The 2024 NFL Draft is now in the rearview mirror. After a flurry of selections from April 25 to April 27, 257 players were selected to join the NFL.
With that, we give you our full recap of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers‘ draft, with analysis on every selection the team made during the weekend and an in-depth look at their top pick.
For more information on the players your favorite team drafted, it’s not too late to get the 2024 NFL Draft Guide, which includes expanded scouting reports, draft grades, offseason reports, unique advanced data, PFF grades and much more.
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2024 Draft Picks
- 1 (26): T Graham Barton, Duke
- 2 (57): EDGE Chris Braswell, Alabama
- 3 (89): S Tykee Smith, Georgia
- 3 (92): WR Jalen McMillan, Washington
- 4 (125): RB Bucky Irving, Oregon
- 6 (220): G Elijah Klein, UTEP
- 7 (246): TE Devin Culp, Washington
Barton — Tampa Bay is set at tackle with Tristan Wirfs and Luke Goedeke, so Barton is sure to play inside. He has experience at center and enough athleticism to play anywhere up front. Barton earned an 88.7 overall PFF grade across the last two seasons, which stands as the fifth-best among all FBS tackles in that span.
Braswell — The Buccaneers pick up a consistent power-based outside linebacker in Chris Braswell. He isn’t as explosive as his Alabama teammate Dallas Turner, but he led the SEC in pressures in 2023 and provides a solid anchor on the edge in the run game. He is likely to be an immediate starter for the Buccaneers.
Smith — The second Georgia safety to come off the board, Smith is the perfect player to stack the box and add aggressiveness to a defense. Smith will have no problem setting the edge in the run game and graded well in the SEC, earning the third-best run-defense grade among safeties (84.0). He lacks the long speed to be a deep coverage player but has a role in the Buccaneers' secondary.
McMillan — McMillan is the 15th receiver off the board and finds himself in a great situation in Tampa Bay. A weapon out of the slot, he recorded 14 touchdowns since 2022, most among Power Five receivers. In an offense with big-time playmakers, McMillan was prioritized in Washington. A nuanced route runner, he’ll need to lean into that strength, as he doesn’t have the top-end speed to take the top off defenses.
Irving — The Buccaneers add one of the toughest running backs to tackle in this draft, as Irving forced 136 missed tackles over the past two seasons to rank second among Power Five running backs. His 96.1 PFF rushing grade in that span also ranks second.
Klein — Klein wasn’t on the PFF big board or consensus board, but he did post some impressive numbers as a pass blocker in his final season at UTEP. He earned a 93.5 PFF pass-blocking grade in 2023, allowing just three total pressures from 372 pass-blocking snaps.
Culp — Culp was limited as a receiver, catching 16 passes for 208 yards on 23 targets. He was solid as a run blocker, though, earning a 73.2 PFF run-blocking grade in 2023.
DRAFT GRADE: A
Rookie Spotlight: T Graham Barton, Duke
Scouting summary
Barton should switch from tackle to the interior (likely center) in the NFL. He has good quickness and explosiveness from a loaded stance, where he can get low and load his weight on his quads before the snap.
His grip strength is impressive, although his tendency to not let go leads to some holding calls. He has a mean streak in the run game with the leg drive to bury defenders. He is a good athlete off the ball and in space to be a successful second-level blocker.
Barton struggles against power and will need to improve his anchor against interior defenders. He is experienced at tackle, but his foot speed and length are issues there.
Wins above average
WAA represents the number of wins a player is worth over an average college football player and is a metric evaluators can utilize to assess performance.
It combines how well a player performed in each facet of play (using PFF grades) and how valuable each facet is to winning football games. The result is a first-of-its-kind metric that allows for cross-positional valuation and predicts future value at the player and team levels.
How Barton ranks in the stable metrics
Barton fared fairly well in pass protection but often got beat by bigger and more experienced defenders.
While it’s not a stable metric, Barton graded positively on 14% of his run-blocking snaps, something that NFL teams will love along the interior.
The bottom line
Barton is a tough lineman with strong hands and a mean streak in the run game. His best position in the NFL is likely at center, as he brings starting-caliber traits there.
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