NFL Draft: Buccaneers Complete Transition from OT Donovan Smith in Latest Mock
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A lot of people celebrated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' decision to move on from left tackle Donovan Smith.
By doing so, however, the Bucs are now faced with the problem of replacing a left tackle who played all but six regular season games in his eight years with the team.
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They haven't really addressed that dilemma just yet this new league year, but ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. thinks he knows how they can do it in the NFL Draft this April.
His answer: draft Tennessee Volunteers offensive tackle Darnell Wright at No. 19.
"Is Tampa Bay rebuilding now that Tom Brady is gone," Kiper asks in his latest mock. "Its moves don't suggest so, particularly bringing back veteran linebacker Lavonte David. And with Baker Mayfield set to battle Kyle Trask for the starting quarterback job, maybe the Bucs believe they can win the NFC South again. If that's the case, they need an instant starter at right tackle. Tristan Wirfs is moving over to the left side, so there's a void...This would be a move to get new offensive coordinator Dave Canales off to the best start, no matter the quarterback."
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While it has yet to be confirmed, the popular thought around Buccaneers water coolers these days is that Wirfs will in fact move to the left side of the line this year.
Which makes Wirfs Tampa Bay's replacement for Smith. But then they need a replacement on the right side, which is where Wright comes in.
The selection would make a lot of sense given the current construct of the Bucs' offensive line, and nobody ever criticized a team for committing too many resources to build a strong front.
A move that could get loads of criticism is if the Buccaneers were to select Texas Longhorns running back Bijan Robinson at No. 19, something Kiper Jr. also said could happen, "If the Bucs really want to get wild."
After the success Tampa Bay has had with Wirfs, selecting another right tackle in the first round of an NFL Draft could feel really comfortable, especially if they see some of the same attributes in Wright that they saw the last time they did it.
And that worked out pretty well.
Find David Harrison on Twitter @DHarrison82
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