Tampa Bay Buccaneers clinch No. 1 pick in NFL draft

By foxsports
Published

With their loss to the Saints on Sunday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have clinched the top overall pick in the NFL draft.

And that could be their biggest win of the season.

"It's been a long year," first-year Buccaneers coach Lovie Smith said. "When you're down there that's one consolation, I guess, from the season we've had. That's where we are now."

Tampa Bay played a number of non-starters Sunday, especially in the second half when the Saints rallied for the win.

"I don't think anybody tanked it," Tampa Bay quarterback Josh McCown said. "We played the guys we played to rotate guys in and give them a look. As far as players are concerned, the draft, that stuff is not relevant as far to how we're playing. We competed hard and that's the main thing. Got a chance to evaluate some younger guys as we build this thing."

The Bucs (2-14) may have eyes on a quarterback -- like Oregon's Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota, who is the front-runner to be the first quarterback taken.

This season, the Bucs had McCown and Mike Glennon under center. The two of them combined for 3,600 yards, 21 touchdowns and 20 interceptions this season.

Here is the draft order for the top 10 teams:

1) Bucs

2) Titans

3) Jags

4) Raiders

5) Redskins

6) Jets

7) Bears

8) Falcons

9) Giants

10 Rams