In a season full of disappointment, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers secured the No. 1 pick in the upcoming NFL draft after a 23-20 loss to the New Orlean Saints on Dec. 28.
After finishing 2-14 in 2014, the Bucs now have until April 30 to decide which direction they will go with the team in the draft.
Although the Bucs signed quarterback Josh McCown last off season to lead the team, his progression as a first year starter wasn’t as promising as hoped for after finishing with 11 touchdowns, 14 interceptions and 2,206 passing yards.
Oregon’s Marcus Mariota is currently projected as the first overall pick, according to CBS.com and ESPN.com. The Heisman Trophy winner could replace McCown at QB if the projections prove true, given that Mariota foregoes his senior year and declares for the draft.
“I know they’re going to make a great decision to help this team moving forward and regardless of what that is, I want to help that guy help our team win football games,” McCown said.
The Bucs have held the No. 1 pick four previous times, drafting defensive end Lee Roy Selmon (1976), running back Ricky Bell (1977), RB Bo Jackson (1986) and QB Vinny Testaverde (1977).
Coach Smith said he wasn’t concerned with obtaining the first pick of next year’s draft, but more focused on seeing certain players getting more playing time for reasons such as evaluations and draft needs.
If the Bucs won, they would have still had a top five pick.
“Going into the football game, we were going to have a good opportunity to pick a pretty good football player,” Smith said. “When you’re down there, that’s one consolation, I guess, from the season we’ve had.”
With his first season under his belt as head coach of the team, Smith said he is hopeful for the future of the organization.
“We were anxious to play this last game,” Smith said. “We want to get 2014 in our past to get to this next year, where I know good things will happen.”
Smith went on to say that in order to get the team where he thinks they should be, it will take more than just the first draftee of 2015.
“We need more than just the one,” Smith said. “We’re going to get some good picks from the draft by our position, yes. And through free agency too. Our free agent class didn’t work as well as we would like it to this year, but you don’t stop because of that. You keep going.”
