NFC South remaining team needs

Breaking down the top six areas to address for every squad in the draft

Originally Published: April 6, 2012
By Gary Horton | Scouts Inc.

With NFL free agency slowing down, teams are in the middle of setting their draft boards for the 2012 NFL draft. No team filled all of its roster holes in free agency, so where are the areas of weakness for each roster heading into the draft?

Here are the top six needs for every NFL team leading into the draft, broken up by division. The AFC was released on Thursday. Here is the NFC file.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Top needs:
1. Cornerback: The Bucs signed UFA Eric Wright from Detroit and he will team with the ageless Ronde Barber (who re-signed for one more year), so the starters will be OK in the short term. Aqib Talib could really help as an elite cover guy, but his off-the-field problems could keep him off the field for all of 2012. Finding a starter to be the successor for Barber and insurance for Talib is a must.

2. Running back: Starter LeGarrette Blount is a one-dimensional power runner with questionable blocking and pass-catching skills. They don't have a third-down back and right now this is an easy rushing attack to defend. It's time for the Bucs to bite the bullet and take a complete back early in the draft.


To read more about the top six needs for every NFC South team, plus to get all of Insider's NFL Draft content, you must be an ESPN Insider.

Gary Horton

Scouts Inc.
Gary Horton spent 10 years in the NFL as a scout and another 10 years at the college level as an assistant coach and recruiter. He is the founder and most seasoned member of the Scouts Inc. staff, and his extensive experience at all levels of football make him an excellent talent evaluator.

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