BUCCANEERS 101

Tomorrow night, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will pick in the top 10 of the NFL Draft for the 16th time in franchise history. Some of those picks turned out very well. Some, obviously, did not.

This year the Bucs have the No. 5 overall pick, barring a trade of course. Tampa Bay is looking at a number of options, some of which include: cornerback Morris Claiborne, running back Trent Richardson, offensive tackle Matt Kalil, and linebacker Luke Kuechly.

With the next few days revolving around this year's incoming draft class, Buccaneers101.com wanted to take one more look at Tampa Bay's past picks and ranked the best and worst top 10 selections in franchise history:

3 Worst Top 10 picks:

3. QB Trent Dilfer – The Fresno State product was selected sixth overall by the Bucs in 1994. Dilfer was supposed to solve Tampa Bay's quarterback woes and give them stability at the position for 10+ seasons. Instead, he struggled during his six-year tenure with the team and put up very mediocre numbers. While he was the first Tampa Bay quarterback ever selected to the Pro Bowl (1997), Dilfer went just 38-38 during his time with the Bucs. He completed just 54.8 percent of his passes for 12,969 yards with 70 touchdowns and 80 interceptions while wearing a Bucs uniform.

2. LB Keith McCants - The highly coveted McCants was picked fourth overall by Tampa Bay in 1990, despite concerns of knee trouble. The Bucs should have gone elsewhere with their selection because McCants was a major bust. He lasted just three seasons in Tampa Bay and recorded just 156 tackles and 12 sacks before he was cut prior to the 1993 season.

1. RB Bo Jackson – The Heisman Trophy winner and two-sport superstar wins this spot by default since he never played a down for the Buccaneers. Jackson was selected No. 1 overall by Tampa Bay in 1986. The Bucs wanted him to fully commit to football and give up baseball altogether. Jackson declined and signed with the Kansas City Royals. His rights were waived in 1987 and he went back into the draft where the Raiders spent a seventh-round pick on him.

3 Best Top 10 picks:

3. LB Hugh Green – Green was the No. 7 pick in the 1981 Draft. Green was highly touted coming out of Pittsburgh and put up numbers immediately in the NFL. Green still holds Tampa Bay's rookie record in tackles with 151. He was selected to back-to-back Pro Bowls in '82 and '83. Green also had 12.3 sacks, five interceptions, and scored one touchdown with the Bucs before he was traded to the Dolphins in '85.

2. OT Paul Gruber - Gruber, who was picked by Tampa Bay fourth overall in 1988, was one of the best picks the franchise has ever made. He spent his entire career in a Bucs uniform and was a constant fixture on the offensive line for 12 seasons. He also held the record for most games started (183) in Bucs history until Derrick Brooks surpassed him in 2007. Gruber was named an All Pro three times and would have likely had more accolades had the Bucs not been so bad in the late 80's and early 90's.

1. DE Lee Roy Selmon - Were you expecting someone else? Selmon was Tampa Bay's first-ever draft pick (No. 1 overall in 1976) and is currently the team's only Hall of Famer. He had an tremendous career with the Bucs and became a legend around the community after he retired. Mr. Buccaneer had 742 tackles, 28.5 forced fumbles, and is the franchise leader in sacks with 78.5. Selmon was named the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year in 1979 and was selected to the Pro Bowl six times during his illustrious career.

Tags: Football, NFL, Tampa Bay, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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