The 1979 Buccaneer draft review
The Bucs dealt the 4th overall selection to Chicago for Wally Chambers. They gained additional
2nd and 3rd round picks from Oakland in return for DT Dave Pear. They also had the extra 3rd and
5th round picks from the Houston trade in 1978. They gained a 3rd round pick from Baltimore for
RB Dan Hardeman but lost their own 3rd round pick to Miami as compensation ordered by the NFL
for signing free agent Randy Crowder. The 8th round pick from Miami came in return for DE
Council Rudolph. A 4th rounder went to Detroit for T Rockne Freitas, a 6th rounder to Oakland for
LB Rik Bonness, a 7th rounder to Washington for WR Frank Grant, an 8th rounder to the NY Jets
for OL Darrell Austin and a 10th rounder to San Francisco for TE Jim Obradovich.
DRAFT ANALYSIS - Only the trade for Wally Chambers can put a cloud on a very productive draft
for the Bucs. Some necessary trades, some great late round selections with Sanders and the
absolute steal of Logan and fairly solid if not spectacular production from the early picks.
Greg Roberts
Gordon Jones
Jerry Eckwood
Reggie Lewis
Chuck Fusina
Gene Sanders
1 - traded to Chicago for DE Wally Chambers
Giving up your No.1 pick is always a risky business and this deal can be viewed in two ways. Would the Bucs have got to the championship game
without Chambers? If no, then it was an OK deal. If they would, and I think they probably would for the impact he had on the team in his two
seasons, then it was a bad trade. Chambers was a great player for the Bears in the mid 70s but was way past his best when this deal was made.
2 - G - Greg Roberts - Oklahoma
Played four seasons for the Bucs, albeit with one hampered by injury, and was a starter at guard for most of that time. Never a dominant lineman
but a serviceable one from the selection anyway.
2 - WR - Gordon Jones - Pittsburgh
Had two seasons, 1980 and 1982, as a starting receiver for the Bucs, but the emergence of Kevin House and later Gerald Carter, made him
expendable after four years in Tampa.
3 - RB - Jerry Eckwood - Arkansas
Had three fairly successful years in Tampa and only the arrival of the best back in franchise history, James Wilder, saw an end to his playing days
as a Buc.
3 - DE - Reggie Lewis - North Texas State
Never did break into the starting line-up in his two seasons in Tampa but the defense was a serious strength in depth at that time.
3 - RB - Rick Berns - Nebraska
Highly-rated coming out of college but never did anything major for the Bucs save one game against the Lions as a rookie.
4 - traded to Detroit for T Rockne Freitas
NFL veteran who played one season for the Bucs after a long and distinguished pro career. A 4th rounder for a year's rental is probably worth it
even now.
5 - QB - Chuck Fusina - Penn State
Spent three years as Doug Williams's caddy and threw one TD pass amongst his five attempts. Went on to serious success in the USFL where he
led the Philadelphia/Baltimore Stars to two of the three championships.
6 - traded to Oakland for LB Rik Bonness
Was primarily a special teamer for his three seasons with the Bucs, but to only give up a 6th round pick for that length of service and decent depth
at linebacker, then it has to go down as a good deal for the Bucs.
7 - traded to Washington for WR Frank Grant
Mid-season deal done during 1978 for a receiver who played but half a season and had a grand total of eight receptions in that time including four
starts.
8 - DT - Eugene Sanders - Texas A&M
One of the best late picks the Bucs have ever had. Sanders was converted to an offensive lineman in his second year and went on to start at
tackle for the best part of three seasons in the 1980s.
9 - WR - Henry Vereen - UNLV
Never played football in the NFL at all. Had been a multi-purpose threat in college as a returner and receiver, but couldn't handle the switch to the
pro game.
10 - traded to San Francisco for TE Jim Obradovich
Became one of the main stays of the special teams for six seasons and was a solid No.2 tight end behind Jimmie Giles.
11 - TE - Bob Rippentrop - Fresno State
Never played football in the NFL at all. Had been used extensively as a blocking tight end in college and had a grand total of four, yes four career
receptions in his entire college time.
12 - DT - David Logan - Pittsburgh
What a fantastic selection - in the final round, the Bucs acquired their starting nose tackle for seven seasons and one of the finest people ever to
play for the franchise.
David Logan
Rick Berns
