Bucs 2023 Combine Preview: Offense

Bucs head coach Todd Bowles, general manager Jason Licht and the team’s coaches and scouts will descend on Indianapolis this week for the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine. With a somewhat dire salary cap situation this year and 22 unrestricted free agents, the Bucs will have to lean heavily on hitting on several prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft and count on those rookies to become instant impact players and starters.

Whether it’s an offensive or defensive player, the Bucs will be paying attention to the speed and agility drills in Indy and seeing if that matches the play speed the team sees on tape. Tampa Bay needs to get faster this year on both sides of the ball. That’s been a stated goal of Bowles since the end of the season.

“Fast, smart and tough,” Bowles said on Bucs Total Access. “Everyone’s looking for that, but that’s kind of what you are looking for. I think we need to get faster all the way around. Definitely we need to play smarter. And we definitely like tough guys.

“It starts with the offseason. With COVID finally being over, we need to have a solid offseason. It was OK last year. It needs to be more solid this year. I think we need to be faster all the way around. I think we need more team speed.”

In this two-part series, Pewter Report will look at some of the potential Bucs draft targets who may have some standout athletic testing performances in Indianapolis this week, starting with the offensive side of the ball. The potential Bucs draft targets on defense who could star in the athletic testing will be featured on Tuesday on PewterReport.com

All of these draft prospects were on Bruce Feldman’s annual “Freaks” list, and some of Feldman’s commentary is included in this article.

Quarterbacks

Florida QB Anthony Richardson – 6-4, 238 – Junior

While Alabama’s Bryce Young and Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud figure to go in the Top 5 and Kentucky’s Will Levis will likely be drafted somewhere in the Top 15, Richardson has a chance to wow talent evaluators with an impressive workout. Richardson is a better athlete than he is a passer at this stage of the game due to his woeful 53% completion percentage last year. With a great workout, Richardson may have teams salivating over his physical skills and the most dangerous word in the scouting process: potential.

Feldman says: “Richardson is a chiseled 6-4, 238 pounds with just 10 percent body fat and says he has run a 4.4 40 and can throw a football 75 yards. Football insiders eye-balling college quarterbacks at this summer’s Manning Passing Academy were wowed by Richardson’s physical tools, saying he and Kentucky’s Will Levis were well above and beyond every other quarterback.”

Potential Bucs fit: The Bucs already have a Gators project at QB in Kyle Trask. Will Tampa Bay consider Richardson if he’s there at No. 19? That would be giving up on Trask and wasting the team’s 2021 second-round pick before he even has a real chance to show what he’s capable of in Dave Canales’ new offense.

Running Backs

UAB RB DeWayne McBride – 5-11, 215 – Junior

UAB RB DeWayne McBride – Photo by: USA Today

Perhaps one of the best running backs in the nation in terms of contact balance, McBride’s 40-yard dash time will determine if he’s a Day 2 or a Day 3 running back. He ran for 1,702 yards and 19 touchdowns last year while averaging a gaudy 7.3 yards per carry. McBride had 1,072 yards after contact, which ranked fourth nationally, and 76 forced miss tackles, which ranked 11th.

Feldman says: “McBride, who ran for 1,371 yards and 13 touchdowns (in 2021) while averaging 6.72 yards per carry and led the nation with an average of 4.72 yards after contact, cleans 345 pounds and bench-presses 385 and has squatted 550. In addition, he ran the 40 in the low 4.5s.”

Potential Bucs fit: The Bucs will likely cut Leonard Fournette due to salary cap reasons and draft another young, cheaper runner to team with Rachaad White and Ke’Shawn Vaughn. While Tampa Bay wants faster players, the team is looking for power and tackle-breaking ability at the running back spot. McBride would be an ideal fit, but it’s just a matter of where he’ll go in the draft. Tampa Bay likely wants to find a running back on Day 3 due to pressing needs elsewhere.

Texas A&M RB Devon Achane – 5-9, 185 – Junior

If the Bucs are looking for a faster, change-of-pace back, Achane will be on Tampa Bay’s radar. Achane may be the fastest running back in Indy and is expected to post a 4.3 40-yard dash.

