Mike Tannenbaum Says Bucs Pick…
April 7th, 2021
Mocked.
The former Jets and Dolphins shot-caller who now makes cash talking and typing about football decided to put his general manager’s cap on and play in the mock draft sandbox like nearly everyone else.
And that would be Mike Tannenbaum. When he isn’t typing about football on his site, The33rdTeam.com, he’s talking football. This time, he typed for BSPN.
Tannenbaum has the Bucs picking the first running back in the draft: Clemson stud tailback Travis Etiene.
32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Travis Etienne, RB, ClemsonA first-round running back is usually what I call a “luxury pick,” in that teams going that route normally don’t have many weaknesses and have the luxury of adding a player like that. The Chiefs did it last year at No. 32 with Clyde Edwards-Helaire, and I have the Bucs doing it at No. 32 this year with Etienne. Why Etienne over Najee Harris? The Clemson RB is more explosive and can score from anywhere, which is what Tampa Bay lacks for the most part in Ronald Jones II and Leonard Fournette (both playing on expiring contracts). And Etienne’s pass-catching skill would help Tom Brady out. Another player I nearly took here: Christian Barmore, as a Barmore-Vita Vea pairing on the defensive line could be tough to beat.
Joe would absolutely be down with this pick. Playoff Lenny and Ronald Jones are both are on contracts that expire after the 2021 season. Joe doesn’t think Playoff Lenny will return in 2022 and who knows about RoJo?
Unlike RoJo, Etienne is dangerous catching the ball and occasionally he lined up wide for Clemson.
Not only would this be a smart pick for the future, but Joe believes teams more than ever need two decent backs given the NFL’s expansion to a 17-game season.
Joe would be content if not happy if Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht selected Etienne.
April 7th, 2021 at 6:10 am
no etienne over harris…
nah…
we’ve never had much luck out of clemson
April 7th, 2021 at 6:11 am
also barmore is the guy sapp said stay far away from if i remember correctly…
guy doesn’t know his left from his right supposedly
April 7th, 2021 at 6:13 am
also harris could be the long term answer at running back if they let both rojo and lenny walk after the season, and go with say, harris and sneak
April 7th, 2021 at 6:20 am
If we all know about his awesome college career… my first 2 cents… high mileage.
BUT!
We could use a home run hitter at RB and WR… unless there is a great talent that slipped in the draft, I’d entertain dropping back with the Dolphins in the top of the 2nd along with a pick or switching later pick slots … like swapping picks in the 3rd with Bucs moving up to the top of round 3
Back to RB at 32 … I’d take Harris over LSU
April 7th, 2021 at 6:20 am
If he’s on the board @32 they have to take him.
April 7th, 2021 at 6:23 am
I hope Tannenbaum is right. This would be a solid pick. Draft DL and OL depth next and then draft defensive players.
April 7th, 2021 at 6:39 am
licht > tannie
big time 🙂
April 7th, 2021 at 7:01 am
Licht better not trade the pick. Somebody is gonna want it badly. Just pick a really good player still available
April 7th, 2021 at 7:15 am
I say trade down if we don’t get a good DE at 32 in to the early 2nd round and add more picks for this year or next years draft.
RB’s are plenty available in rounds 2 & 3. We will have a lot more holes to plug next year.
April 7th, 2021 at 7:17 am
I wouldn’t be opposed to Etienne…..but I like Harris better…..Harris has it all….and he doesn’t go down when hit….
My preference is the best Edge rusher at 32 or trade down.
April 7th, 2021 at 7:21 am
Apparently 98 yard runs aren’t explosive?
Trenches.
April 7th, 2021 at 7:40 am
nah, Bucs do have”needs”…youth to replace Gholston, Suh and JPP eventually and open spot for another CB.
Farley, Barmore (if they drop)…or Ojulari
April 7th, 2021 at 7:55 am
I’m on board with any RB that can catch well. Would prefer not using a first rounder on one but you gotta do what you gotta do.
