Shaq Barrett moved on from Tampa to the Miami Dolphins. Even with him, the Bucs were around league average (17th) in pass rush win rate. Yaya Diaby and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka are the only primary pass rushers who registered at least five sacks a year ago for Tampa.

That’s why they took Alabama’s Chris Braswell in the second round. Dallas Turner got the majority of headlines for Alabama’s defensive front over the last couple years, but Braswell put up some solid numbers for the Tide in that time too. He has been pretty consistent getting to the quarterback in that span.

With Barrett gone, Braswell should immediately find some playing time for the Bucs as a situational pass rusher. He has big shoes to fill, but his game should be able handle those expectations.

Drafting Jalen McMillan

Had it not been for a nagging injury, Jalen McMillan could very well have seen himself get drafted much earlier than where he wound up going (92nd overall). McMillan was outstanding in 2022 with the Washington Huskies, putting up 79 receptions for 1,098 yards and nine touchdowns. For comparison’s sake, Rome Odunze, his teammate and the ninth overall pick, hauled in 75 balls for 1,145 yards and seven scores.

Those two are different players. Odunze did a large portion of his work outside, while McMillan shined in the slot. But he could man that area of the field for Tampa sooner than later. Chris Godwin, Tampa’s primary slot receiver at the moment, is entering the last year of his contract.

Injuries derailed McMillan’s 2023 season and likely played a role in him sliding in the draft. But McMillan has plenty of skills. He could make a lot of teams look foolish for passing over him.