The 2016 Buccaneer draft review
The Bucs picked from 9th, 8th, 11th and 10th through the draft. They
traded their 3rd round pick and a 4th round pick to Kansas City for the
additional 2nd round pick. They moved down two spots in the first
round with Chicago. The additional 6th round pick came from
Washington in the Dashon Goldson trade and saw them lose their 7th
round pick in the process.
DRAFT ANALYSIS - Oh dear. Where do you start? Busts with the top
three picks including trading up to take a kicker in the second round. Minor positives from the
selections of Smith, Benenoch and Bond but you cannot blow the top three selections like this.
Vernon Hargreaves
Noah Spence
Roberto Aguayo
Ryan Smith
Caleb Benenoch
Devante Bond
1 - CB - Vernon Hargreaves - Florida
Will go down as a bust from his three and a half seasons with the Bucs having been selected with the 11th overall pick in 2016 but never
living up to that draft billing. Started every game as a rookie and then had two injury-curtailed seasons before starting the first half of 2019.
Was released in November after continued blown assignments and wound up being signed by the Houston Texans. Recorded only two
interceptions in 35 games, the second of which was a pick six score in the 2019 season opener against San Francisco. Also went on to play
for the Cincinnati Bengals.
2 - DE - Noah Spence - Eastern Kentucky
Spent three seasons with the Bucs and will be reviewed as a bust having only played to a decent standard for a short time in his rookie
season. Ranked third on the team in sacks in 2016 and was named the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Month for November. Was released
in camp in 2019 and went on to play briefly for both the Saints and Bengals.
2 - K - Roberto Aguayo - Florida State
Will go down as a monumental draft bust having been released after the first pre-season game of 2017. Did not have the stellar season
expected of him in his first NFL season and the Bucs wound up with the lowest successful fieldgoal percentage in the NFL. Was the highest
pick ever used on a kicker in franchise history.
4 - CB - Ryan Smith - North Carolina Central
Spent five years with the Bucs only seeing starting action during the 2017 and 2018 season. Was a primary member of the special teams'
coverage units throughout his career. Was not offered a new contract after the 2020 season and signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles
Chargers.
5 - T - Caleb Benenoch - UCLA
Worked his way into a starting guard role in his third NFL season but did not keep the role the following year and was released after one
game in 2019. Was on the roster of several teams after that and started one game for the Saints in 2021. Also started at right tackle for the
final five games in 2017.
6 - LB - Devante Bond - Oklahoma
Spent parts of four seasons with the Bucs primarily on special teams but did make several starts at outside linebacker when injuries affected
the roster. Was released with an injury settlement after the 2018 pre-season but then re-signed to the roster later in the season. Was
released during the 2019 season and went on to play briefly with the Bears before being signed to the Cowboys' practice squad in 2021.
6 - FB - Dan Vitale - Northwestern
Did not make the team out of training camp.
Dan Vitale
