The Buccaneers newly-acquired 2024 draft class includes five players on the offensive side of the ball: center Graham Barton (Duke), receiver Jalen McMillan (Washington), running back Bucky Irving (Oregon), guard Elijah Klein (UTEP) and tight end Devin Culp (Washington).
In the first round, the Buccaneers bolstered the trenches with Graham Barton, a tenacious finisher through the whistle with elite athleticism. Barton earned freshman All-America honors at center in 2020 and went on to start 34 games at left tackle over the last three seasons of his collegiate tenure. His position flexibility became a draw for many teams during the pre-draft cycle and Barton will compete for the Bucs' starting center job in 2024. He is adept as a run blocker, with plus movement skills on pulls and working the second-level to extend run lanes. With core strength, violent hands and effective drive blocking capability, Barton will add another dimension to Tampa Bay's offensive line.
"Graham was a huge get for us," described Bucs' Offensive Coordinator Liam Coen. "We feel really lucky to get him and he has a ton of diversity to his game. He has played all three positions in terms of center, guard and the tackle position for Duke. For us, we give him competition at multiple spots and see what happens. He is built the way that you want those guys to be built. He is athletic, he has a mean streak, and he plays the game the way it is supposed to be played. He is very well coached…we will start him off at center and see how he handles everything."
With the second of two third-round picks, the Bucs' selected Washington receiver Jalen McMillan. He joins one of the most loaded receiver corps. in the NFL with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. McMillan missed four games in 2023 due to a left knee injury and during his 2022 campaign, McMillan caught a career-high 79 passes for 1,098 yards and nine scores. That season, he led the team in receptions and receiving touchdowns, earning All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention. McMillan will work at the 'Z' receiver spot but has the versatility to play all three receiver roles. He primarily worked out of the slot for the Huskies in Ryan Grubb's spread scheme. With length, long-strided speed and quick acceleration off the line, McMillan presents an intriguing skillset. He is adept at catching the ball away from his frame and utilizing fakes mid-route to bait defenders into submission.
"He is a true route runner," noted Coen. "He is a guy that is wired to separate and has the ability to work the defense at all three levels. He can run the option routes, the choice routes, but also has the speed to get down the field vertically. He is very quarterback-friendly with the way that he gets out of his breaks, and he is a hands-catcher."
To begin Day Three of the draft, the Buccaneers selected Oregon running back Bucky Irving in the fourth round. Irving averaged 6.2 yards per carry in his college career and has the shiftiness to shake off would-be tacklers. He surpassed the 1,000-yard rushing marker in each of his two seasons in Eugene and runs with low pads/outstanding balance. Irving creates yardage that was not blocked for him with cutting prowess and will help solidify the Bucs' running back room alongside Rachaad White. Irving is effective downhill with the ability to stop-start effortlessly, redirecting his course.
"I think he is a young back that is versatile and can play all three downs," stated Bucs' Running Backs Coach Skip Peete. "He is sudden and has good change of direction. He can catch the ball out of the backfield and create big plays – that is the thing that probably excited me the most…His ability to bounce off people is something that you notice quite a bit when you watch him play for someone that is not real, real big."
With the last pick of the sixth round, their compensatory selection, the Bucs selected UTEP guard Elijah Klein. Klein provides depth along the offensive line and plays with burst, core strength and effective angles. He played six seasons for the Miners, primarily playing right guard. He started 55 games in that span, with two coming at left tackle. In 2022 he helped the Miners accumulate 159.4 rushing yards per game.
The final pick for Tampa Bay was another Washington product, tight end Devin Culp. Culp totaled 66 catches for 711 yards and four touchdowns for the Huskies during his six-year tenure at Washington. He ran a blazing 4.47 at the Combine, leaving spectators in awe. Culp averaged 13.0 yards per catch last season and flashed with acrobatic grabs. He projects as an F tight end in the Bucs' offense, joining Cade Otton, Ko Kieft and Payne Durham.
