Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida State
With the thirteenth overall pick in the 2013 Canal Street Chronicles community mock draft, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers select...Darrelle Revis, CB, NY Jets.
Wait?...what do you mean I can't do that? But it's going to happen anyway! Fine...fine, have it your way.
With the thirteenth overall pick in the 2013 Canal Street Chronicles community mock draft, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers select...Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida State.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have more than a few holes that they need to fill come draft day on April 25th. With potential top 5 pick Star Lotulelei still on the board at 13, it seemed like a near lock in my mind for him to fill the gap in the Bucs defensive line created by the departure of starting defensive tackle Roy Miller. However, with Miami Dolphins making the selection just ahead of the Bucs, their selection plan became much more simple.
In 2012 the Bucs posted the 32nd ranked pass defense in the NFL surrendering just shy of three hundred yards per game at 297. Unfortunately for Tampa, this was not a case of surrender yards without points in a bend but not break style. Tampa compounded the yards by surrendering the fifth most touchdown passes at 30 and the 6th worst passer rating numbers at a staggering 93.5. Top that all off with a mind-blowing completion percentage against of 65% and it all becomes perfectly clear where the problems lie. The secondary of the Tampa Bay Bucs was beyond woeful and should be the number 1 priority for the team.
With the signing of Dashon Goldson in free agency, Tampa now has a solid pair of safeties as Goldson will combine with second year stalwart Mark Barron. Now the focus is on the cornerback position where currently the Bucs have one starter on the roster and appear more than ready to unload him or give him an outright release in Eric Wright. All this of course leads to the reasons why the Bucs pull the trigger on drafting cornerback Darrelle Revis from the collegiate powerhouse New York Jets. What? Still can't do that...fine. BUT IT'S HAPPENING ANYWAY! Sigh, I of course mean drafting Xavier Rhodes from Florida State.
On paper, Xavier Rhodes has all the physical tools and skills needed to excel at the next level. A big framed cornerback at 6'2" and 210 lbs, Rhodes is an excellent press corner with the ability to shadow even quick twitch inside receivers. Xavier showed his ball skills in college recording 31 passes defended at his time at Florida State and eight interceptions. His skill at being able to mirror and shadow receivers is bolstered by the fact that coming out of High School Rhodes was regarded as a three star wide receiver. This knowledge of receiver position is what helps allow Rhodes to play with great route anticipation, although be warned it has also led him to become susceptible to double moves.
Rhodes does come with some drawbacks, however. Where Rhodes excels in press coverage he in turn struggles in zone. At times Rhodes has difficulty passing off receivers and seems to lack the ability or knowledge to effectively close on those entering or leaving his area of assignment. Where his size allows him to hold up well against the run, Rhodes has a poor habit of leaving his feet early causing him to occasionally miss tackles in a Roman Harperesque desire to level a big hit. Additionally Rhodes also comes with some level of injury concern having suffered a hand injury in college that granted him a medical redshirt as well as a knee injury requiring surgery in 2011.
Xavier Rhodes had a solid combine which allowed him to cement his first round status. His 4.43 forty yard dash time displayed his more than adequate straight line speed, however it was his explosiveness that stood out. Rhodes not only posted an 11 foot broad jump, well above the average for a wide receiver, but also a 40 ½ inch vertical jump. Rhodes' size plus his leaping ability will allow Tampa to easily play him 1 on 1 in goal line situations to potentially completely lock down big wide outs on jump balls and fades in a hope to curtail the 30 pass touchdowns they surrendered.
Rhodes will make an excellent addition to the Bucs and help close off a giant need. However, if Rhodes is off the board do not be shocked to see Tampa either select Washington CB Desmond Trufant. If both corners are gone, or if the Bucs feel 13 is too high for the selection, Tampa can easily shift priorities to the two other positions of need in WR Tavon Austin out of West Virginia or Notre Dame TE, Tyler Eifert.
Thanks to all the CSC members who participated in this year's community mock draft. Without your help, none of this would be possible.
Below are the complete results from our community mock draft.
Catch up with all of the mock draft selections in our 2013 CSC Community Draft Section.
Pick | Team | Selection | Team Representative | Approval Rating |
1 | Kansas City Chiefs |
OT Luke Joeckel - Texas A&M |
Hans Petersen | 77% |
2 | Jacksonville Jaguars |
QB Geno Smith - West Virginia |
Dragon Ninja Warrior | 48% |
3 | Oakland Raiders |
CB Dee Milliner - Alabama |
Ralph Malbrough | 42% |
4 | Philadelphia Eagles |
OT Eric Fisher - Central Mich. |
Aburton531 | 78% |
5 | Detroit Lions |
DE Dion Jordan - Oregon |
ShadowFlash | 50% |
6 | Cleveland Browns |
DE/OLB Ezekiel Ansah - BYU |
Fan since the Aints | 54% |
7 | Arizona Cardinals | OT Lane Johnson - Oklahoma |
Joseph Williams Stern | 94% |
8 | Buffalo Bills | G Chance Warmack - Alabama |
aburton531 | 52% |
9 | NY Jets | S Kenny Vaccaro - Texas |
organictallman | 33% |
10 | Tennessee Titans | G Jonathan Cooper - UNC |
cajuncommando58 | 67% |
11 | San Diego Chargers | DT Sharrif Floyd - Florida |
lostastic | |
12 | Miami Dolphins | DT Star Lotulelei- Utah | Ralph Malbrough | |
13 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | CB Xavier Rhodes - Florida St. | jeff.l.b | |
14 | Carolina Panthers | Stilljreming | ||
15 | New Orleans Saints | Dave Cariello | ||
16 | St. Louis Rams | caomhin | ||
17 | Pittsburgh Steelers | aryanspecial | ||
18 | Dallas Cowboys | SAINTMANUMIT | ||
19 | NY Giants | BlackandGold4ever | ||
20 | Chicago Bears | MobileSaint | ||
21 | Cincinnati Bengals | Fan since the Aints | ||
22 | St. Louis Rams (from Washington) | Kevin Held | ||
23 | Minnesota Vikings | cajuncommando58 | ||
24 | Indianapolis Colts | Legatron Morstead | ||
25 | Minnesota Vikings (from Seattle) | Fan since the Aints | ||
26 | Green Bay Packers | caomhin | ||
27 | Houston Texans | TeeThaKingSaint23 | ||
28 | Denver Broncos | aburton531 | ||
29 | New England Patriots | ShadowFlash | ||
30 | Atlanta Falcons | Dave Choate | ||
31 | San Francisco 49ers | BlackandGold4ever | ||
32 | Baltimore Ravens | NawlinsOriole |