13. Star Lotulelei, DL, Utah (6-2, 311)
Tampa Bay struck gold in last year’s draft. Its first three picks –- safety Mark Barron, RB Doug Martin and OLB Lavonte David -– all made fluid transitions to the pro game during a trying year for the team. The Bucs (7-9) lost five of their final six games to ruin a promising mid-season run. To further hammer home this team’s plight, Tampa Bay is the only team that lost to the Eagles over the last 13 weeks of the regular season.
While next season could be the one that determines whether streaky QB Josh Freeman remains in place in the future, for now, it’s about enriching the defense. The Bucs were No. 1 in the NFL against the run (82.5 ypc), but dead last against the pass (297 ypg).
In free agency, the Bucs signed safety Dashon Goldson to play alongside Barron. Longtime CB/S Ronde Barber turns 38 this month and has yet to announce whether he will return for a 17th season. The secondary needs to further upgrades, and perhaps the Bucs will pull off a trade that relocates Revis Island to the Bay. For the purposes of this mock draft, however, the focus on turning around the defense lies up front. In this case, that means adding a genuine “star.”
Star Lotulelei (pronounced lo-too-leh-lay) has gone through a worrisome pre-draft period after doctors at the combine discovered he had a heart abnormality. After further testing, it appeared the problem may have been virus-related. He reportedly nailed his pro day workout in March, and just this week Lotulelei finally was cleared to resume normal activities. Now it’s game on, and if the versatile lineman lasts until the 13th slot, he would present Greg Schiano and company with an intriguing opportunity.
Lotulelei possesses a combination of quickness and power that makes him a fit for any system. He should be just as comfortable at any of the line positions in a 3-4 or a 4-3 defense. At Utah, he frequently drew double teams, which is not unusual for a player with his physical gifts. He is solid against the run, and will chase. In his final season, Lotulelei recorded 42 tackles, 11 for a loss, and five sacks. He does a sound job of creating leverage and driving through blockers to get to the ball. While not a sack machine by any stretch, he should be a force at applying pressure to the quarterback in the right scheme. Fortunately for the Bucs, they appear to offer that type of situation.
Lining Lotulelei alongside former first-round draft picks DT Gerald McCoy (’10) and DE Adrian Clayborne (’11) would give Tampa Bay the makings of one of the league’s most imposing front lines. McCoy is coming off his first Pro Bowl berth and should only get better. At worst, the addition of Lotulelei’s presence would open the way for much-needed depth on along a front that needs more talent in order to bring better overall balance to the entire defense.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Philadelphia sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.