The 2015 NFL Draft is still more than two months away, but most predict it will be quarterbacks off the board early. However, it would be a mistake for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to pass on Nebraska pass rusher Randy Gregory with the first pick, according to Randy Gregory.
NFL Draft 2015: Randy Gregory says he’s ‘worthy of the No. 1 pick’
Randy Gregory thinks the Tampa Bay Buccaneers should pass on a quarterback and take him with the first pick instead.
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Gregory, 22, wrote a post for USA Today on Sunday that discussed his journey from his upbringing in Jacksonville, Fla., to his time at Arizona Western Community College and his success at Nebraska. At the end of the post, Gregory summed up his journey with a bold statement of confidence.
“I think I’m worthy of the No. 1 pick,” Gregory wrote.
Unseating a quarterback for the top pick will be tough, but pass rushers are a highly valued position as well and Gregory believes that he can turn enough heads at the upcoming NFL Combine to convince teams to pull the trigger on him early.
I understand that this position is a premium. Everyone wants someone that can get to the quarterback. Everyone wants a quarterback. Everyone wants a left tackle that can block that guy that wants to get to the quarterback. I understand the game and where it’s headed, and I understand that there’s a big need, a big demand. I definitely think I’m worthy. And I definitely think I’ll show that at the combine and when I get out there in the NFL.
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Gregory played just two seasons for the Cornhuskers and finished ninth in school history with 17.5 sacks. He led the team with seven sacks in 2014 and earned First Team All-Big Ten honors.
The Buccaneers finished just below the league average for rushing the passer with 36 sacks, but most of that pressure came from the interior with defensive tackles Gerald McCoy and Clinton McDonald. The five-year, $43.75 million deal signed by Michael Johnson netted the Buccaneers only four sacks in 2014 and another edge rusher would certainly be a bonus for the team.
Whether Gregory is the best fit is another question, though. In an interview with the Associated Press, Gregory said he’s a little more in favor of playing in a 3-4 defense that allows him to rush the passer from an upright position.
“I like standing up,” he said. “It serves my body better, my physical traits better, being able to see the play form and stay in an athletic stance and make plays. At the same time, if a 4-3 team comes around, I feel I can help them and play that spot.”
In the latest mock draft from SB Nation's Dan Kadar, Gregory is slated to go with the third overall pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
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