The 2006 Buccaneer draft review
The additional 6th round pick from the NY Giants came in the
Jason Whittle trade. The original 6th round pick went to San
Francisco in return for QB Tim Rattay. The extra 6th round and
two 7th round picks were compensatory ones. The Bucs picked
23rd in the first round and then 27th, 26th, 25th, 24th and 23th
henceforth.
DRAFT ANALYSIS - The Bucs went for offensive line building
blocks with their first two picks and they both paid off. It's never
flash to go this way in a draft but it was effective, necessary and successful. The rest of the draft was
a bit of a disaster though outside of Bruce Gradkowski.
Davin Joseph
Jeremy Trueblood
Maurice Stovall
Alan Zemaitis
Bruce Gradkowski
Julian Phinisee
1 - G - Davin Joseph - Oklahoma
Perhaps a surprising pick in the first round but quickly showed his ability by making the starting right guard position his own. After his third
season, he was a Pro Bowl alternate and went to Hawaii in his own right two years later. Started 99 games in his Buccaneer career and will
go down as one of the best linemen the Bucs have ever drafted.
2 - T - Jeremy Trueblood - Boston College
Another starter in his first season in the NFL. Began 13 games at right tackle and formed an all-rookie partnership on the right hard side with
Davin Joseph. Remained the starter there for several seasons but lost his starting spot on the line in the 2011 season and spent 2012 as a
back-up before being released.
3 - WR - Maurice Stovall - Notre Dame
Turned out to be a great special teams' cover man but a totally injury-prone receiver who has only had one or two games where he showed
his all-round ability. Moved on after the 2010 season.
4 - CB - Alan Zemaitis - Penn State
Did not play in a single game as a rookie having been inactive for the first 15 games before being placed on injured reserve and then
released the following pre-season.
5 - DE - Julian Jenkins - Stanford
Not only made the team, but also proved to be a worthwhile addition to the injury-depleted defensive line. Did not make the team the
following spring but the defense was a lot better than it was during his rookie season.
6 - QB - Bruce Gradkowski - Toledo
Became the starter early in his rookie season and although was proven eventually not to be a NFL-calibre starting QB, did well for a 6th
round pick and went on to a decade-long NFL career mostly with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
6 - TE - TJ Williams - North Carolina State
Was played on injured reserve before the 2006 season even started having torn his Achilles tendon in workouts at One Buccaneer Place.
Never even suited up for the Buccaneers.
7 - CB - Justin Phinisee - Oregon
Did not make the team out of training camp.
7 - DE - Charles Bennett - Clemson
Did not make the final roster out of camp but was re-signed to the practice squad and called up to the main roster in November 2006. Played
in three games and was a DNP in one other.
7 - TE - Tim Massaquoi - Michigan
Did not make the team out of training camp but was picked up by the Dolphins and made his NFL debut with them later in the 2007 season.
Charles Bennett
Julian Jenkins