Feldman says: “He’s run a 10.02 personal best in the 100, although that was a wind-aided time. He’s also run a 10.14 100 that was legal with a 1.8 mph wind, which ranks as the 10th-fastest time in A&M history. He’s also clocked a 20.20 200-meter time.”

Potential Bucs fit: Despite his lack of ideal size, Achane is tough and hard to bring down. He rushed for 1,100 yards and eight touchdowns while averaging 5.6 yards per carry. Achane had 705 yards after contact and forced 53 missed tackles. If he’s as fast as expected, he may be drafted earlier than the Bucs want to select a runner.

East Carolina RB Keaton Mitchell – 5-9, 188 – Redshirt Sophomore

East Carolina RB Keaton Mitchell – Photo by: USA Today

Mitchell is similar to Achane in terms of size and build, although Achane is the more physical runner and faced stiffer competition in the SEC. Where Mitchell excels is as a receiver, where he caught 27 passes for 250 yards. Mitchell should challenge Achane for the fastest 40 time in Indy.

Feldman says: “The 5-9, 184-pound Mitchell vertical-jumped over 36 inches this offseason, clocked a 4.28 pro agility time and hits 21 mph on the GPS.”

Potential Bucs fit: Achane will likely go higher than Mitchell, assuming both are as fast as expected. If Tampa Bay wants more speed, Mitchell is the guy. He rushed for 1,452 yards and 14 TDs with a 7.2 avg. last year. His 75 forced missed tackles ranked 13th at the FBS level, and his 31 carries of 15 yards or more was the most of any running back. Mitchell will likely be a fourth- or fifth-rounder and would bring a different dimension to the Bucs’ backfield.

Texas RB Roschon Johnson – 6-2, 223 – Senior

Johnson might have been the best backup running back in the country this year. The starter at Texas? Surefire first-round pick Bijan Robinson. Johnson might be a Day 2 or Day 3 selection depending on how he times in the 40-yard dash.

Feldman says: “The 6-2, 223-pound senior has seamlessly transitioned from college quarterback to running back, and has a per carry average of 5.5 (1,636 yards on 299 carries with 18 touchdowns). He also has 42 receptions for 293 yards (7.0 YPR) with two more touchdowns. This offseason, Johnson has packed on 5 more pounds of muscle but continued to get faster, hitting 22.6 mph on the GPS, making him one of Texas’ fastest players.”

Potential Bucs fit: Tampa Bay needs to draft a running back, and this draft is deep at the position. Johnson is a tackle-breaking big back with the speed to go the distance. He could be an enticing fit if he’s there on Day 3 in the third or fourth round.

South Dakota State FB-RB Hunter Luepke – 6-1, 236 – Senior

Luepke was a situational runner and fullback at North Dakota State in the role Mike Alstott was used in Tampa Bay early in his career. Short yardage, goal line, receiver out of the backfield – Luepke can do it all and still break off some long runs. How fast will run? How agile will he be? We’ll find out in Indy.

Feldman says: “This offseason he vertical-jumped 36 inches; clocked a 4.2 pro agility time and ran the 40 in the high 4.5s. He is just a fantastic all-around athlete, winning state wrestling titles at 195 pounds in 2017 and then at 220 in 2018 and going 49-0 as a senior. Luepke was also a three-time all-conference center fielder in baseball and conference champ in the 100-meter dash.”

Potential Bucs fit: The Bucs want angry runners and while Luepke isn’t “The A-Train,” he very well could be “The L-Train.” Luepke will likely be a late Day 3 pick because he only ran for 628 yards and nine touchdowns with a 6.5-yard average, but he could help round out the Bucs’ depth chart even if they draft another runner earlier in the draft. Tampa Bay is expected to release Leonard Fournette and not re-sign Giovani Bernard.

Wide Receivers

TCU WR Quintin Johnston – 6-4, 215 – Junior

TCU WR Quentin Johnson – Photo by: USA Today

While he may not be the consensus No. 1 receiver, Johnston will be a first-round pick. He’s one of the bigger receivers in the draft at 6-foot-4, 215 pounds and is coming off a 60-catch, 1,067-yard season (17.8 avg.) where he scored six touchdowns. A fast 40-yard dash time of 4.4 or faster and he’ll be a lock to be drafted in the Top 20 – perhaps even the Top 15.

