Tampa Bay Buccaneers Mock Draft: Who Are the Experts Projecting to the Bucs?

One thing is for certain about the Tampa Bay first-round pick in the upcoming 2012 NFL draft. No one really knows who's going to be there, for sure.

It's all the Minnesota Vikings' fault.

General consensus has the Vikings taking USC left tackle Matt Kalil at No. 3. Then Cleveland would grab Alabama running back Trent Richardson at No. 4, leaving LSU corner Morris Claiborne for the Buccaneers with the fifth pick.

However, not only have the Vikings said they were interested in Claiborne—and possibly Oklahoma State wideout Justin Blackmon—but they've also said they will explore options of trading the third pick in the draft.

Let's not also forget that if Minnesota figures things out before the draft, Cleveland hasn't assured anyone it will definitely take Richardson.

At least one of the players—Kalil, Richardson and Claiborne—will be around for Tampa Bay's pick. Just which one, or ones, is anyone's guess right now.

ESPN's Todd McShay is torn as well. He gives two scenarios for Tampa Bay's pick; one for Claiborne and the other for Richardson.

The other ESPN guru, Mel Kiper, has Claiborne going to Tampa Bay, and for good reasons. "A great player, an instinctive corner, a high-character kid and a guy who can make a sagging pass defense better from the day they draft him. What's not to like?"

Don Banks, of Sports Illustrated, also has Claiborne, and it's a no-brainer in his opinion. "It's a passing league these days, and that doesn't only mean that you've got to throw the ball to win. It also means you've got to slow down as many opposing quarterbacks as possible, and that's why it's Claiborne over Justin Blackmon or Michael Floyd in Tampa Bay."

In a differing opinion to the first three, Rob Rang of CBS Sports had the Buccaneers take Richardson, even with Claiborne available. "Schiano could gamble that LeGarrette Blount returns to the level of success he had as a rookie or take the safer route with Richardson, widely regarded as the elite running back prospect since Adrian Peterson."

Rang's battery mate at CBS, Will Brinson, went along with Richardson, who thinks the Alabama running back fits in schematically with new head coach Greg Schiano. "I agree with him, especially in the case of Richardson, who fits well with the "run the ball until the time runs out and then run some more" style of Greg Schiano."

So, as you can see, even if we knew exactly who would be available on draft day to the Bucs, we can't all agree on which pick is the best idea.

Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1152279-tampa-bay-buccaneers-mock-draft-who-are-the-experts-projecting-to-the-bucs

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