Buccaneers' O.J. Howard: Falls to Tampa Bay

The Buccaneers selected Howard in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft, 19th overall.

Analysis:

This is a big, big help to an offense that almost certainly didn't need it. Spending the 19th pick on a tight end might not seem like a great value when you already have a competent starter like Cameron Brate, but Howard is the kind of prospect who ranks among the best at his position in any decade. At 6-foot-6, 251 pounds, Howard has 4.51 speed and elite quickness for his size. The Buccaneers should move forward with a two-TE offense to take advantage of the considerable talent posed by both Howard and Brate, and it shouldn't be a difficult accommodation. As far as 2017 goes, however, it will probably be difficult for Howard to make a big fantasy impact in an offense already crowded by Brate, Mike Evans and DeSean Jackson. The future is very bright, at the least.