2018 NFL Mock Draft: Opening Weekend Edition
By Jon Dove
22. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Maurice Hurst, DL, Michigan
Maurice Hurst is an emerging talent who could come of the board much earlier. He was a part-time player last year and now steps into the starting lineup for the Michigan Wolverines. Hurst has as much upside as any defender in the 2018 NFL Draft.
He features a rare combination of size, quickness and raw strength. Hurst is a two-way player who can hold up at the point of attack and penetrate the pocket. He also has the initial burst needed to generate pressure on the quarterback.
Hurst seems like an ideal fit along the interior of a 4-3 defensive front. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers could use another defensive tackle to take some pressure off of Gerald McCoy.
A defensive line featuring Hurst, McCoy and Noah Spence would be tough to defend. Opposing quarterbacks would have very little time to survey the field. It would also help mask some of the team’s problems in the secondary.
Another option for the Buccaneers would be to find a long-term replacement for Doug Martin. His injury history and recent suspension makes him an unreliable payer. Alabama’s Bo Scarbrough would be a potential fit at this point in the draft.