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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have plenty of needs to fill as they look forward to the 2015 NFL draft, and the key to any good draft class is maximizing value and balancing it with those needs.
On offense, once the Bucs have addressed their needs along the offensive line, they must turn their attention toward improving their corps of receivers. Mike Evans quickly emerged as the team's new top target in his rookie season, but Vincent Jackson can't play forever. The Bucs should be on the lookout for a smaller, faster slot target or a bigger prospect who can eventually replace Jackson as an effective possession receiver and red-zone threat.
It's not a big enough need to go after in the first two rounds, but once the third round rolls around, Tampa Bay should be keeping their eyes peeled for a new pass-catcher who can start right away in the slot and contribute in the return game, or one who could develop into their new No. 2 option.
Which receivers should the Bucs be focused on come draft day? Let's take a look.
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If the Bucs want a speedy target who can make an instant impact in the slot as well as the return game, Kansas State's Tyler Lockett could be their man at the top of the third round.
What he lacks in size—5'10", 181 pounds—he makes up for with explosiveness and playmaking ability, as both a pass-catcher and a return specialist, earning first-team all-conference honors at both positions in 2014. Not the first in his family to make big things happen for the Wildcats, Lockett racked up 1,515 yards and 11 touchdowns on 106 catches last season.
Lockett impressed me at the Senior Bowl by playing much bigger than he's listed, showing smooth routes and fantastic ball skills. He could be exactly the weapon the Bucs need on offense in the middle rounds.
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An impressive overall athlete with the size and skills to develop into a special player at the next level. Bucs fans should keep a close eye on Tony Lippett in the middle rounds of this year's draft.
At 6'3", 192 pounds, Lippett is a bit on the lean side, but with a little extra bulk, he'd have the size teams look for in a starting receiver. His skill set is on par, as well, with the solid routes and smooth hands to develop into a productive possession receiver at the next level.
Lippett's motor and enthusiasm really stood out to me at the Senior Bowl, even in the most mundane drills during practice. He's such a gifted athlete that he played some corner for the Spartans, as well. If the Bucs want a potential starter down the road who could start out as a successful chain-mover in the slot, Lippett should be on the shortlist starting in the third round.
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He might be one of the smallest players in the entire draft, but that didn't stop Jamison Crowder from driving opposing corners crazy at the Senior Bowl after a successful career with the Blue Devils.
Crowder measures in at just 5'8", 174 pounds, but he was reportedly the toughest receiver to cover in Mobile, according to those who were forced to line up across from him during practice. The diminutive receiver is the ACC's all-time leader in receptions with 283, and he will make opponents pay for underestimating him because of his size.
Crowder is the perfect fit if the Bucs want to land a slot target in the middle rounds who could also make big plays in the return game.
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One of my favorite small-school prospects in this draft, Dezmin Lewis proved during Senior Bowl week that he has what it takes to hang with the nation's top competition, and he should be a Day 3 target for the Bucs as a potential No. 2 receiver down the line.
Lewis has the size teams covet in a starting receiver—6'4", 215 pounds—and though he's still fairly raw with his route running and technique, he has the natural tools to potentially develop into a special player in the right situation.
That "right situation" could be learning behind the likes of Vincent Jackson and Mike Evans, while building chemistry with a top young quarterback, should the Bucs decide to go that route with the top overall pick. Either way, Lewis could end up representing great value for the Tampa Bay offense on Day 3 of the draft.
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Tampa Bay might be able to wait until the later rounds and still end up with a receiver who can make an impact as a rookie, and local product Andre Davis should be on their radar.
Playing his high school and college football in Tampa, Davis flashed big-play ability throughout his career at USF, but he was held back by poor, inconsistent quarterback play. Davis is a fluid route-runner with great technique who would be an instant upgrade over what they currently have in the return game, with the chance to develop into something more in the passing game.
Davis impressed with a solid performance during the Shrine Game practices, but he is still likely to be available in the sixth or seventh round. If he is, and the Bucs are still looking for value at receiver, he'd be the perfect fit.
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