The #7 draft class of 2020 features two players at the top of their respective positions.
Entering this draft, there was a “Big Four” of offensive tackles and the Bucs came out with the fourth one, but the best one. Tristan Wirfs has been the model of dominant consistency. After starting his first three seasons at right tackle, he moved to the left side following the release of Donovan Smith, and continued his elite play. He’s finished top 10 in PFF grade all four seasons, and has played in every snap, outside of the four games he missed due to injury in 2022. With his fifth-year option picked up, the Bucs have another season to work out a contract extension.
Antoine Winfield Jr. came into the league as a second round pick and has been a superstar all four seasons. Finished fourth in DROY voting, Pro Bowl in 2021, first-team All-Pro and finished sixth in DPOY voting in 2023, pretty well-decorated. He also finished as PFF’s #1 safety last season, 10th the year prior, and 2nd the year before that. His stats are off the charts too as he finished fifth among safeties in tackles last year, second among safeties in pass deflections, led the whole league in forced fumbles, and has seven career interceptions, just an outstanding player. He just received the franchise tag and the Bucs should look to lock him up long-term, but a player like Winfield will not come cheap as they hit a homerun with his selection.
Ke’Shawn Vaughn could never quite climb the depth chart in his career, playing behind Ronald Jones and Leonard Fournette, then later Rachaad White, which led to his release last season. He joined the Patriots practice squad and will be attempting to make their roster this season.
There was a lot of Tyler Johnson hype early in his career, but it never happened, and led to his release in 2022 and has had stints with the Texans and Rams.
Khalil Davis only lasted one season with the team before stints with the Colts, Steelers, Rams, and currently with the Texans. Chapelle Russell spent his rookie year on the practice squad before his release and has spent time with the Jaguars and Steelers. Raymond Calais didn’t make the active roster as a rookie, spent two seasons as a reserve with the Rams and was released before 2022.
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