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Should Buccaneers Trade 7th-Round Pick for CB Depth?
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- Should Buccaneers Trade 7th-Round Pick for CB Depth?
(Nathan Ray Seebeck/USA TODAY Sports)
Cornerback depth is a weak area of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers , and the Philadelphia Eagles may have the solution to solve their problems.
Jimmy Kempski, an Eagles writer for the PhillyVoice , drafted three trade ideas for the team on Sunday. Kempski's final idea sent cornerback Kelee Ringo to the Buccaneers for a seventh-round pick.
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He said Tampa Bay 's depth at outside cornerback is underwhelming in the NFC South, which has big receivers. The Carolina Panthers have a towering receiver corps, all starters standing 6-foot-3 or over, and the Atlanta Falcons have Drake London , who is 6-foot-4.
The Buccaneers face these receivers twice a season. They need a strong cornerback group that can compete and contain them.
Kempski highlighted that Ringo has size and speed, which has translated into good preseason play. Ringo is 6-foot-2, the same height as Roman Parodie and Zyon McCollum .
He's showcased the ability to stay with a receiver stride for stride, but struggles to finish plays. In Saturday's preseason matchup against the New England Patriots , he quickly recovered on a hitch route, but bobbled the interception.
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The inconsistency is concerning, but Tampa Bay isn't in a position to decline offers at a positional need. Benjamin Morrison's health has proven unreliable heading into his second season .
Morrison has missed the majority of the offseason with a lingering hamstring injury. It has significantly limited his opportunity to solidify himself as a starting cornerback next to McCollum after Jamel Dean 's departure.
The Buccaneers also waived Kemon Hall and Chase Lucas , who both sustained injuries throughout training camp. They signed Parodie to offset the roster moves, and he made an immediate impact in Saturday's victory over the Kansas City Chiefs with an interception.
FOX Sports' Greg Auman highlighted a connection that could make Kempski's suggestion a possibility. Ringo played his college ball at Georgia , and Auman said coach Todd Bowles loves the Bulldogs' defense .
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At Georgia, Ringo finished his two-year tenure with four interceptions and 15 passes defended and as a two-time national champion. He went undrafted in 2023, and he signed with the Eagles.
The 24-year-old has spent three seasons with the team and has showcased his ability to generate turnovers. Ringo has two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and one interception throughout his career.
Ringo has the potential to be a rotational cornerback, but must become more consistent from play to play.
A seventh-rounder isn't a steep price to pay. Ringo doesn't solve all of Tampa Bay's problems, but he's worth the gamble to strengthen depth during an injury-plagued offseason.
