Yup, it's that time of year again. Following the underdog-Philadelphia Eagles' fairytale finish in Super Bowl XLII on Sunday, the 2018 season is now officially upon us.
With the start of 2018 comes mock drafts galore. Is it probably a little premature? Is it entirely too early to be predicting team needs with coaching changes and free agent signings still looming for teams across the league? Short answer: yes. But that hasn't stopped us – or the experts – before.
The list of who the experts have the Bucs taking at No. 7 overall is below. But before you look at any of that, why don't you tell us what you think? Tell us what you want the Bucs should do with their first pick of the 2018 NFL Draft:
Vote here.
And now for the first Mock Draft Roundup of 2018…
NFL.com
Daniel Jeremiah (January 28) – DE Marcus Davenport (UTSA)
Bucky Brooks (January 30) – DE Marcus Davenport (UTSA)
Lance Zierlein (January 30) – DB Minkah Fitzpatrick (Alabama)
CBSSports.com
Chris Trapasso (January 31) – DE Bradley Chubb (NC State)
R.J. White (January 26) – G Quenton Nelson (Notre Dame)
ESPN
Mel Kiper Jr. (January 18) – G Quenton Nelson (Notre Dame)
Kiper: "The Bucs couldn't run the ball in 2017, averaging only 3.7 yards per carry and 90.6 yards per game. Was it the running backs, the offensive line or both? Nelson is a plug-and-play starter who would be an upgrade for almost every team. He's a dominant run-blocker at 6-foot-5, 330, who causes destruction at the point of attack. If Barkley falls a little bit, could the Bucs snag him at No. 7?"
USA Today
Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz (January 4) – DE Bradley Chubb (NC State)
Middlehurst-Schwartz: "The best pass rusher in the draft falls into the lap of the team that had a league-worst 22 sacks in 2017. With 20 sacks and 44 tackles for loss in the last two years, Chubb is a proven product who checks lots of boxes for 4-3 teams in need of an edge rusher."
Bleacher Report
Matt Miller (February 5) – DB Minkah Fitzpatrick (Alabama)
Miller: "Fitzpatrick is one of the highest-graded players I've come across off the field. Coaches, teammates and even opponents rave about him. He's as clean as they come, and he backs it up with excellent instincts and a high football IQ. He and Jamal Adams aren't similar athletes, but off the field they're like brothers."
Pewter Report
Scott Reynolds (January 30) – DT Vita Vea (Washington)
Reynolds: "Vea's presence would not only increase the production of Tampa Bay's defensive ends, he would also occupy a double team on most plays, which would allow Pro Bowl defensive tackle Gerald McCoy to get freed up for even more one-on-one pass rush situations. Because of his movement ability, Vea could also be moved around the line to play three-technique defensive tackle or even defensive end in some situations if the Bucs wanted to go with a big defensive line that consisted of Vea, McCoy, 340-pound defensive tackle Stevie Tu'ikolovatu and 295-pound defensive end Will Gholston."
