TAMPA, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) – Las Vegas, Nevada and the bright lights of “Sin City” set the tone for the 2022 NFL Draft. Slightly after 11:00 on Thursday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were on the clock.

Buccaneers Trade Out Of Round One, Take DL Logan Hall Out Of Houston

After several perceived targets went off the board, including DE Jermaine Johnson, whom the Eagles moved up to nab at number 26, the Buccaneers traded their first round pick (#27 overall) to the Jacksonville Jaguars and moved back six spots into round two.

With the first pick of round two on Friday night, the Buccaneers selected Logan Hall, a 6-6 285 pound defensive lineman from the University of Houston. Hall started 12 games at defensive tackle for the Cougars and led the team with 13.5 tackles for loss and tallied 48 tackles as well as 6.5 sacks. He fills an immediate need on the team for an additional pass rusher with Ndamukong Suh and Jason Pierre Paul still yet to be re-signed.

“We are very excited to get him at 33,” explained Head Coach Todd Bowles. “He’s one of the guys we targeted at 27. Explosive off the football – very good three-technique, long frame, long arms, very strong, and probably going to grow even more. I love the way he plays the game and gets after it. He makes a bunch of plays, but when the ball is away from him, he chases the football. Everything we want in a Buc.”

Bowles compared Hall to current defensive lineman Will Gholston, but purely from a height standpoint, adding that he’s slightly quicker, and brings a unique body type to the roster.

“He’s 6’ 6’’, so that helps him a lot,” Bowles added. “He’s got a strong lower body, but the biggest thing is he’s a good athlete. He ran hurdles in high school, he grew into his body, and he uses it to his advantage. He’s very elusive there, he’s very strong there, and he’s very deceptive there. Everything that we like about him.”

For Hall, it’s all been the culmination of a lifelong dream to play in the NFL.

“Obviously I was a little bit anxious, but I wasn’t too invested in where I would have went,” he said. It’s definitely been a journey and I’ve learned a lot of great things from a lot of great mentors, played with some great players, had a lot of great coaches, and definitely learned a lot. God has a plan for me and I knew he was going to put me just where I belonged.”

WWE Superstar Titus O’Neill Announces Second Selection OT Luke Goedecke

Tampa Bay was back on the clock 27 picks later with #60, but the Buccaneers moved up three spots in a deal with the Buffalo Bills to address yet another need on the offensive line. With the 57th overall pick, WWE superstar and bay area resident Titus O’Neill (on his birthday) announced that Luke Goedecke of Central Michigan is headed to play for coach Todd Bowles and protect the G.O.A.T Tom Brady.

The Buccaneers lost their two starting guards from the 2021 season this offseason with the retirement of Ali Marpet and Alex Cappa signing a four year $40 million with the AFC Champion Bengals. Goedeke, who was First Team All-MAC, and started in ten games last year, fits that hole at inside guard and can challenge immediately for a starting spot.

“Brady wants a big stout guard so he can step up in the pocket, guys who can play nasty, and he fits that mold.” said ESPN Analyst Mel Kiper.

Buccaneers Round Out Day Two With Running Back Rachaad White

You can never have enough depth in the running back room and Tampa Bay acknowledged that with the selection of Arizona State redshirt senior running back Rachaad White. Leonard Fournette resigned a three year deal worth $21 million, but lost back up Ronald Jones III to Kansas City. With Ke’Shawn Vaughn, the team’s third round pick in 2020, and veteran Giovanni Bernard also on the roster, White has a chance to quickly cement his spot on the depth chart.

As a redshirt senior in 2021, he earned his second All-Conference honor of his career, rushing for 1,006 yards, becoming the 26th Sun Devil to reach 1,000 yards in a season. He is the second‐highest graded player, regardless of position, overall in the Pac‐12 this

season (90.7) and the second‐highest graded running back in the FBS.

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Todd Grasley is a Florida National News Tampa sports reporter. | sports@floridanationalnews.com