Feldman says: “Johnston, at 6-4, 210, is a remarkable athlete. He has vertical-jumped 42 inches and broad-jumped 11 feet. He’s clocked a 4.4 40 and back-squatted 575 pounds.”

Potential Bucs fit: The Bucs could use another wide receiver, as they’re expected to not re-sign Scotty Miller, Julio Jones or Breshad Perriman. And Tampa Bay might cut Russell Gage in a cap-saving move. Johnston averaged 8.9 yards after catch, which ranked 10th nationally. And he has enough quickness to run screens, evidenced by 20 screen catches for 166 yards. That should appeal to Dave Canales.

Cincinnati WR Tyler Scott – 5-10, 185 – Junior

Scott is nothing special as a receiver, but he could run a special 40-yard dash time. That will help his cause in terms of draft stock, but he’s a Day 3 receiver right now.

Feldman says: “Caught 30 passes for 520 yards and five touchdowns (in 2021). At 5-9 1/2, 185 pounds, he clocked a 4.29 40 to go with a 40 1/2-inch vertical jump and did 11 feet on the broad jump. In addition, Scott squatted 600 pounds and did 16 reps at 225 pounds on the bench press and maxed out at 345.”

Potential Bucs fit: The Bucs already have a pair of undersized receivers in Deven Thompkins and Kaylon Geiger that the team is high on. Scott doesn’t bring anything to the table that those two don’t have.

Cincinnati WR Tre Tucker – 5-9, 185 – Senior

Tucker is another undersized Cincinnati receiver, but he’s not as good as his teammate, Tyler Scott. Tucker does bring the ability to return punts to the table, but he’ll need to run in the upper 4.2’s or low 4.3’s to get drafted.

Feldman says: “The 5-9, 185-pounder from Akron made second-team All-AAC last year after catching 34 passes for 426 yards and returning 22 kicks for 557 yards with one touchdown. Tucker clocked a 4.29 40, broad-jumped 10-10 and vertical-jumped 36 1/2 inches. He’s also very powerful for his size, squatting 600 pounds and doing 16 reps of 225 on the bench.”

Potential Bucs fit: Similar to Tyler Scott, Tucker just doesn’t offer anything to the Bucs that they don’t already have in Deven Thompkins and Kaylon Geiger.

Tight Ends

Oregon State TE Luke Musgrave – 6-6, 250 – Junior

Musgrave is trying to separate himself from the likes of Michael Mayer and Dalton Kincaid. He missed most of his junior season due to a knee injury. Yet, he’s a tremendous athlete – the son of former NFL QB Bill Musgrave – with great size and upside.

Feldman says: “This offseason, Musgrave vertical-jumped 36 1/2 inches, broad-jumped 10-1 3/4, clocked a 4.51 40 and did 4.21 in the pro agility — all terrific numbers for a tight end this size.”

Potential Bucs fit: Musgrave could be a first-rounder, but seems certain for the second round. If Tampa Bay wants to take a premier tight end in a class full of good ones, Musgrave might be a good one despite his lack of production. But there’s a chance that Utah’s Dalton Kincaid or Notre Dame’s Michael Mayer could be there at No. 19 and are better, more productive prospects.

Cincinnati TE Josh Whyle – 6-6, 252 – Senior

Cincinnati TE Josh Whyle – Photo by: USA Today

Whyle is an older prospect at 23 years of age and has a chance to improve his stock from a Day 3 selection to a Day 2 pick with a good showing at the Combine. If he’s fast and athletic, he could be the fifth or sixth tight end selected.

Feldman said: “The 6-7, 252-pound Whyle is a legit talent. He caught 26 passes for 332 yards and six touchdowns in the CFP run last season (2021). He moves extremely well for a big man, clocking a 4.65 40 to go with a 35 1/2-inch vertical jump and a broad jump of 10-3 1/2. He has also topped 20 mph on the GPS and done 16 reps of 225.

Potential Bucs fit: Whyle is not as highly regarded as Musgrave, but it’s unclear why. He had better production, has similar size and actually could be faster at the end of the day. If the Bucs paired Whyle, who is a better blocker than Musgrave, with Cade Otton, it could give the offense an exciting 1-2 punch at tight end.

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