© Lon Horwedel-USA TODAY Sports
ESPN Recommends Buccaneers Draft Day Trade With Familiar Team
ESPN's hypothetical trade for Tampa Bay would have it giving a pick back to the team that gave the pick up.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers received a third round pick from the Detroit Lions for cornerback Carlton Davis III over the offseason. ESPN recently released a list of one hypothetical draft day trade for all 32 teams, and in it, they reccomend the Bucs trade that pick... back to the Lions.
The recommended trade, written up by ESPN's Bill Barnwell, has the Bucs trading down three spots with the Lions to acquire the No. 29 pick along with their third-rounder at pick No. 73. The Lions, in exchange, would get the No. 26 pick and the No. 93 pick they previously gave to Tampa Bay earlier in the offseason.
Here's what Barnwell wrote about the hypothetical trade:
"The Bucs have several needs that might just as easily be addressed early on Day 2, most notably along the interior of their offensive line. And one team that is probably not looking that way is the Lions, who have holes at edge rusher and cornerback and already have one of the league's best offensive lines.
Moving down three spots would allow Tampa Bay to add another pick in the top 75, which is usually a reliable window for adding help at center and inside linebacker. The Lions would get back No. 92, which they sent to the Bucs earlier this offseason in the Carlton Davis deal."
This wouldn't be an offensive trade, and it would essentially allow the Bucs to move up in the third round while sitting back and waiting for a prospect they may like that is still on the board. Furthermore, Bucs general manager Jason Licht has been known to trade down, so something like that on draft day wouldn't be out of the question.
That being said, it would also be the second time the team traded with Detroit this offseason. Not only did the Lions beat the Bucs in the playoffs last year, but they remain an NFC rival, so Tampa Bay may not be willing to give them too much before the beginning of the regular season.
It's impossible to tell what anyone is thinking right now, though — we'll know for sure when the first day begins on April 25.
Stick with BucsGameday for more coverage of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers throughout the 2024 offseason.
