Bucs trade Mark Barron, Jonathan Casillas for draft picks
By Peter Smith
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made two deadline deals, acquiring draft picks from the New England Patriots and St. Louis Rams. The Bucs sent safety Mark Barron to the Rams for their 4th and 6th round picks in the 2015 NFL Draft in one deal while they sent linebacker Jonathan Casillas and their 6th round pick in 2015 for the Patriots’ 5th round pick. There were rumors that wide receiver Vincent Jackson and running back Doug Martin could also be moved, but they moved two defensive players as they work to remake that side of the ball the way head coach Lovie Smith sees fit.
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Barron, the 7th overall pick of the 2012 season, has been yet another disappointment from the University of Alabama in making the transition to the NFL. Still only 25 and in just his third season, Barron gets a fresh start in St. Louis, where T.J. McDonald and Rodney McLeod had been their starters.
The Casillas deal may only net the Bucs around ten to twenty spots difference from where they were likely going to pick in round six to where the Patriots are likely to pick in round five. The Patriots have dealt with a number of injuries at the linebacker position and had already made a deal with the Tennessee Titans to bring in Akeem Ayers in a similar style deal, moving down a round with a different pick. Casillas offers an undersized linebacker that can play in pass coverage as well as on special teams.
The underperforming Bucs moved a couple of players they did not see with them in the long term for two more draft picks and moving a third pick up a round as they try to add talent and fill in the holes on this team.