Round 1 (#20): CB Aqib Talib, Kansas
The general consensus was that Tampa would take a receiver with this pick, but with all the top guys still remaining on the board they felt comfortable that one would be available in round two and went for the highly skilled corner from Kansas. Talib was considered by some to be worthy of a top 10 draft pick such was his college production. However, he was surrounded by off-the-field drug use issues and was taken completely off some teams’ draft boards. Not so by the Bucs who feel that Jon Gruden can get the best out of this kid, and can turn him into a ProBowl corner to replace Ronde Barber.  There is also talk of him playing some offense as a receiver, as he did time to time in Kansas, and he will also be a likely special teams contributor too.
Pick grade: A-

Round 2 (#58): WR Dexter Jackson, Appalachian State
At first, I thought this might be a bit high for Dexter Jackson to be going, but the more I think about it the more I like it. Jackson was a late addition to the Senior Bowl but shone in the limited time he had in practice and in the game itself. He then went and lit up the Combine and suddenly everyone was talking about him as being a solid mid-round guy. However, the Bucs picked him here because he reminds them a lot of Joey Galloway and because he may well turn out to be the best returner this side of Devin Hester. If you consider purely his current receiving ability then you say he’s not a second round pick, but when you factor in his potential there along with his gamebreaking return ability, he is definitely worth it!
Pick grade: A

Round 3 (#83): OG Jeremy Zuttah, Rutgers
Adding depth on the offensive line is always a good plan for a franchise with few obvious needs, and at this point Zuttah represents good value for the Bucs. He played at all positions on the offensive line apart from center in his time at Rutgers and although he seems best suited as a guard in the NFL could most likely be an adequate RT should the need ever arise. He had a very good Combine which sent him upwards on most boards, including running a sub-5.0 40 yard dash. He’s not as physical as you would like at times, but will be a quality backup at the very least.
Pick grade: B+

Round 4 (#115): DT Dre Moore, Maryland
Tampa once again focussed on bulking up their lines in the fourth round by adding Maryland’s defensive tackle Dre Moore. Many had Moore rated as a second or third round prospect, so picking him up in the fourth was again a good value pick for the Bucs. Moore will likely go straight into the rotation on the defensive line in Tampa and could also be used as a situational guy by Jon Gruden. He has the required talent to start in the league though needs a bit of work, so expect him to see more and more playing time as the season goes on and he improves.
Pick grade: A-

Round 5 (#160): QB Josh Johnson, San Diego
On a weekend of confusing quarterback picks, maybe only the selection of Kevin O’Connell by the Patriots comes close to matching this one in the head-scratching stakes. The Buccaneers already had 17 QBs (give or take) under contract so why they chose to add another one here is beyond this writer. Even when you take into account Jeff Garcia and Brian Griese’s age, they still have 3 young signal callers on the roster in Luke McCown, Chris Simms and Bruce Gradkowski. I know Johnson had an excellent season, but isn’t Coach Gruden’s collection of QBs already a little overstocked? Where this kid will fit in on the Bucs depth chart is a puzzle to me. Answers on a postcard to CDS HQ please.
Pick grade: C (purely for the puzzlement)

Round 6 (#175): LB Geno Hayes, Florida State
At this point of the draft, teams are always looking for guys who can contribute early on special teams and provide a solid backup at their position. Geno Hayes appears to fit into both of those categories nicely for the Bucs. While he may not be the most complete linebacker on the roster, he has a skill set which can be worked on and developed and while he may not ever be more than a good backup, his tackling ability will be welcomed on punting and kicking teams. He also is another good value pick for Tampa Bay at this point.
Pick grade: B+

Round 7 (#238): RB Cory Boyd, USC
With questions still lingering about Cadillac Williams’ injury status and an otherwise less-than-stellar corps of backs, the Bucs wisely chose to add Cory Boyd with their final pick. While he may well end up as being a backup, you know exactly what he brings to your team – hard work, a good team ethic and 100% intensity every time he takes the field. Will also likely have a special teams role to play, which he will take to the same way he does everything else – maximum effort.
Pick grade: A-

This has the makings of being a very good draft by the Buccaneers – they addressed their key needs on day one then added depth on the lines and added some special teams guys late on. Every pick got them very good value, especially in the middle rounds, and their top two picks should both be game changing guys in their own way, whether on defense, offense or special teams.
Final grade: A-