The 2017 NFL Draft has come and gone, with the Buccaneers adding six new players to their roster. Among those picks was O.J. Howard, a tight end out of Alabama who many analysts believed could have been a top-five pick. The Buccaneers selected Howard at No. 19, a pick that many media members considered to be the best of the entire draft. ESPN's Mel Kiper said that the Bucs' first-round pick was "in the running for the best pick in the draft" while NFL.com's Adam Schein declared that the Buccaneers are headed for the playoffs after a successful draft.
Here is a look at what Kiper, Schein and other analysts are saying about the Bucs' draft class:
- ESPN: O.J. Howard was the cornerstone in a draft class ESPN's Mel Kiper considers to be one of the NFL's best. He graded the Buccaneers' class as an A-, with anyone earning an A or higher being "exceptional." Only five teams received an A- or an A… **[READ
](http://www.buccaneers.com/news/article-1/Mel-Kiper-Grades-Buccaneers-Draft-Class/13d486f0-d42e-4db2-8086-287f9f77bb3f)* * NFL Network:Who was the biggest steal of the 2017 NFL Draft? Daniel Jeremiah and Bucky Brooks believe it was the Buccaneers' first-round pick, O.J. Howard… **WATCH** * NFL.com:The Buccaneers had the sixth-best draft of any team in the league, according to NFL.com's Power Rankings… **VIEW NOW** * NFL.com: *Adam Schein believes the Buccaneers are headed to the playoffs after the moves they made in the draft… **READ NOW** * **Bleacher Report:In grading every NFL general manager's offseason, Jason Licht received an A. The grades account for both free agency and the draft… **READ** * Pro Football Focus:"While Bucs fans are likely excited about the skill players Tampa Bay drafted in the first and third rounds, the selection of Justin Evans in Round 2 may be the most important." … **READ MORE** * The Tampa Bay Times:The Buccaneers could have signed a star with their seventh-round draft pick, Stevie Tu'ikolovatu… **READ** * Sports Illustrated:The Buccaneers' draft class wasgraded a B+by SI's staff. They also believe the Buccaneers are one of themost improved teams in the league so far this offseason.
