Chicago Bears: Mocking picks 1-8 of 2018 NFL Draft

The Bucs bolster their secondary by grabbing arguably the best cornerback in this year’s class.

With the seventh overall pick, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers ensure their cornerback position is strengthened by selecting Denzel Ward out of Ohio State. With Brent Grimes coming back on just a one-year deal and getting up there in age (35 years old when the season starts), Tampa needs to continue adding more to their group of corners.

Vernon Hargreaves is a former first-round pick for the Bucs, but he hasn’t panned out as a true shut-down corner like they had hoped. He’s been more effective in the slot as opposed to lining up one-on-one on the outside. Ward could be that guy they need.

The Bucs absolutely need to address the running back position, but the only way they would have done that here is if Barkley would have been available still. They can still go after a running back in later rounds.

For the Bears, this leaves them in an interesting position. Would they have wanted Ward? Probably not due to bringing back Kyle Fuller and Prince Amukamara over the last couple weeks. Now, Chicago gets the chance to bring in one of the best overall players in the entire draft class at pick number eight.