Last week, NFL.com's Chad Reuter released his four-round mock draft, with an interesting selection for the Buccaneers in the first round: Florida State running back Dalvin Cook. Many believe that Cook is one of the top two runners in this year's draft class, along with LSU's Leonard Fournette. Pro Football Focus, CBS Sports and Sports Illustrated have Cook listed as their No. 1 running back heading into the NFL Scouting Combine, while NFL.com and Walter Football believe he is the second-best.
Less than a week after Reuter linked Cook to the Buccaneers, one of his colleagues at NFL.com has joined him. Former NFL scout Bucky Brooks released his needs and predictions for every team, and listed running back for the Buccaneers.
"How about Dalvin Cook from Florida State?" Brooks said during a segment on NFL Network. "Cook went over the 1,000-yard mark three times at Florida State. He's a versatile back.
"When I watch him he kind of reminds me of (LeSean) McCoy for the Buffalo Bills. (He's) a guy that can do it inside, outside (and) is explosive. He can take it the distance but is also a weapon in the passing game. If I'm Jameis Winston, I want a do-it-all playmaker behind me because now I can also hand it to him, but I can also feed it to him in the passing game, alleviating some pressure on my guy, Mike Evans, on the outside."
It's worth noting that Cook and Winston were both teammates at Florida State during the 2014 season.
Few analysts in this week's Mock Draft Roundup have linked the Buccaneers to a running back with their first-round pick. Fournette hasn't been projected to the Bucs by any major outlet, though Tennessee's Alvin Kamara has.
If there's a position the fans would like the Bucs to draft, it would be running back. With more than 14,000 votes in Buccaneers.com’s poll, nearly 38 percent of fans hope the team will take a running back with the No. 19 pick.
