joebucsfan.com

Eli Cox & The Bucs

March 23rd, 2025

So Joe got excited, stressed and thoughtful when Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht talked about the Bucs having draft needs on offense last week on WDAE radio.

The easy target is center/guard.

Eljiah Klein was the Bucs’ sixth-round pick out of UTEP last season, but it’s unclear if he’s impressed coaches and the front office. He’s not the biggest/strongest guy and he has little experience at center. So Joe could see Licht drafting a center/guard to replace Robert Hainsey in Round 3 or later.

There are a lot of potential options.

One guy that might fit is University of Kentucky center Eli Cox. Not only has he started at center, he’s started at guard. But he also has been a Wildcats captain in Liam Coen’s offense, a system the Bucs are trying to keep intact. The former Bucs offensive coordinator called plays at Kentucky in 2023.

Thanks to The Sickness, Cox spent six years at Kentucky (four different playcallers and offensive line coaches) and made 47 starts. Per NFL Scouting Combine measurables, he appears to be bigger (6-4), stronger and faster than Elijah Klein.

While the Bucs have done a stunning job developing offensive linemen, Joe could see a little extra interest in an older, more mature rookie that’s been in the offensive system, a lower-learning-curve guy from the SEC.

The two-time Kentucky captain didn’t miss a game the past three seasons.