Could Tampa Bay look to add to their secondary in the draft?
The NFL draft is right around the corner and the Buccaneers will be on the clock at 19th overall before we know it. Tampa Bay will be able to fill some of the holes on defense during the draft and one of the spots with questions is the secondary.
While the Bucs have some talented players, they could always use some more depth. That’s where a guy like Virginia’s Jonas Sanker could make a lot of sense.
Jonas Sanker’s Collegiate Career
Playing quarterback, running back and safety in High School, Sanker has been at Virginia his entire college career as a safety. However, it wasn’t until his second season that he really made a name for himself. He was a consistent starter for the Cavaliers in 2022 and notched 63 total tackles which was second on the team as well as an interception and forced fumble. 2023 was even better as he led the team in total tackles with 107 as well as three forced fumbles and was named first team all ACC.
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He followed up his 2023 with a solid senior season, racking up 98 total tackles and an interception, once again being named first team all ACC. He has shown over the years to have a knack for finding the football, having four forced fumbles and five fumbles recovered in his career.
Pro Day and Scouting Combine
Sanker ran the 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine in 4.48 seconds and did the 10-yard split in 1.51 seconds. He also performed the vertical jump and broad jump, recording a 36.5” on the vertical and 10’8” on the broad. He even did the bench press and did 12 reps.
Sanker performed at the Virginia pro day and added a three-cone number at 7.06 seconds.
What Sanker can do for the Bucs in 2025
You can never have enough depth and that is what Sanker would likely represent in his rookie season. The Bucs have a solid group of safeties with Antoine Winfield Jr at the top and the team appears to be moving Tykee Smith to a safety role as well. With both of those guys leading the way, Sanker would not play a ton, but that would mean he’s able to sit and learn behind some of the best while also potentially getting thrown into the starting lineup if injuries were to occur.
Even though Sanker is likely a safety in the NFL, he could definitely see playing time in the slot where he has played in the past. If he’s able to be comfortable there, perhaps he sees a bigger role than expected at the nickel corner spot in 2025.
Three-Year Outlook
Three seasons from now, the best-case scenario might be Sanker developing as a nickel corner and being able to stick there. In today’s NFL, the nickel corner is essentially a starter and with the Bucs safety room pretty much intact and relatively young, Sanker will likely be able to find a spot for himself in the nickel or as a depth safety.
Sanker likely won’t wow many people throughout his career, but he seems like someone who could still carve out a pretty nice career for himself and be a useful player for a defense for years to come.
Stock Report
Sanker appears primed to be a late day two, early day three selection. All it takes is for one team to fall in love with a player to draft him earlier than expected though so there is always a possibility he goes before Tampa Bay is comfortable taking him.
On The Clock…
Now it’s your time to make the decision Bucs Nation. Do you think the Buccaneers should select Jonas Sanker to add to their safety room? Let us know in the comments and poll below!