Draft Day Trade for Briggs?

Many pre-draft rumors have hit the Internet in the past ten days, most involving the Bucs.  It’s almost a given that the majority are smoke screen rumors and expect more to hit the WWW in the coming days.

One story that has some credibility involves Lance Briggs.  What do the Bucs do if their top choices are gone when the Bucs hit the clock?  Obviously trading down is an option. 

The Bears declined the Redskins offer to swap first round draft picks, moving the Bears up to #6 from #31 in exchange for Briggs.  While on the clock, the Bucs could make a similar offer.  The Super Bowl showed the Bears need offensive help and trading Thomas Jones added to the need.  With the top 5 selections appearing to take offensive players in at least 4 of them, the Bears may very well like #4 a heck of a lot better than the #6 spot.

If Johnson & Quinn are gone and depending on the other selection, the Bears could easily select Russell to challenge Grossman, Peterson to replace Jones or Thomas to protect the QB blindside in exchange for a disgruntled employee that doesn’t want to play for the Bears organization anymore.  My gut feeling is that Gruden is not all that high on any of those three players getting him to the playoffs in 2007 and saving his job.  Briggs on the other hand can.  Seems like a win-win trade situation.

By obtaining Briggs instead of an additional pick for trading down, the Bucs immediately get a starter for 2007.  They then could package the #31 pick with another  pick to move up in the first round to draft another critical need, cornerback.

Two questions:
1. What do the Bucs do with three weak side linebackers, Brooks, Briggs, & June? 
2. How about the greater need on defense Allen hasn’t addressed in free agency, the safety position?

The answer to both questions is the same.  June is a college free safety converted to LB when the Colts drafted both him and Mike Doss in 2003.  Move June back to his natural position, free safety.  As written in an earlier article, Reports of Brook’s Demise Premature, Brooks will play the strong side LB, just as he did in 2004.  Briggs plays the weak side. 

The rookie CB gets to challenge for starting time in nickel situations and special teams.  Aaron Ross from Texas is a tempting choice as he has both size at CB and speed for being a punt returner.  The Patriots have two first round selections (24 and and may be a target as a trading partner.  According to “The Chart” the Bucs first selection on Sunday puts them right in the middle of the Patriots two selections and giving up the 2nd round pick received from the Colts moves them up to the 19th pick.

Personally, I like the idea and hope Johnson & Quinn are gone in the first three selections.  The Bucs defense needs a great big shot in the arm.  Briggs, a new nickel CB and a DL with the #35 selection would do the trick.  Then let Gruden find his play toys for the offense in rounds 3-5.