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MVN writers mock draft: 20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - WR Devin Thomas, Michigan State

NFL

By Patrick Dorsey

With the twentieth pick in the MVN writers’ mock draft, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers select wide receiver Devin Thomas.

The Bucs need a playmaker at the receiver position, especially with Cadillac Williams possibly out for the entire season. Joey Galloway is still a number one receiver, but he’s getting old. You never know what you’re going to get from Michael Clayton, and Antonio Bryant is also a huge question mark. Jeff Garcia is a good NFL quarterback, but he needs more than this to ensure a playoff berth.

Thomas is who they need. His talent is unquestionable, with the strength, durability, speed, vision, and athleticism to be an elite receiver. He’s also a fairly tall player, who can get the short, tough yards in addition to spreading the field. There’s no doubt that he’d help Tampa Bay tremendously, and possibly start immediately.

The knock on him is that he might be a risk, as he’s really only had one good season at Michigan State, which was last year. He also isn’t a very good route runner, which could hurt him against zone defenses.

Still, I believe Tampa Bay will take him, assuming he’s there. If he can fulfill his large potential, than they’ll get a steal picking him at number twenty.

Patrick Dorsey is a columnist for MVN’s The NFL Source.

This entry was posted on Friday, April 18th, 2008 at 9:53 pm and is filed under Mock Drafts 2008, 2008 NFL Draft, Devin Thomas. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.