Joe was stunned to learn that well over a year after Bucs cornerback Vernon Hargreaves was drafted he hadn’t spent significant time with Tampa Bay icon Ronde Barber. [read more]

BY IRA KAUFMAN

You start with the blazing 4.4 speed. Then you mix in the 28.5 tackles for loss, the 8.5 sacks, the 4 forced fumbles and the 3 interceptions.

Yes, Devin White has all the metrics a linebacker would want heading into an NFL draft. But the Bucs didn’t select White No. 5 overall simply because of his metrics. [read more]

Personal touch with Bucs.

It seems what sold new Bucs linebacker Devin White on the Bucs is the team didn’t seem to focus on football with him. [read more]

No Sage Ira Kaufman pounding shots in the house tonight, but there will be Bucs fans getting fired up at Buffalo Wild Wings on S. Dale Mabry Highway in Tampa.

It’s Day 2 of the JoeBucsFan/Bud Light draft fun event.

About 450 were out there last night enjoying the draft indoors and outdoors with drink and food specials flowing. Nothing quite like Bucs-fan bonding and draft fun. Get off the couch!

Thumpin' already at the JoeBucsFan Draft Party at Buffalo Wild Wings in South Tampa. Calling 200 in the house at 6:15. 1 shot down for Ira Kaufman. pic.twitter.com/a99XIzNwE9

— JoeBucsFan (@JoeBucsFan) April 25, 2019

Powerful shotcaller

If there was any question about who was calling the No. 5 overall pick at One Buc Palace, there shouldn’t have been. Bucco Bruce Arians is calling the shots.

But Devin White made that even more clear last night. [read more]

Inside linebacker Devin White is here to not only lead the Buccaneers defense but, frankly, he’s here to save it.

The Bucs drafted him because they believe he’s a generational talent capable of driving the stalled bus out of the Mike Smith ravine on the side of Dale Mabry Highway. [read more]

Bucs GM Jason Licht.

Do intangibles equate to production? That is a question Joe is seriously pondering. [read more]

What’s left on the shelf?

In a draft loaded defensive linemen and edge rushers, the Bucs got creative and instead drafted an inside linebacker. [read more]

“Carl, this life is all about being in the right place at the right time, and making gobs of money for doing very little.”

Every year, the Buccaneers’ draft delivers angst or sheer joy to some players on the roster. [read more]

Yes, this morning you have a sore hand from all that high-fiving over the Buccaneers’ upgrading at inside linebacker last night. [read more]

Devin White, equestrian.

If you haven’t heard this before you will likely hear and read a lot of it in the future. [read more]

Class.

Is this the soon-to-be former leader of the Bucs defense coronating the new leader of the Bucs defense? [read more]

Among the thousands of daily readers here, less than 1 percent like to share a comment or two, or 10. So Joe is firing up a draft-day open thread so you folks have a place to collect your prognostications — and be praised or laughed at later.

Have fun. Play nice. It’s not that hard.

Of course it’s doubtful that Gerald McCoy finds himself on the Bucs’ opening day roster.

But it’s certainly less of a long shot than it was before Round 1 of the NFL Draft. [read more]

UPDATED 11:50 p.m. – Well, we’re halfway through the NFL Draft and two Bucs rivals have made intriguing selections. [read more]

Man, some believe new Bucs ILB Devin White’s best trait is his leadership and it is easy to understand. [read more]

Flash poll posted at 10:02 p.m.

Strictly an ILB.

It seemed from the way Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht spoke, he could have run his team’s draft from Hooters at Clearwater Beach. [read more]

No. Joe doesn’t like the Devin White pick at No. 5 overall.

Sure, he might be an excellent player, but he’s going to have to damn near be a superhero to be worth that pick on a team in need of defensive linemen. [read more]

LSU linebacker Devin White

The Bucs inexplicably decided to be only the third team in the past 26 years to draft an inside linebacker in the top-five.

This guy better be the second coming of Ray Lewis to pass up on Ed Oliver and Josh Allen.