2013 NFL Mock Draft: Tampa Bay likely to go with defense

By almost any measure, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were awful on defense. They gave up nearly 25 points per game, were the fourth-worst team in the NFL in yards allowed at 379.9, and were the worst team in the league in pass defense. So it should be no surprise that NFL Draft experts expect Greg Schiano to focus on his defense.

At CBS Sports, Rob Rang has the Bucs taking Alabama cornerback Dee Milliner. Dane Brugle, meanwhile, predicts Tampa Bay will select LSU linebacker Barkevious Mingo. Rang thinks Mingo will be off the board at No. 9 to the Jets, while Brugle expects Milliner to go sixth overall to Cleveland.

Milliner, a junior, is ranked as the top cornerback available in the draft. He was a first-team All-American and first-team All-SEC for the Crimson Tide, breaking up 18 passes while making 51 tackles. Brugle compares Milliner to Chicago Bears cornerback Charles Tillman, calling him a very good tackler with excellent awareness.

Mingo is also a junior who recorded five sacks for the Tigers as an outside linebacker. Rang believes he could play as a defensive end in a 4-3 formation.

For the Bucs, Milliner would instantly upgrade arguably the league's worst secondary. Mingo, meanwhile, would help bolster a pass rush that has been moribund. Tampa Bay managed just 27 sacks all season, third-worst in the NFL.