April 7th, 2021 at 8:08 am
“Licht better not trade the pick”
CT from Heaven not sure why you are against trading down. There is NO player available that can make or break us.
I agree with Karma and perhaps the greatest NFL GM of all time Bobby Beathard who looked at the crapshoot of the draft and traded down every chance he could to multiply picks and thus increase his chances of finding a good player.
If you look at the first round there is about a 60% chance of success.
It starts dropping quickly though in the second.
Position specific OL draft picks have succeeded the most RB’s and DL the least. This is just one reason RB’s are no longer in vogue unless they are truly generational talents.
Etienne MAY be generation he’s a “nice” player for sure. Not sure he fits a desperate need for us although going forward as Joe points out we may enjoy his 1st round contract protection. Aside from that though I’m on the trade down grab all the picks we can and find as much talent as we can.
Let’s face it no rookie at 32nd will break into our starting lineup. They will provide depth and perhaps the future. Speaking of the future have we all written off Keshawn Vaughn? IMHO we should at least take another year to check him out.
I’ve saved this till the end in case Joe needs to delete the link. He knows the legalities far better than me but this chart does provide some really great stats
on draft round success not only by round but by position in that round.
April 7th, 2021 at 8:12 am
Much prefer Tannenbaum’s 2nd choice: Barmore. Keep building the trenches; we aren’t getting any younger there.
Given a choice however between Etienne & Harris, I’d take Harris every day. Much prefer the big, bruising back (Harris 6’2″ & 230 lbs & 4.5 sec 40-yds) over the smaller backs but supposedly shiftier backs (Etienne 5’10” & 200 lbs & 4.5 sec 40-yds). With a 17-game schedule though and possible 4-game playoffs, sure would be nice to have both types on the roster, PLUS a quality backup.
And BTW, Harris had 70 receptions in 2019 & 2020 combined for 729 yds at Bama in 26 games. Etienne had 85 receptions in 2019 & 2020 combined for 1020 yds in 27 games. They BOTH can catch the ball.
April 7th, 2021 at 8:22 am
amazing comment chris…amazing…
#FullOfZing
April 7th, 2021 at 8:27 am
look boys…
in licht we fuggin’ trust now…
get it…got it…good!
#IncludingTheRattyOldRonBurgundyCoat
April 7th, 2021 at 8:33 am
Etienne will be a late 2nd round choice . There will be better talent available when Bucs pick at 32 among DB and DLine prospects .
April 7th, 2021 at 8:36 am
As long as Licht doesn’t go all Bobby Beathard , he has in the past, I’ll be OK with any solid building block.
April 7th, 2021 at 8:39 am
Need to go d again and again and again
Jpp, suh, Gholston and David are all getting up there in age
Travis fumbles and can’t catch
He is a two down back
April 7th, 2021 at 8:50 am
dline or trade down…
GO BUCS!!!
April 7th, 2021 at 8:50 am
Yeeeeahhh…that’s not gonna happen
April 7th, 2021 at 8:52 am
This guy never saw Jones play.
April 7th, 2021 at 8:54 am
Way to high for a back. Some idiot GM will probably take him but, you can find similar players in round 3 or 4. It’s the most expendable position in the game. Trade out of the pick is what I’d do. These guys are supposed to be superior talent evaluators, so why not get more picks. They’re at the bottom of every round. Here you should be taking chances and gambling. You don’t care about 3 years from now. Win now, go to cap jail later
April 7th, 2021 at 9:10 am
I don’t think we do this. I like the player a lot but we are a cash-strapped team that made it somewhat a priority to sign Fournette. Now I know Fournette didn’t get big money but we also have Jone and Voughn. I think we are more likely to take someone in the later rounds as a growth/development type and run with what we have otherwise.
April 7th, 2021 at 9:13 am
Trade down. It’s the only serious option. the 32nd pick is basically a 2nd rounder anyway.
April 7th, 2021 at 9:18 am
Would rather have Barmore, Jaelan Phillips, or Najee over Etienne there.
April 7th, 2021 at 9:25 am
Etienne over Najee Harris?
No way, I would take Najee Harris instead of Etienne.
Ohio State clobbered Clemson, and shut Etienne down totally, in the process.
April 7th, 2021 at 9:41 am
Although I would prefer D line, particularly DT with the age of Golston and Suh, I would have absolutely no problem with that pic. Lenny or Rojo will be gone after next year. You need multiple backs, especially now with a 17 game season. This kid can pass protect, catch out of the backfield, and he’s an elite runner with vision.
More than ever before they can select the best available but I have always hated that argument. It is always, always a combination of best available along with need.
To me, they will take make a D-line and O-line pick within the first 4 rounds. To me, every team should do that in every draft. I also think they will take a linebacker. After that, I don’t know. Running back, especially an elite one like that, would be a good move
April 7th, 2021 at 9:59 am
The Bucs need to sign Giovani Bernard ASAP. He’s a prototypical 3rd down back and would be a great addition to the running back room. Would be an instant upgrade over old man McCoy.
April 7th, 2021 at 10:04 am
There is no dt worth taking in the first I’m all for trading down for more picks.
April 7th, 2021 at 10:08 am
Tannenbaum – I have to say I really put little credence into what he has to say anymore. The more I watch him pontificate on the various shows over the last couple of years, the more I realize why he’s no longer a GM. LoL.
This week he showed why yet again. Carolina trades away a handful of draft picks to get Sam Darnold and Tannebaum does not change his mock draft when given the opportunity.
He still has Carolina selecting a quarterback. That to me is idiotic. That’s how the Jets operate. They took Sam Darnold and then refused to do anything to help him.
April 7th, 2021 at 10:18 am
Anyone saying TE isn’t worthy of a late first round pick has not watched this guy throughout his career. He is a fuggin monster. Explosive AF, 3 down back. Whoever drafts this kid is going to be extremely happy.
April 7th, 2021 at 10:26 am
AlaskaBuc
Absolutely. He’s a great explosive runner with vision. They said he lacked receiving skills so he went out there and became the best receiving back in college. Plus he was not asked to do it a lot but when he did, he can block!
I hate the idea of a running back in the first round but they have the luxury to do that this year. Besides, with a 17 game season now, you need three or four running backs. And Lenny or Rojo will be gone next year.
Like I said before, I expect a high pick being used for D line because of the age of Gholston and Suh, but I would be extremely happy taking TE and D-line in around two
April 7th, 2021 at 11:02 am
Rather have Harris….but either guy would be fine.,
April 7th, 2021 at 1:01 pm
Najee Harris is already 23 years old!
I wouldn’t pick either RB. A lot of good DE and 3-4 OLB. Get one or trade the pick.
April 7th, 2021 at 5:45 pm
I fail to see the logic in the “Well, the 32nd pick is basically a 2nd Rounder anyway, might as well trade down” theory. If a team knows what they’re doing in the draft, which the Bucs have shown they do, you’re getting a better player with a higher pick. So it’s quality over quantity, if it’s the right choice. If the Bucs choose to trade down because none of the players they value highly have fallen into their lap, that’s a different story.
April 7th, 2021 at 6:27 pm
I am not against trading up, because this team will be tough to make for the rookie class. Get a can’t miss stud at edge rusher.
April 7th, 2021 at 10:46 pm
SB-LV
“As long as Licht doesn’t go all Bobby Beathard”
Yeah that would suck eh? I mean who wants a GM with lame accomplishments like these. Do you suppose Licht will live long enough to match them?
Collectively, Beathard’s teams won 10 division titles, seven league/conference championships and four Super Bowls – Super Bowls VII and VIII with Miami and Super Bowls XVII and XXII with Washington.
April 8th, 2021 at 12:11 am
Build up the trenches.
April 8th, 2021 at 2:01 am
I’m fine with Etienne, but I’d much rather have Barmore if he is still around when we pick. Vita is easily one of my favorite Bucs, but at this point I gotta call him injury prone. Suh is playing well, but is old for a football player. Barmore makes a lot more sense to me.